Ounianga is one of the most difficult places to reach in Chad. There is no scheduled public transport of any kind. The only realistic options are a self-organised 4WD expedition or a guided tour from N'Djamena.
From N'Djamena by road: The overland route north to Ounianga covers roughly 1,200 km through Abéché and Biltine, or via Faya-Largeau through the Borkou Desert. The journey takes three to five days depending on conditions and breakdowns. The road north from Abéché deteriorates significantly beyond Biltine — beyond that it is tracks in sand rather than any maintained surface.
From Libya: Ounianga sits near the traditional caravan route from Kufra, historically one of the main trans-Saharan passages. Crossing the Chad-Libya border at this point requires special permits and is only advisable with a well-equipped convoy. The route is occasionally used by tour operators running full trans-Saharan expeditions.
By air: Kébir Airport is a grass airstrip capable of handling light aircraft. Charter flights can be arranged from N'Djamena but are expensive and weather-dependent. There are no scheduled services.
Permits and escorts: All visitors require a travel permit (laissez-passer) issued in N'Djamena by the relevant ministry. An armed military escort is standard practice on overland routes in northeastern Chad. Arrange this in advance through a Chadian tour operator or the relevant government offices. Attempting to visit independently without permits or escort is not advisable and will result in being turned back.
Season: November to February. The summer months bring extreme heat — temperatures above 45°C are common — that makes travel dangerous and unpleasant.