A few hours from N'Djamena, in the far Norh Cameroon, far away from the rain forest in the South and the volcanic area in the West, is a land of peace and harmony where you can share the wild life of the African savanna with the wonderful birds and animals of the Waza Park. Our horses lead you across the lake Chad basin, irrigated by the rivers Logone and Chari in search of some of the biggest animal species in Africa such as elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, antilopes or want hogs, with also more than 300 species of birds and 170 of fish . Because it gathers every aspect of this continent, this paradise of wild life has been entitled "Miniature Africa" or "Little Africa" . The diversity of this land lays also in its climate :while the South is moist with the rain forest, the North is more temperate in winter thanks to ths harmattan, this North-East trade wind which keeps an average temperature of 30° C in the bush and the sahelian steppe. As in many African countries, the horse has arrived lately in Cameroon, in the second half of the 18 th century, ridden by the "Foulbé". These horses are close to the dongolow, which means they have arab and barbe origins. They are perfectly used to riding in the Sahelian savanna, a little bit less at case in the Capsiki steep slopes. Nevertheless, the way they are raised and live may come as a surprise to our westerers' eyes.
 

Programme
D1 : Paris-Douala-Maroua 6 h flight Transfer airport to the hotel. Setting in "boukarous". Dinner in town
D2 : After some leisure time in he morning, transfer to the "lamida" of Guirvidig from where we will start our  ride. First contact with our horses, checking our equipment. Bivouac night
D3 : Departure towards the East, The lake Maga and the river Logone as far as the Pous Sultanate and the village of Mourla at the Chad border. First riding day "on the water front" along the lake. Bivouac night.
D4 : Visit of the traditional Obu Cabins and the village of the Arab Chouas. Departure for the Waza Park, long day combining savanna and forest. Bivouac night at Alagarno
D5 & D6 : 2 days of visit in the Waza Park on board 4wd vehicules in seach of elephants, lions, giraffes, cheetas, ostriches and so many other animals...
D7 to D11 : Riding to the West, towards the Nigerian border across the savanna, the Mandara Mounts and the moonlike  landscape of the Kapsiki. Bivouac nights except for D11 in a campment hotel in Rumsiki
D12 : Transfer to Maroua in the morning. Settling at the hotel. Visit of the city.
D13 : Transfer to the airport, departure for Douala in the morning


Period
At the end of the rainy season and the floods when the temperature is more pleasant:
2 trips : Christmas season (around 21/12 to 03/01) and low season for air traffic  (around 07/01 to 20/01)

Price
1 616 €,
including : all transfers by car, board, lodging and meals in hotels (3 nights), full board during the ride, a harnessed horse, the guide, the visits.
The price does not include : The flight, the airport taxes, the visa expenses , the cancel insurance, the visits of your own (not included in the programme), your personal drinks, tips...

Horses
Descendants of the Dongolaw, they have arab and barbe origins. All of them are entire and have been raised by the local Lamido for  work and transport but also and mostly for the traditional events of African life. They indeed represent the power of the chefferie.  

Saddlery
Specific English saddlery and Mac Clelane. Nothing is carried along while riding, mats equipped with pockets. Hackamore


Escort
Also entitled to lead the rides, the organizer has frequently been to Africa for 30 years. 2 people help him with the food supply and bivouac equipment on board of a securty vehicle that awaits  us every evening. The visit of the Waza Park will be led by an authorized tracker on board a 4wd.

Level
Of course participants need to know how to ride a horse (!) and be in good physical conditions, but what is especially required is the ability to live with and take care of a horse. Being an experienced trecker may be very useful considering the weather conditions, the lack of facilities they will encounter and the fact that part of the treck will take place in the mountain.

Housing - Board
European cooking prepared on the spot by our cook. Fresh food provided all along the treck. Drinkable water available several times a day. Sleeping amangement : 2 people tents and bivouac set up by the supply staff. Personal lugage carried along every day.