Travel Guide Faya-Largeau

This vast 70 km long palm grove, extending to the north-west to Kirdimi, houses a population of Toubou, Kamadja, Fezzanais (Libyan), Vivant de market and trade caravans and dates with the Libyan cities of Kufra and Sabha and the Ouaddai region. But now it's mostly the military that are omnipresent in the city and control its entire activity. The oasis has always been, since the beginning of the th century, a base occupied by military personnel. The French were struggling to conquer it and installed méharistes units and troops that remained until 1965, following the military defence agreements signed at the time of independence. In this connection, note that a small contingent of the French army is currently based in Faya as part of Operation Barkhane. Although this is not their primary task, you can always get closer to these soldiers, avenants, in the event of health concerns.The trail that arrives in Faya leads to a plateau from which you can discover the whole oasis; The soft green of the glazed palms of the palms contrasts surprisingly with the ochre of the sands and rocks surrounding and the white of the sculptures de de. Faya is installed on an abundant shallow water table, in which the roots of the palm trees penetrate directly; each family has its own well in its concession, so much water is abundant. The Chinese had tried to take advantage of such a blessing by setting up wheat, apple trees and vines, which were immediately fructifié. However, the local population did not wish to take over this more work, and preferred to be satisfied with dates, as has always been done by its ancestors, nevertheless maintaining the vines that give a delicious grape to the months of June and July and offer the shadow of the green on which they are grown.The hot months (May to August), however, are feared by the inhabitants of the region, because they see the little yellow scorpions, mortal… On the other hand, there would be no anopheles in the Ennedi, and therefore no malaria!According to the 2010 census, the population of the Ennedi region does not exceed 100 000 inhabitants, including nomads. But can we only count these elusive travellers? Their total number is estimated at about 400 000 inhabitants, representing just over 3% of the Chadian population.