Things to Do in Chad

About Chad

Chad doesn't announce itself—it reveals itself. You feel it first in the dry, oven-blast heat of N'Djamena that makes the air shimmer above the Chari River, and in the quiet, dusty scent of the Grand Marché, where bolts of wax-print fabric unfurl next to women selling doum fruit and piles of millet. This is a country of extremes that refuses to be curated: the Ennedi Plateau’s sandstone cathedrals rise from a sea of sand where no road has ever been paved, the nomadic Toubou herders of the Tibesti still navigate by stars their ancestors named, and the capital’s Avenue Charles de Gaulle offers air-conditioned Lebanese cafés serving hummus that costs CFA 2,500 ($4) next to street-side grills selling skewers of brochettes for CFA 150 ($0.25). Infrastructure is sparse—a flight to Faya-Largeau in the north costs CFA 80,000 ($130) and might be delayed by a sandstorm—and travel here demands patience and resilience. But that’s precisely the point. Chad rewards the effort with a solitude you won’t find anywhere else on the continent, and landscapes so starkly beautiful they feel like visiting another planet.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Getting around Chad is an exercise in patience and planning. Within N'Djamena, shared taxis (bâchés) are the standard, with a fixed fare of CFA 200 ($0.33) for any journey within the city—just flag one down and squeeze in. For longer trips, like the grueling but spectacular journey to the Guelta d'Archei oasis, you'll need a 4x4 with a local driver, which tends to run about CFA 100,000 ($165) per day, including fuel. Domestic flights on Toumaï Air Tchad are the only sane way to reach the far north, but schedules are fluid. Book through their office in N'Djamena, not online. The one app you'll need is Maps.me—download the Chad map before you arrive, as Google Maps is useless outside the capital.

Money: Cash is king, and the Central African CFA franc (XAF) is the only currency that matters. You can exchange euros or dollars at banks in N'Djamena, but rates are better at the unofficial exchange houses along Avenue Charles de Gaulle. ATMs exist in the capital but are notoriously unreliable; arriving with a stash of crisp euro bills is your safest bet. A full meal at a decent local restaurant—think la boule (millet paste) with peanut sauce—costs around CFA 2,000 ($3.30). Credit cards are virtually useless except at the Hilton and a handful of upmarket Lebanese restaurants. Always carry small bills for markets and taxis; a CFA 500 note is the largest you should offer a street vendor.

Cultural Respect: Chad is a deeply conservative, majority-Muslim nation. In N'Djamena, modest dress is non-negotiable—long trousers for men, covered shoulders and knees for women. In smaller towns and villages, it’s respectful to greet everyone in a group, starting with the eldest, with a simple “Salaam alaykum” and a handshake (using your right hand). Photography is a minefield. Never photograph military installations, airports, or bridges—you will have your camera confiscated. Even in markets, always ask permission before pointing a lens at someone; a nod and a smile go a long way. If invited to share tea, accept. The ritual of three small, progressively sweeter glasses is a cornerstone of hospitality, and refusing is a serious affront.

Food Safety: Eat where the locals eat, but be smart about it. The rule of thumb: if it’s cooked in front of you and served steaming hot, it’s generally safe. The brochettes (grilled meat skewers) and dibi (grilled mutton) from street-side braziers are staples for a reason. A plate of dibi with onions and mustard costs about CFA 1,000 ($1.65). Avoid raw vegetables and salads unless you’re in a high-end hotel restaurant. Stick to bottled or filtered water—the tap water isn’t safe. For a truly local (and safe) experience, seek out a maquis in N'Djamena’s Moursal neighborhood for poulet DG (a hearty chicken and plantain stew), which you eat communally with your hands from a shared platter.

When to Visit

Chad's climate dictates your itinerary, not your whims. The short, blissful window is November to February. These are the cool, dry months when N'Djamena's daytime highs are a manageable 32°C (90°F), the Harmattan winds haven't yet filled the sky with dust, and the Sahara's daytime temperatures are merely hot instead of lethal. This is peak season, so flights and guides book up fast; expect to pay 20-30% more for a reputable 4x4 safari into the Ennedi. March to May is the build-up to the inferno: temperatures soar past 45°C (113°F) in the north, and the south becomes humid and stifling. By June, the rainy season transforms the Sahel south of N'Djamena into a green, mosquito-rich landscape, making road travel to places like Zakouma National Park difficult or impossible until October. The one compelling reason to brave the October shoulder season is Zakouma itself—the park reopens, the landscapes are lush, and wildlife viewing is spectacular, but you'll trade that for intense heat and the first dust storms. For most travelers, especially those dreaming of the Sahara, November is your best bet. For wildlife photographers willing to endure mud and heat, late October offers a unique, green Zakouma.