Ouara

Overview

Introduction

This ancient city, now in ruins, is located on a rocky, sparsely populated plain 20 mi/30 km north of Abeche. Ouara was abandoned when the water table dried up 300 years ago, and all that remains are traces of palace walls, queen's quarters, tribunal hall, prisons, tomb, mosque and guard house. The buildings were made with palm trunks, transported from the south by slaves, and bricks strengthened with a mixture of blood and fat from oxen and camels. The eastern part of the city is walled by a small mountain believed to be the home of evil spirits. Hire a guide if you plan to visit the site—the road is difficult to find among the brush and rocks. Regular taxis in Abeche can't make it here. Instead, ask a business owner in Abeche to help you find a motorcycle taxi driver who knows the way (expect tp pay around US$20 return). 400 mi/645 km northeast of N'Djamena.

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