Gerewol Festival: The Heart of Africa

country_flag

Chad

Gerewol Festival Holiday in Chad

Few Western travellers will ever get to experience the Gerewol festival – one of the most spectacular in Africa, yet one that has barely been changed over centuries. This week-long festival occurs when the semi-nomadic Wodaabe people travel across the Sahel on foot, camel or donkey, and come together to feast, dance, race and – ultimately – to find a lover or a partner. The classic image from the Gerewol festival is one of the young men with elaborately made-up faces, ‘displaying’ to young women in order to attract them. Not only does this Gerewol festival holiday allow you to experience these rituals, but having worked in this area for several years, we have built up plenty of local contacts and friends, meaning we are welcomed as guests and are able to camp beside them in this incredibly remote region. You’ll be immersed in life far from the mainstream, combined with centuries-old traditions and rituals; this is a highly unique opportunity to see the world from a completely different perspective and experience the deep traditions of Africa.

Itinerary

N’Djamena → Durbali → Gerewol festival → N’Djamena

Day 1: N’Djamena

Day 1: N’Djamena

Arrive in the capital of Chad today, and transfer to your hotel (Le Meridien Chari or similar). You can choose to stay here and rest up for the adventure ahead, or to head out and explore.

Day 2: Durbali

Day 2: Durbali

Drive across the Sahel to the Durbali region where the Gerewol festival is celebrated by the Wodaabe people. We’ll camp here overnight.

Day 3-7: Gerewol festival

Day 3-7: Gerewol festival

We have five full days to experience the Gerewol festival – a celebration which has barely changed for centuries. The Wodaabe from across the Sahel region congregate in the area with their cattle for what could be described as a mass courtship ritual. Unusually, it is male beauty that is prized by the Wodaabe, and the young men wear traditional jewellery, feathers and make up before performing in front of the young women – a fascinating spectacle. There will be plenty of dancing and singing, and perhaps some camel racing, as well as plenty of time to meet local people and share stories with them about the culture and rituals. You can also head to one of the Sahel’s most important markets, in Durbali.

Day 8: N’Djamena

Day 8: N’Djamena

We return back to N’Djamena, where day use rooms are available to freshen up. After heading out to a restaurant for a final farewell dinner, transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.

Show less

Persons:

0

Rooms:

0

Close

Choose an option

Why Us

Watching camel racing, singing, dancing and male beauty contests

Watching camel racing, singing, dancing and male beauty contests

Camping in the Sahel

Camping in the Sahel

Meeting the Wodaabe tribespeople

Meeting the Wodaabe tribespeople

Durbali market

Durbali market

Drive across the Sahel to the Durbali

Drive across the Sahel to the Durbali

Witnessing the Gerewol festival

Witnessing the Gerewol festival

Our reviews
Trustpilot

Lucas Müller

Germany

I traveled to the Australian Open with WofDi and was thoroughly impressed with the organization of my tour. The team at WofDi are true professionals who know their business inside and out. Any question or issue I had was addressed swiftly, showcasing their commitment to excellent customer service. They ensured that aside from the tennis, everything else was taken care of, allowing me to focus solely on enjoying the event. I’m grateful for such a hassle-free experience and will definitely be traveling with WofDi again!

Dragan Rakic

Australia

Great experience and organisation by the team at World of Discoveries - communication was great all the way through the trip

Brian King

USA

Highly Recommend Just back from Germany where World of Discoveries organized a fantastic custom trip for us to the Euro 2024 football (soccer) tournament, covering Frankfurt and Cologne. From start to finish, their communication was excellent, ensuring we were well-informed and prepared for our adventure. Our in-country host, Mike, was exceptional. He went above and beyond to keep everyone updated on game day, making sure everything ran smoothly. His knowledge and enthusiasm added a special touch to our experience. Seats obtained by them were great too! The hotel selections were spot on. In Cologne, our hotel was perfectly situated, allowing us to easily walk to the fan zone and along the river, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of the tournament alongside fellow fans. The convenience and quality of the accommodations truly enhanced our trip. Overall, World of Discoveries exceeded our expectations with their attention to detail, customer service, and seamless organization. They made our Euro 2024 experience unforgettable, and we wouldn't hesitate to book with them again for future adventures. Thank you, World of Discoveries, for an incredible journey!

Terry O'Connell

France

Great trip all round I booked not knowing what I was going to getting, a little sceptical and apprehensive due to never using these guys before. I could not have been more wrong, the service has been great and the tour has also been great. Mike the tour guide and the girls in the office are 5 star. Even had a disaster and left my passports in the hotel safe of one city and Mike and the team could not do enough to help me get these back. Really appreciate your professionalism and kindness. Will see you at the World Cup ?

Gaz Roulston

Australia

EUROS 24 Can’t recommend WORLD OF DISCOVERIES highly enough My daughter and I joined them in Munich before travelling to Cologne then Berlin From the moment we arrived in Munich it was the full 5 star experience. They took care of every aspect of the trip from transport, tours and activities. Varya and Mike instantly made you feel welcome and included like life long friends, there chemistry and enthusiasm really do make all the difference. They have built an amazing team around them who are totally committed to making your trip the very best it can be I will defiantly use them again in the future

Jorge Oller

Costa-Rica

Our experience with World of Discoveries has been impeccable. From Qatar’s World Cup onwards, they will be our #1 choice. Varya, Iren, Nathan, Damon, Iren, Lina; Anna and all the rest of the Wofdi team: Thank you!