ZAKOUMA NATIONAL PARK - THE - The Africa Experience
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THE
ZAKOUMA NATIONAL PARK
EXPEDITION
CHAD
9 Nights / 10 Days
RECOMMENDED MONTH OF TRAVEL: APRIL
This is a unique and mind-blowing expedition, a safari beyond the frontier. Zakouma is an amazing
unexpected surprise. Although very new on the commercial safari circuit, the staggering beauty
and volumes of wildlife is breath-taking. It is not so much about abundance, but layers fo
abundance! It is one of the most sensational wildlife destinations in Africa.
As a conservation success story, Zakouma is like no other. From a region decimated by poaching
and neglect only a short time ago, the recovery and restoration due the intervention from Africa
Parks has been staggering.
This is the backdrop; an extreme tapestry of remoteness. A bonanza of beauty, conservation
success and incredible hope from the most unlikely of regions. Zakouma will leave you stirred and
speechless.
“Chad? What's out there? Endless desert, camels and wild nomadic people surely; only
crazy travellers go there. So I went. And then there is Zakouma ... the most
unexpected and spectacular wildlife bonanza I have ever seen”.
Alan McSmith
HOW WOULD ALAN McSMITH’S EXPERIENCE ADD VALUE TO A ZAKOUMA SAFARI?
• Chad is a completely different culture to anything normally encounter in southern and east
African safaris. Travel logistics can at times be challenging, and a seasoned hand on the tiller is
an advantage.
• He is one of a handful of guides to be invited by African Parks to host and privately guided safaris
at Camp Nomade.
• He was asked by African Parks to design a 6-week guide training course for local guides in the
reserve. Therefore we have great camaraderie with the safari operations at Zakouma, a
meaningful connection and a great deal of flexibility as a result.
• Alan is one of a few guides to have participated in a secret wet season expedition at Zakouma,
exploring the reserve in extreme and challenging conditions. We believe that in order to
understand an ecosystem most effectively, then all round understanding and empathy is
necessary.
• He has also visited the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve in the Sahara.
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
DAY 1:
Arrive in N’djamena, Chad, overnight at the Radisson Blu hotel
DAY 2:
Air charter to Zakouma, arrive at Camp Nomade or Tinga, overnight
DAYS 3-9:
Game viewing and explorations based at Zakouma, either from Camp Nomade or Tinga.
DAY 10:
Air charter back to N’djamena and departing international flight.
CHAD
As the 5th largest country on the continent, but with only a population of some
11 million people, there is a lot of wild-land in Chad. Most of the country falls
within the inhospitable Sahara Desert, home to iconic nomadic communities. The
southern region, in which Zakouma is located, is far wetter. The capital city of
N’djamena, our springboard, is located in the west. There are 110 languages
spoken in the region with various African dialects, French and Arabic the most
prevalent. Once a French colony, Chad gained independence in 1960, but years
of instability has made travel to the zone impossible until recently. Chad, and Zakouma, is now
considered as one of the most exciting safari destinations in Africa.
ZAKOUMA
Zakouma was declared a national park in 1963, but due to
political conflict in the region, could not fulfil its mandate. It is
one of Africa’s most remarkable stories of transformation as in
2010, African Parks, on invitation by the Chadian Government,
signed a long-term agreement to manage Zakouma. Within two
years had transformed the region into one of the most abundant
and beautiful game reserves in the world. Eco-tourism is still
relatively new, making the reserve not only one of the most
rewarding and beautiful safari destinations in Africa, but one of the most exciting! This is RAW
AFRICA!
The transformation that occurred here once the elephant poaching
was under control has been lauded by conservationists
everywhere. A team of incredibly dedicated conservationists,
scientists and anti-poaching security units were responsible for
turning the tide at Zakouma, and continue to chart the way
forward for this wonderful story. A story not only about the
restoration of Zakouma, but a great conservation hope that has
been felt around the world. Discover more with us on safari!
AFRICAN PARKS
The African Parks network, active in 9 African countries is a highly
successful organization, that takes on direct responsibility for the
rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in
partnership with governments and local communities. The success and
restoration of Zakouma is due to their incredibly effective operations.
Visit www.africanparks.org for more.
ALAN McSMITH
For over 30 years Alan has lived and worked as a wilderness guide and
tracker exploring the wild-lands of six African countries. An Alan
McSmith Safari is a meaningful journey of unsurpassed discovery as
the pulse of Africa beats wildest off the beaten track, around a remote
desert campfire or out on foot. These safaris also explore real time
conservation issues and our commitment to low impact safaris,
sustainable logistics and dignified interactions with people, animals
and the environment is non-negotiable. For Alan, wilderness is no
longer just a place, its a way of life. Please visit www.alanmcsmith.com
for more.
TINGA CAMP
Tinga Camp, originally build in the early 60s, is a larger +20 bedded lodge offering an
accommodation option. As it has public access, Tinga does not offer the same exclusivity as Camp
Nomade, but as a springboard or base camp to explore Zakouma and for our wildlife adventures,
Tinga is ideal. All wildlife activities, either game drives, walks, elephant excursions or cultural tours
are operated on a private exclusive basis for our groups.
The grounds are home to great birdlife including the unusual black & white morph of African
paradise flycatchers, as well as Eurasian hoopoe and northern carmine bee-eaters. A short walk to
a seasonal pool in the Salamat River often ensures excellent elephant, buffalo, bushbuck, Olive
baboon, lion and central African buffalo encounters. We are in the thick of it!
The layout is beautifully located on the seasonal Salamat River. A large breezy lounge/dining hut is located under a grove of Tamarind trees close to the riverbed and is the focal point for meals and gatherings. Due to the flooding of the Salamat River in the wet season, Tinga is literally re-built every season. The accommodation consists of clover-shaped clusters of en-suite bedouin huts, each fitted with a 12v ceiling fan, mosquito net and en-suite bathroom with flush loo and hot shower. The facilities are comfortable, homely and sufficient. CAMP NOMADE Camp Nomade is certainly considered as the more glamorous camp of the two, and offers a unique and ultra-exclusive Bedouin-style safari base in keeping with the Arabic influences of the region. An open-sided tented lounge complete with colourful kelim carpets, camel tack ornaments and wooden chests is a sight to behold. Nomade is a totally mobile operation, and the seasons site is dependant on water levels at the time. The location of choice is at the northern end of Riguek Pan, as close to the last remaining pools of water as possible. As a result, the concentrations of game and birdlife in and around the camp is staggering. Herds of Kordofan giraffe, Lelwel’s hartebeest, Buffon’s kob, Bohor reedbuck, tiang and accompanying lion are often present here, often in very close proximity to the camp. This is dizzy sensational game viewing ala Zakouma! Birding is as spectacular with vast flocks of northern crowned crane, waterfowl, quelea murmerings and assorted raptors.
The lounge tent offers a shady lunch and hang-out spot, with dinner around a campfire under the stars. It is a magnificent setting. There is no electricity at all and all lighting is either 12v or with paraffin lanterns Accommodation is tented with each unit spread out with private views overlooking the viewpoints. Tastefully fitted camp cots and classic safari decor define the tents, and the en-suite bathroom costs of a handcrafted reeded enclosure with a long-drop loo and open air bucket shower. The vintage layout of the camp compliments the setting, wildlife concentrations and proximity to the take us as close as possible to the safari edge … a truly remarkable frontier experience From Camp Nomade it is possible to spend a night or two at a pre-erected mobile fly-camp, set up in a remote region of the reserve, if that’s possible. This additional activity adds extra specie and adventure to the trip!
THE ELEPHANTS OF ZAKOUMA And then there are the elephants; possibly the most persecuted population in Africa that have returned from the edge. Once down to a few there are now over 500 in the 3000 km2 reserve. Their habits and ecology, adapted to the critical conditions and resolute need to stick together, redefine the laws of elephant behaviour making the Zakouma herds the largest in the world. Between 2002 to 2010, 95% of the parks’ elephants were poached out. With peace restored to the region, and African Parks’ involvement, the security in the reserve was maintained. With peace restored to the region, something miraculous happened. Elephants were able to be elephants once again, and for the first time in years, they began breeding again. In early 2018, 103 calves under the age of three were counted. In 2011, one was counted. Thanks to efforts and effective community work, only 24 known elephants have been lost to poaching since 2010. Along with providing law enforcement, African Parks built ‘Elephant Schools’ for local communities, helping more than 1,500 children get an education. With law enforced and security reclaimed, tourists began to visit, delivering needed revenue back to the park and local communities. The elephant population is on the rise for the first time in a decade. The story of Zakouma with the elephant poaching and security issues, within the storyboard of recovery and hope, is absolutely unique. DAY 1: ARRIVE IN N’DJAMENA, CHAD. OVERNIGHT AT RADISSON BLU HOTEL. International flights are not included in the itinerary but please feel free to contact us for advice. Our suggested route is via Addis Ababa in Ethiopia with Ethiopian Airlines. Arrive in the capital of Chad, N’djaména, and transfer to The Radisson Blu Hotel. The capital and the largest city of Chad, N’djaména is a port city on the Chari River which flows into Lake Chad to the north west. With a population of about a million people, N’djamena is a bustling, colourful and vibrant hub. The drive through town from the airport offers a fascinating glimpse of Chad and the French/Arabic cultural melting pots that define the region. Travel on day 1 is often long and tiring, but we arrive at the hotel in the mid-afternoon with time for a welcoming siesta. We enjoy dinner at the hotel.
ARRIVE IN DAY 2: CHARTER FLIGHT TO ZAKOUMA NATIONAL PARK CHAD. OVERNIGHT CAMP NOMADE OR TINGA CAMP Transfer from the hotel back to the airport after breakfast for charter flight to Zakouma National Park. The Charters are normally operated with a Cessna Caravan and the flight to Zakouma is about 2 hours. From the airstrip in Zakouma, Tinga is about a 20 minute drive, or Camp Nomade about an hour. So a lunchtime arrival is arranged. DAY 3 - 9: GAME VIEWING BASED FROM CAMP OF CHOICE. CHARTER FLIGHT TO ZAKOUMA NATIONAL PARK TER FLIGHT TO ZAKOUMA NATIONAL PARK For the next 7 days, explore the many treasures of Zakouma. Wildlife, not only in abundance, but layers of abundance. Animal colours differ, some with a soft Garfield-like brown tinge. Sunsets eclipsed with Harmattan dust blown in from the Sahara are other-worldly as the sun disappears high in the sky, followed by pastels of crepuscular light. This a Zakouma tone. The optimal safari time at Zakouma is late April, as late into the dry season as possible. The last remaining floodplain and or riverbed pools are magnets for an astonishing array of game and birdlife. We have a huge amount of flexibility to explore these areas by open 4x4, day or night, and also on foot.
For southern or east African Safari aficionados, this region offers a new and sumptuous menu. The mammal list at Zakouma is impressive with a host of ‘new ticks’ on offer including pale fox, the critically endangered Kordofan giraffe, central African savannah buffalo, tiang, Buffon’s kob, red- fronted gazelle, patas monkey and others. There’re also colour and pattern aviations of lion, civet, mongoose, jackals and bushbuck, which makes animal spotting fascinating here. High concentrations of serval and caracal are often a nocturnal highlight, and the lion population is very productive. As far as birding goes, the Sahel region of southern Chad is a delight. An unofficial count of Zakouma bird species is just on 400. Specials include: Abyssinian ground hornbill, northern black- crowned crane, black breasted barbet, northern carmine bee-eater, stone partridge, little green bee-eater, grasshopper buzzard and scissor-tailed kite. Incredible vistas of cloud-like flocks of over a million red-billed quelea murmuring over water, with kites, goshawks and falcons in tow, is a jaw dropping spectacle. We spend the days exploring the reserve, taking in the varied habitat along the way, but always focus on water and movement of game at these hotspots. Walks are possible, and hight recommended as we take vantage points at waterholes and wait for game, both big and small, to come down. River pools support large populations of fish-eating desert crocodiles which are a different species to the Nile croc encounters in most of Africa. The large elephant herds, often 300 strong, are normally encountered in the northern region of the park so full-day excursions are organised in order to give us enough time to reach them. This is a wonderful opportunity to extend our traversing reach A visit to the Zakouma Operations HQ is an essential activity at some point. We discover a little more about the ant-poaching operations and demands of the units in the field. We meet some of the personnel based at Zakouma who are responsible for such a high level of conservation commitment. A fascinating, inspiring and highly educational half-day awaits!
Half day visits to Gache-Gache nomad market are also available. The excursions is a very
interesting peek into the daily life of camel chain drivers, nomads and local tribespeople as they
peddle camels, goats, spices, beans, dried meat and metalworks. This is the most authentic
cultural interaction possible.
DAY 10: CHARTER FLIGHT BACK TO N’DJAMENA AND DEPART.
E VIECAM
After a short morning activity and breakfast we head back to the Zakouma airstrip and board a
charter flight to N’djaména to connect with your international flight back home.
SAFARI ENDS
TSAMAYA SENTLE !
(Bon Voyage)
What makes the safari unique?
1. Everything!
2. An incredible safari of discovery of so many landscapes: Chad itself, the bustling capital city of
N’djamena, the French/Arabic melting pot of cultures, the expanse of wild country, and of
course the fascinating discovery of Zakouma.
3. Discover all about African Parks
4. Visit the African Ops centre at Zakouma for a personally guided tour.
5. Visit the Gache-Gache village and authentic nomadic market.
Optional modules that could be included or added on:
1. Fly up north to the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and camp out in the Sahara desert,
visiting Geulta d’Archei oasis and explore the incredible sandstone architecture.
2. Arrange an expedition to the massive Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve in the centre of
Chad, home of scimitar oryx and addax antelope.
PLEASE NOTE
The duration, destinations and activities on our privately guided safari are based on our style and preference for
delivering memorable safari encounters. However, flexibility is assured in tailoring your ultimate safari, and we
trust that the itinerary provides you with insight into our differences and unique approach. Please feel free to
contact our office to discuss variations, or design an itinerary of your choice
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