Chad

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.

In N'Djamena there are both vehicle taxis and motorcycle taxis. In some major towns, such as Moundou and Sarh, there might be only "clandos" - motorcycle taxis - or rickshaws (more towards the east of the country) for getting around town.

In October 2018, a domestic Chadian airline was launched, Tchadia Air. It was placed into liquidation in 2022. Charter flights exist to Zakouma NP and Faya-Largeau Airport (for Ennedi), and are used by the more upmarket tours around Chad.

Chad is the quintessential destination to experience the Sahara desert: its ecosystem, but also its past and present forms of human habitation. The Ennedi Massif is a picturesque sandstone bulwark in the middle of the Sahara, which was formed by erosion from wind and temperature. The area is also known for its rock paintings. The Guelta d'Archei is one of the rare pockets of water in the Ennedi, inhabited by the West African crocodile and frequented by camel caravans. The Lakes of Ounianga are a group of 18 ancient lakes with a unique hydrological system. Both the Ennedi Massif and the Lakes of Ounianga are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Since the takeover by the NGO African Parks in 2010, 1 Zakouma National Park. has developed itself into a prime destination for safari connoisseurs. Poaching has been virtually eliminated and wildlife numbers are thriving. Part of the Sudan-Guinea Savannah vegetation zone, Zakouma’s floodplains, rivers, marshes and pans are a sanctuary for West and Central African wildlife. After reintroduction of the Black Rhino in 2018, it also is a ‘Big Five Park’.

Football is the most popular sport in Chad with Les Sao being the international tournament. The Chadian national team have never qualified in the World Cup or the African Cup of Nations. However, home matches are only played at the Idriss Mahamat Ouya Stadium.

Other sites of interest:

Oasis of Faya. - the largest oasis in northern Chad.

Tibesti Mountains - a mountain range in the far north, with the volcano of Emi Koussi and the domain of the Toubou people

Lake Chad. - large border lake, covered by a hundred islands and islets of which many are inhabited.

Guéra Region - a central Chadian region home to a high ethnic diversity and beautiful mountain ranges

Gerewol is a week-long festival, held yearly in late September in the southwest of Chad. The men of the nomadic Woodabe tribe, herding their cattle around Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, congregate to dress up and dance in order to attract a new wife. The festival locations are impossible to find independently, so as a foreigner without links to the community the only way to experience it will be as part of an organized small group tour.Festival of Nomadic Cultures

National Museum N’Djamena

Meat dishes are very popular in Chad, and foreigners speak highly of the meat. Grilled lamb and camel meat are common and tasty and can be found all over the country. In N’Djamena and southern parts of the country fish is also quite common and very tasty. “La bouille” is a very common Chadian almost liquid porridge made from millet, peanut butter and lemons that is served as breakfast. “La boule” is a fufu-like millet/sorghum or corn based food served with different sauces and serves as the daily food of most Chadians.

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. During Ramadan most restaurants in the northern and central parts of Chad are closed and eating and drinking in public is not accepted.

In general, do not drink unfiltered water in Chad. Typhoid and other disease carriers are often present 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 fruity 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.

Chad is a secular country, but the north and center are predominantly Muslim. It is therefore sometimes difficult (and not well regarded) to find and consume alcohol outside of the cities. It's no problem in the south and in N'Djamena.

Years ago few hotels existed in Chad, but now N'Djamena hosts a myriad of almost affordable options plus the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Outside of the capital few hotels or accommodation options exist – in the desert these are non-existent. In many other part of the country hotel rooms might be basic and not very clean. Often international NGOs or churches offer affordable and relatively clean housing and might therefore be the better option. Prices range around 10000CFA per night.

Zakouma NP has 2 safari lodges: the expensive Tinga Camp and the uber-expensive Camp Nomade (by invitation only).

There continues to be potential for instability in Chad, particularly in its border regions and in the run-up to and during major political events. The Lake Chad region (threat of Boko Haram jihadists) and the other border areas are considered the most dangerous due to potential for armed conflict and minefields.

N'Djamena is relatively safe, although one should be wary of petty street crime and corrupt police/officials who will strictly enforce the 'no photography'-rule.

Most border crossings are extremely difficult (Sudan and Libya not being viable options) although the border crossings with Niger and Cameroon are relatively painless.

Floodings are another risk factor: during the rainy season (roughly June - September) heavy rain on the dry ground repeatedly leads to flooding and landslides and as a result to damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and even loss of lives.

Officially, Chad has the worst tap water quality in the world. 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. Proof of Yellow fever and Covid vaccinations are mandatory to enter the country.

The country is in the African Meningitis Belt. Malaria is the country's deadliest disease. The capital N'Djamena and the South in general lie in the high risk zone for mosquitos. The drier northern region (including Ennedi) sees fewer of them, though they may occur in oases such as Ounianga.

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.

Do not discuss the Chadian-Libyan conflict; Chadians living in Libya have been tortured and murdered.

As in other Sahel countries, natives are reluctant to be photographed, so always ask. Also there is a general ban on photography for anything that might be of any military or governmental importance.

The rate of internet use is low – 10% of the population as of 2020 but steadily increasing. Mobile telecommunication is the easiest way to connect while travelling. You can buy SIM cards of one of the bigger telecommunication enterprises (Airtel & Moov) almost everywhere on the streets. Recharging Minutes to call or MB for internet connection is pretty simple and the way to go, since there is not many places that offer stable Wifi connections.

3G/4G coverage is limited to N'Djamena and a few other large towns. Receiving data outside of N'Djamena is only possible with a Chadian SIM and just now and then in the bigger towns (and outside of peak hours). 2G coverage is much more extensive.

A number of eSIM providers have products for Chad. Look at Airalo, easySim, Holafly and others. These are usually data only but you can buy before arrival and be up and running as soon as you arrive. Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible.

Social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp have been intermittently blocked since March 2018 and then are only accessible via VPN.