Travel to Chad — everything you need to know
When to go to Chad?
- November – February — Cool season : The best time to travel: bearable temperatures (20–30°C), passable roads, safari at Zakouma. The Ennedi is accessible and desert nights are cool and starlit.
- July – September — Rainy season (south) : The rains turn the Sahel into green savanna. Roads become difficult or even impassable in the south. The northern desert stays dry but extremely hot (40°C+).
Weather in Chad
Check the weather city by city, starting with N'Djamena.
- N'Djamena: daytime highs from 32 to 42 °C depending on the season, 42 mm of rain per month on average.
- Faya-Largeau: daytime highs from 26 to 42 °C depending on the season, 1 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Chad?
Chad is an off-the-beaten-path adventure destination, offering the Ennedi Plateau (UNESCO) with its sandstone arches and Saharan rock art, and Zakouma National Park, home to one of the last great concentrations of elephants in Central Africa. A landlocked country between desert and savanna, it requires solid logistical preparation.
Ennedi Plateau
The Ennedi Plateau is one of Africa's hidden gems, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its dramatically shaped sandstone rock formations and thousands of 7,000-year-old rock paintings and engravings. The Aloba Arch, among the largest natural arches in the world, and the Guelta d'Archei gorges, last refuge of the Saharan crocodiles, are its landmark sites. Access requires a 4x4 and serious logistical planning.
Highlights : Aloba Arch — one of the largest natural arches in the world, Guelta d'Archei — oasis with relic Saharan crocodiles, Ennedi rock paintings — prehistoric Saharan art, Bichagara — rock formation and Tuareg nomad camp.
Zakouma National Park
Zakouma is one of Central Africa's greatest wildlife conservation success stories. After nearly being wiped out by poachers, its elephant population (over 600 individuals) has bounced back thanks to African Parks. Lions, buffalo, wild dogs, hippos and an exceptional birdlife make it a top-tier safari destination that remains largely off the radar.
Highlights : Elephant herds — spectacular gatherings in the dry season, Zakouma lions — the park's iconic prides, Lake Zakouma — central watering hole with hippos and birds, Goz Beida — starting town with a refugee camp and NGOs.
Lake Chad
Lake Chad, once Africa's 4th largest lake, has shrunk by 90% since the 1960s due to climate change and agricultural water extraction, becoming a symbol of the continent's environmental challenges. Buduma fishing villages still live along its shores and its floating papyrus islands. N'Djamena, the lively capital, is the natural starting point.
Highlights : Buduma villages — fishing communities on the lake's islands, N'Djamena — capital with a large central market, National Museum of Chad — archaeological and ethnographic collections, Bol — the lake's main lakeside town.
Travel budget for Chad
Chad is an inexpensive destination, but tourist infrastructure is almost non-existent outside the main routes. Expeditions to the Ennedi or Zakouma require heavy logistics (4x4, fuel, guide) which account for most of the budget. The CFA franc is the common currency of Francophone Central Africa.
- Backpacker : 45–70 €/j — Simple accommodation, local food, excluding expedition logistics
- Comfort : 90–200 €/j — Decent hotel, safari camp, guide and 4x4 included
Practical tips for travelling to Chad
- Flight from Paris : Flights via Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian) or direct from Paris with Air France depending on season. Total duration ~8–12h.
- Visa : Visa required. Obtained from the Chadian embassy in Paris. A separate photography permit is often required for sensitive sites.
- Currency : CEMAC CFA Franc (XAF). Cash is essential, few ATMs outside N'Djamena. Bring plenty of cash for expeditions.
- Language : French and Chadian Arabic (the trade language). In the desert, Toubou and local Arabic dialects predominate.
- Electricity : Type C and Type E (same as France). Voltage 220V. Power supply is very unreliable outside N'Djamena.
- Health : Yellow fever vaccine mandatory. Malaria present in the south: prophylaxis essential. Meningitis and typhoid vaccines recommended. Bring a full medical kit for expeditions.
- Safety : The northern Tibesti area is not recommended. Lake Chad region (west): Boko Haram risk. Ennedi and Zakouma are relatively safe, but an official guide is recommended. Check your country's official travel advisories before departure.
- Desert logistics : Ennedi expedition: minimum 2 4x4 vehicles, guide mandatory, fuel for 1,000 km. Specialised agencies in Paris or N'Djamena strongly recommended.
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