CHAD – General

Climate. Each year a tropical weather system known as the inter-tropical front crosses Chad from south to north, bringing a wet season that lasts from May to October in the south, and from June to September in the Sahel.
Landscape. The country’s landscape comprises broad, arid plains in the centre, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest, and lowlands in the south. Lowest point: Djourab Depression (160 m/525 ft). Highest point: Emi Koussi (3,415 m/11,204 ft).
The dominant physical structure is a wide basin bounded to the north, east and south by mountain ranges such as the Ennedi Plateau in the north-east. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the remains of an immense lake that occupied 330,000 km² (205,000 mi²) of the Chadian Basin 7,000 years ago. Although in the 21st century it covers only 17,806 km² (11,064 mi²), and its surface area is subject to heavy seasonal fluctuations, the lake is Africa’s second largest wetland.
Language. The main languages of Chad are Arabic and French. Few Chadians other than the educated and well-travelled speak literary Arabic; however, a dialect of Arabic known as “Chadian Arabic” is much more widely spoken and is the closest thing the country has to a trade language. Chadian Arabic is significantly different from literary Arabic, but similar to the dialects of Sudan and Egypt. Literary Arabic speakers can typically understand Chadian Arabic but the reverse is not true. Over one hundred indigenous languages are also spoken.

GET IN
VISA. Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.
For all others, a visa is necessary. A single-entry visa costs US$100 for 1 month and multiple-entry visas cost US$150 (3 months) or US$200 (6 months). A letter of invitation is required.
By plane. Air France has daily flights from Paris to N’Djaména. Ethiopia Airlines flies to Addis Ababa, Turkish airlines to Istanbul, Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Sudan Airways to Khartoum, Egypt Air to Cairo, and Camair-co to Douala.
By train. There are no usable rail links.
By car. Libya “temporarily” closed its land border with Chad in December 2012. It is unknown when the border will reopen.
Roads are in disrepair and are typically unpaved – there is only one paved road, which runs from Massakory in the north through N’Djamena on to Guelendeng, Bongor, Kelo, Moundou, Doba, Koumra, Sarh, and Kyabe. It is the best road in the country but still has numerous potholes and as it runs through the centre of a number of small villages, drivers should exercise caution and moderate speeds even while on the main road. The newest section of road (from Moundou to Kyabe) is still in reasonably good condition as of 2019.
There are several border crossings with Cameroon, most notably via Kousseri near N’Djamena and near the towns of Bongor and Lere. Be very careful, drive defensively, and don’t stop unless absolutely necessary. Do not drive at night, as coupeurs de route (road bandits) are common. They are a particular concern along the two roads leading out of Guelendeng, towards Ba-Illi (where expats were attacked in two separate incidents in 2005, resulting in the death of one Catholic nun) and towards Bongor.

GET AROUND
In N’Djamena there are vehicle taxis. In some major towns, such as Moundou and Sarh, there are “clandos” – motorcycle taxis – for getting around town.
In October 2018, a domestic Chadian airline was launched, Tchadia Air. It is based in N’Djamena, with regular flights to Abeche, Bangui, Douala, Faya-Largeau, Kano, Khartoum, Moundou, Niamey, and Sarh.

SEE
Oasis of Faya
Lake Chad
Ennedi Plateau

DO
Inside the crater of Emi Koussi
Parc National de Zakouma

CURRENCY
The currency of the country is the Central African CFA franc, denoted FCFA (ISO currency code: XAF). It’s also used by five other Central African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the West African CFA franc (XOF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of €1 = 655.957 CFA francs.
There are no restrictions on bringing foreign currencies into Chad. Euros and US dollars are often accepted in payment. Chad is an expensive place compared to much of Africa.

CUISINE
Meat dishes are very popular in Chad, and foreigners speak highly of the meat. Lamb and camel meat are common and tasty. Food is usually eaten without utensils, and hand sanitizer may be a good precaution. Muslims find it offensive to eat with the left hand. If eating with or being served by Muslims in Chad, eat with your right hand only.
Follow common health travel guidelines concerning raw fruit and cooking requirements to avoid disease. The US State Department website has resources concerning safety while eating abroad.
Drink. In general, do not drink unfiltered water in Chad. Typhoid and other diseases are often contained in unfiltered water. Bottled water should be safe, but make sure the bottle is properly sealed, as some street vendors will take old bottles and refill them with unfiltered water.
Soft drinks are popular in Chad and are generally safe to drink. Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Top (a fruit-flavored soft drink) are the most popular.
Hot drinks should usually be safe to drink since the water has been boiled. Tea, coffee, and hot milk are very popular in Chad.

ACCOMMODATION. Years ago few hotels existed in Chad, but now N’Djamena hosts a myriad of affordable options.

STAY SAFE
Chad is consistently engulfed in political turmoil and attacks from rebels will probably not happen, but are certainly possible. The situation has stagnated, but it remains a threat. Violence from the Darfur conflict overspills into Eastern Chad from Sudan, a country which shares hostilities with Chad. Any activity outside of N’Djamena is done with difficulty at best. Northern Chad is barren, scorching desert and guides (good luck) and meticulous planning are required. In 2013, Boko Haram jihadists were spotted in Chad.
N’Djamena is relatively safe, although one should be wary of petty street crime and corrupt police/officials. Most border crossings are extremely difficult (Sudan and Libya not being viable options) although the border crossings with Niger and Cameroon are relatively painless.

HEALTH
Drink water brands you recognize from stores. Eat at restaurants recommended to you by friends and locals you trust. Eat food that has been freshly prepared and cooked well. If you are eating local dishes, make sure the food was freshly prepared, cooked well, and still warm from the grill or cooking pot. Wash your hands often.
Ensure your vaccinations are up to date before visiting Chad. The country is in the African Meningitis Belt

RESPECT
There are 200 distinct ethnic groups. In the north and center: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000 French citizens live in Chad.
The Chadian-Libyan conflict is something to be avoided at all times; Chadians known to be living in Libya have been tortured and murdered on previous occasions.

CONNECT
The rate of internet use is low – 5% of the population as of 2017.
Social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp have been blocked since March 2018 and are only accessible via VPN. The sites remain blocked as of April 2019 with no end in sight.