The Lakes of Ounianga are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saharan Chad.

Understand

The red waters of Lake Motro

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

As of 2023, absent flights to Faya, you'll be booking a tour from N'Djamena.