The Lakes of Ounianga are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saharan Chad.
Understand
[edit]The Lakes of Ounianga are a collection of 18 gorgeous desert lakes in the Sahara Desert. They are divided in three groups:
- Ounianga Kébir group: Lake Yoa, Lake Katam, Lake Oma (or Ouma), Lake Béver, Lake Midji, Lake Forodom
- Lake Motro (about 30 km [19 mi] southeast of Ounianga Kébir)
- Ounianga Sérir group (about 45 to 60 km [28 to 37 mi] southeast of Ounianga Kébir): Lake Melekui, Lake Dirke, Lake Ardjou, Lake Téli, Lake Obrom, Lake Élimé, Lake Hogo, Lake Djiara, Lake Ahoita, Lake Daléyala, and Lake Boukkou.
The lakes were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012.
The area experienced a brief burst in tourism in the late 1990/early 2000s, when French airlines started running tourist routes to Faya. Following jihadist activity in the Sahel, those flights were canceled.
Get in
[edit]As of 2023, absent flights to Faya, you'll be booking a tour from N'Djamena.