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Getting to Chad

Chad is appealing for those wishing for an undeveloped tourism infrastructure.

Chad safari guide

Companies: 7 operators
Tour packages: 1 tours
Parks: 1 parks
Currency exchange
1 USD = 556.03 XAF
1 EUR = 655.96 XAF
1 GBP = 762.21 XAF
1 AUD = 422.06 XAF
Capital: N'Djamena
Population: 16 million
Total area:1,284,000 km² (496,000 miles²)
Languages: Arabic, French
Airports: N'Djamena (NDJ)

Recommended vaccinations


MMR

Voltage and plug type

Type D (220V)

Type E (220V)

Type F (220V)


About Chad

Chad is not a country that is readily associated with African safaris but, with its oldest national park—Zakouma—being jointly managed and run with African Parks, things are changing. It is the fifth-largest country in Africa, by area, after Algeria, DR Congo, Sudan and Libya and spans more than 15 degrees of latitude.

The large range makes for a wide variety of climates, topography and peoples. The Sahara covers much of northern Chad, where conditions are sunny, hot and arid for much of the year. Heading south, the climate changes from arid dessert to semi-arid tropical to tropical in the south, where conditions are sweltering and muggy, with an average temperature of 35C, for most of the year. The large latitudinal spread also makes this land-locked country in north-central Africa a crossroads of cultures, languages and peoples. Arabic and French are the official languages.

Chadian cuisine exemplifies the tapestry of cultures, with diets heavier in dairy—reflective of nomadic culture of the north, to spicy peanut stews in the south—reflective of local agriculture and culture. The Chadian diet has been purported to be one of the healthiest in the world. N’Djamena, its capital, lies in western Chad at the confluence of the Chari and Logone Rivers, near the border with Cameroon. Here, daily temperatures average between 30-40C. Conditions are oppressively muggy and wet May through October, with August being the wettest month. Lake Chad, the country’s largest body of water, lies about 130 km (80 miles) north of the capital. Chad was under French rule from the early 1900s until its independence in 1960, celebrated annually on August 11. It was known as Fort-Lamy from 1900 until 1973. The name was then changed to N’Djamena, meaning ‘place of rest’ in Arabic.

When to visit Chad

Although weather conditions are drier and sunnier in the north, the central part of the country’s dry season runs from around October through April. During this time, days are oppressively muggy and hot. In N’Djamena, the coldest day of the year is on January 5th, where the daily low is 15C and the high is 31C. Source: weatherspark 

Established in 1963, Zakouma is Chad’s oldest and largest national park. It was first designated as a hunting reserve in 1958. Noting the high density of wildlife and wishing to conserve it, particular… read more

Most international travelers will enter Chad via the international airport in N’Djamena (NDJ). There are presently 12 direct flights to destinations in 8 countries. Flight connections. Countries with direct flights to N’Djemena are Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Nigeria, Sudan and Turkey.

The following airlines travel to Chad


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Asky Airlines is a passenger airline founded on the initiative of West African governments, and has its head office in Lomé, Togo. It operates across several West and Central African countries, operating out of its hub at Lomé-Tokoin Airport Visit website

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The French flag carrier. Air France, stylized as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France,. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. As of 2013 Air France serves 36 destinations in France and operates worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to 168 destinations in 93 countries (including Overseas departments and territories of France. Visit website

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The flag carrier airline of Egypt, based at Cairo. EGYPTAIR is one of the world’s pioneer airlines. Established in May of 1932, it became the seventh carrier in the world. Mission Create value for our customers, employees, owners & stakeholders. Vision Deliver competitive customer service with true Egyptian spirit. Visit website

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Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the flag carrier of Ethiopia. During the past seventy plus years, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in Africa for efficiency and operational success, turning profits for almost all the years of its existence. Operating at the forefront of technology, the airline has also become one of Ethiopia's major industries and a veritable institution in Africa. It commands a lion's share of the pan African network including the daily and double daily east-west flight across the continent. Ethiopian currently serves 100 international and 21 domestic destinations operating the newest and youngest fleet. Visit website

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The national flag carrier airline of Turkey. Turkish Airlines, one of the most preferred leading European air carrier with global network coverage thanks to its strict compliance with flight safety, reliability, product line, service quality and competitiveness while maintaining its identity as the flag carrier of Turkey. Visit website

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Chad map
Parks and game reserves
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