The disappearing Lake Chad

Lake Chad is believed to be a remnant of a former inland sea. Thousands of water birds flock this lake in the pale-arctic winter. The many floating islands are home to a wide variety of wildlife including crocodiles, hippopotamus, fish, waterfowl and shore birds. Thriving fishing villages can be seen dotted along the route, the closest shores of the lake now some 10km away.

The size of Lake Chad has varied over the centuries. According to the United Nations (UN), it shrank as much as 95 percent from about 1963 to 1998 yet they also state that “The 2007 (satellite) image shows significant improvement over previous years”. A fishing industry does still exist, with some fishing villages having sprung up in the middle of the drying lake.
The best time to visit Lake Chad is from August through December, when water levels are at their highest and migrating birds make it their home. Look out for hippos, crocodile and water birds