#2: [19-Feb-08]

30-Oct-2005 -- We were at the Waterfowl Sanctuary camp of the Chad Basin National Park at Dagona where we spent the night after having visited 12N 11E the day before. We expected the rest of our group to arrive in the afternoon. The confluence 13N 11E is around 55 km air distance from this location.

Around 8 a.m. after a good breakfast, we started our bikes and rode towards this Confluence. We followed the road from Dagona to Bukarti and before Gashua, we turned off towards the North, there where deep sand tracks and riding proved to be very strenuous and tricky. Babs had a fall in these deep sand tracks, which was not a problem because the sand is soft, but her leg got caught very unfortunately underneath the bike with the exhaust burning her calf. It took her some time before she managed to get her leg free again. This incident resulted in a nasty burn wound. After attending to the wound and having a short rest, we were faced with the decision to continue or return to the camp. Babs felt confident enough to carry on and master the remaining 8.5 km to the Confluence. To avoid the deep sandy tracks we now took the direct line through the Sahel and managed to get to the confluence 13N 11E via this route.

It was around noon and very hot at the Confluence. After we completed taking the necessary pictures, we started the return trip. We took a different route back. There where a lot of interesting things to have a closer look at and take some pictures, but it was simply too hot to stop and start the bikes afterwards. However, when we came across a waterhole where some nomads were busy watering their camels, we stopped to take some pictures.

We were back at the Dagona camp by 2.30 p.m. Shortly earlier the rest of our group had arrived. The next morning we all went to the Bulatura Oases near the border to Niger. The Bulatura Oases referred to are made up of a series of fertile dune depressions with swampy valleys. We visited three of these oases. Before returning, we visited the market at Bulatura. It was a very lively and busy place. The Kanuri women where all dressed up in their colourful dresses. It was a really beautiful sight. The next days we visited the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands for the day. It is amazing to see this contrast of semi-desert habitat and the abundance of water within such a short distance.

Continued at 12N 12E.