Chad holidays

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• Overview
• Country info
• Holiday ideas

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Destinations » Africa holidays » Chad holidays

One of the world's poorest countries, with a per capita income of US$200 a year, Chad has been hampered by civil war, poor infrastructure, few natural resources and natural droughts. Seventy percent of the population are subsistence farmers.

Taken from The Traveller's Handbook.

Chad holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a Chad holiday, personal to you.

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Chad tailor-made holiday highlights

N'Djaména
Once one of central Africa's liveliest cities, the capital is trying to rebuild itself since the recent war, although recent fighting has added to the desruction. A colourful daily market in the historic quarter is a great place for finding vividly coloured rugs and jewellery. The National Museum has collections of similar items dating to the Sarh culture, which lived in the area in the ninth century. Visitors will quickly notice the difference between the quiet Arab section of town, and the southern area, full of lively bars and nightlife.

Tibesti Mountains
This astonishing landscape of chasms and crags, seldom seen by non-Muslims, and still closed to travellers, is home to the world's best racing camels and the fierce Toubou tribe, distantly related to the Tuareg of the Western Sahara, made famous by Herodotus as 'Troglodytes' or cave dwellers. Their underground homes were sure to be cool in summer and warm in winter.

Abéché
Surrounded by desert, this town was once the capital of the powerful Ouadaï sultanate. It retains its oriental charms with beautiful mosques, old bazaars, and narrow cobbled streets.

Lake Chad
Once the centre of Africa's lucrative salt trade, the area is now sparsely populated, and the lake is shrinking. It is best visited between August and December, when hippos and crocodiles can be spotted in the higher water levels.

People & place

Chad facts

Capital: N´Djamena
Language: French, Arabic, 50 indigenous languages.
People: Sara, Toubou, Peul-Fulani, Tuareg.
Religion: Muslim, traditional beliefs, Christian.
Size (sq km): 1,284,000.
Population: 9,885,661.
Population density/sq km: 7.6

Etiquette

Relaxed and friendly on the whole, Chadians expect their traditional beliefs and customs to be respected. Though dress is informal it is also conservative in respect of Muslim laws. Do not use the left hand to offer or accept food, or expose the sole of the foot in a Muslim's presence. Always carry identification.

Shopping

Camel hair carpets, leatherware, embroidery, calabashes, knives, weapons, pottery, brass animal figures.

Food & drink

French and African, grilled meat and fish at stalls, tiéboudienne (fish with mixed vegetables and rice). Shortages of some foodstuffs outside the capital. Gala is the excellent locally produced beer.

International Airports

N'Djaména (NDJ) 4 km from the city.

Internal travel

Some internal flights accepting cash payment only. Most roads are dirt tracks and only possible to travel on with 4-wheel-drives. Permits are usually needed. Due to security conditions and a lack of food, petrol and vehicle repair facilities, the government has prohibited travel in some parts of the country. Trucks, mini-buses and taxis common in towns. Clandos (motorcycle taxis) are common out of N'Djaména.

Red tape

Visas

(UK/US) Required.

Vaccinations

BCG, Cholera, Diphtheria, Hep. A, Hep. B, Malaria, Meningitis ACWY Polio, Rabies, Typhoid, Y. Fever3

Driving requirements

International Driving Permit and official authorisation de circuler.

Reps in UK/US

UK: n/a, nearest 65 rue des Belles Feuilles, 75116 Paris, France, tel (1) 4553 3675, fax (1) 4553 1609. US: 2002 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel (202) 462 4009, fax (202) 265 1937, email info@chadembassy.org.

UK/US reps in Chad

UK: The British High Commission in Yaoundé (see Cameroon) deals with enquiries relating to Chad. US: BP 413, avenue Félix Eboué , N'Djaména, tel 251 6211, fax 251 5654, email consularndjame@state.gov.

Currency

Communauté Financiaire Africaine franc (CFA) = 100 centimes.

Finance

Traveller's cheques, Diners Club and MasterCard accepted on a limited basis.

Business hours

0700-1530 Mon-Thurs, 0700-1200 Friday.

Safety & life expectancy

Safety information

Extremely dangerous at the time of publication. Much of the country is lawless and borders are highly unstable. Infrastructure is largely destroyed. Seek latest information at time of visit.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy: M 46.17, F 48.27.

Useful websites for travel

http://ndjamena.usembassy.gov, www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/chad/

Local media

No English-language papers. One, state-owned, TV channel.

Tourist boards

n/a.

Chad tailor-made holiday ideas

N'Djaména
Once one of central Africa's liveliest cities, the capital is trying to rebuild itself since the recent war, although recent fighting has added to the desruction. A colourful daily market in the historic quarter is a great place for finding vividly coloured rugs and jewellery. The National Museum has collections of similar items dating to the Sarh culture, which lived in the area in the ninth century. Visitors will quickly notice the difference between the quiet Arab section of town, and the southern area, full of lively bars and nightlife.

Tibesti Mountains
This astonishing landscape of chasms and crags, seldom seen by non-Muslims, and still closed to travellers, is home to the world's best racing camels and the fierce Toubou tribe, distantly related to the Tuareg of the Western Sahara, made famous by Herodotus as 'Troglodytes' or cave dwellers. Their underground homes were sure to be cool in summer and warm in winter.

Abéché
Surrounded by desert, this town was once the capital of the powerful Ouadaï sultanate. It retains its oriental charms with beautiful mosques, old bazaars, and narrow cobbled streets.

Lake Chad
Once the centre of Africa's lucrative salt trade, the area is now sparsely populated, and the lake is shrinking. It is best visited between August and December, when hippos and crocodiles can be spotted in the higher water levels.