The checklist as a PDF
Entry, health, money, transport and safety, laid out for print, with their sources and verification date.
Chad
Central Africa
Lake Chad, Sahara desert, green oases, nature reserve and culture. The lakes of Ounianga and the cultural landscape of Ennedi.
- On the map
CapitalN'Djamena
When to goDecember to January
Suggested length6 days min.
CurrencyCentral African CFA franc
LanguagesFrench, Arabic
The Viafro verdict
For whom, and for which trip.
An editorial bearing, with no percentage and no rating: our criteria are written down, and every “good to know” links to its source.
- For which trip
- N'Djaména · Parc national de Zakouma · Abéché
- Best season
- December to January, from N'Djamena’s normals
- Length
- Allow at least 6 days for these 3 essentials, one stop every two or three days. (Viafro’s rule of thumb)
Best time to visit
Twelve months, in colour.
Hover or tap a month: its reading and its source appear. Bars measure rain, the figure is the capital’s mean maximum.
Possible
November
N'Djamena: mean maximum 37 °C, 0 mm of rain · hot.
- Mean maximum
- 37 °C
- Rain
- 0 mm
- Station
- N'Djamena
Source: Wikipedia (climate normals)
Before you go
The essentials, tab by tab.
Entry, health, safety, money and facts: dated official extracts, never paraphrased.
Visa, passport, customs
GOV.UK advice, written for British passport holders. French travellers: see France Diplomatie (https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/tchad/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour).
- To enter Chad, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
- You must have a visa to visit Chad.
- To enter Chad, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk. For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, including yellow fever, see TravelHealthPro’s Chad guide.
Vaccines, malaria, water
This is not medical advice: talk to your doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel.
- At least 8 weeks before your trip: Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Chad. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
- Medical facilities in Chad are poor. Even in N’Djamena hospitals are stretched and sometimes affected by strikes. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Per the ministries
Viafro gives no safety rating: here are the zones and advice published by the French ministry (in French) and the official extracts, with their dates.
Vigilance zones published by France Diplomatie (in French) · page updated on 15 Sept 2026 · see the official map
- Red · Régions formellement déconseillées (en rouge)
Province du Tibesti, province de l’Ennedi et est de la province du Borkou
Des opérations militaires sont régulièrement menées dans ces zones frontalières de la Libye, depuis août 2018, en vue de contrôler les incursions armées de groupes rebelles.
- Orange · Régions déconseillées sauf raison impérative (en orange)
Les villes de Bardaï, Fada, Amdjarass et Bol au nord et d’Abéché et Bongor au centre et au sud
La ville de Bardaï, chef-lieu de la région du Tibesti, les villes de Fada et Amdjarass dans l’Ennedi (Ouest et est), ainsi que la ville de Bol dans la région du Lac font l’objet d’une attention particulière de la part…
- Stay alert and be particularly cautious about street crime. Do not carry large sums of money, jewellery or other valuables. Avoid isolated or less developed areas of towns and do not go out alone or at night.
- There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
What the country’s law provides
Photography, alcohol, drugs, relationships: the rules published by the ministries, quoted as they stand, without comment.
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure you do not offend local cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you plan to visit religious areas.
Currency
Central African CFA francViafro publishes no price or budget range without a source: amounts will come from our own expenses recorded on the ground, dated and itemised.
- There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Chad. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Express card
Structured data from Wikidata and the CIA World Factbook, re-checked at every site update.
- Population · 2025
- 21,003,705
- Time zone
- no time difference with Paris
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, E, F and G plugs · 220 V
- Driving side
- Driving on the right
- Calling code
- +235
- Languages
- French, Arabic
- Area
- 1,284,000 km²
- Highest point
- Emi Koussi, 3,445 m
- Main religions
- Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7%
Getting there and around
Airports, roads and transport.
- NDJN'Djamena International AirportN'Djaména233,957 passengers · official site
- OUTBousso AirportBousso
- MEFMelfi AirportMelfi official site
- AKMZakouma Airportparc national de Zakouma
Direct flights from Paris are to be checked on the airport’s or airline’s website.
On the road
- If you are planning to drive in Chad, see information on driving abroad. You must convert your UK driving licence to a Chadian one to drive in Chad.
Destinations
The essentials.
N'Djaména
N'Djamena (English: ən-jah-MAY-nə) is the capital and largest city of Chad.
Parc national de Zakouma
Zakouma National Park (Arabic: حديقة زاكوما الوطنية) is a 3,000 km2 (1,158 sq mi) national park in southeastern Chad, straddling the border of Guéra Region and Salamat Region.
Abéché
Abéché (Arabic: أبشه, Absha) is a city in central-eastern Chad and the capital of the Ouaddaï Region.
Ennedi
Valerian Guillot from Cambridge, United KingdomMust-try food
Five dishes, and where to taste them.
Kisra
Kisra, also spelled kissra, is a Sudanese popular thin fermented bread made in Sudan, Chad, South Sudan, Algeria and some parts of Uganda and Kenya. It is made from durra or wheat.
Tagalié
Tagalia, also called mullah tagalia or red stew, is a Sudanese and Chadian sauce popular during Ramadan. It is mainly made from onions, minced beef, tomato paste, oil, and spices such as coriander and red pepper. The spices contribute to the sauce's red color.
Daraba
Le gombo gluant ou la daraba est un ragoût traditionnel originaire du Tchad. il est fait à base de gombo haché et de patate douce, de salade de légumes de tomates, de cubes de bouillon. Comme dans les soupes et ragoûts traditionnels de nombreux pays africains, (summary in French)
Karkanji
Le Karkanji ou Karkadai est une boisson fait à base d'hibiscus qui est à la fois épicée et acidulée. C'est une boisson originaire du Tchad. (summary in French)
Esh
Esh, also spelled aiyash, is a common Chadian dish made of boiled flour, typically served with moulah sauce. Esh is a staple food of Chad and is often eaten daily for lunch and dinner. It is consumed throughout Chad and is known by different names such as gou
Culture and etiquette
Customs, dress, useful words.
- Bonjourhello
- Mercithank you
- S’il vous plaîtplease
- Entries checked on Wiktionary.
- Religions: Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7%.
- Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 languages and dialects.
Festivals and events
The big dates.
- National holiday
Independence Day, 11 August (1960) ; independence: 11 August 1960 (from France).
Fixed dates and moveable events, each with its source; moveable dates change every year and are to be checked on an official calendar.
Did you know?
Three things to remember.
The country’s highest point, Emi Koussi, reaches 3,445 m.
21,003,705 inhabitants in 2025 on 1,284,000 km², about 16 per km².
Independence on 11 August 1960 (from France).
Gallery
See it before you go.
Real photographs: free images under a verified licence and Viafro images. Never a generated image. Credits in the footer.
Share your trip with #viafro: the best images will join this gallery, with your credit.
Live, work, invest
A few key figures.
Sourced data (World Bank). No investment advice.
GDP per capita (current US$)1World Bank · 2025GDP growth5.6 %World Bank · 2025Inflation (consumer prices)-3.9 %World Bank · 2025Unemployment (ILO estimate)1.1 %World Bank · 2025International tourist arrivals10.4World Bank · 2020
World Bank data (World Development Indicators), consulted on 28 Oct 2026. Tourist arrivals are the latest year published.
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Sources and verification dates · 18 sources, checked on 28 Oct 2026
Travel advice · GOV.UK (FCDO)Entry, visa, safety: the official page, kept up to date by the ministry. Travel health · US CDCVaccines and precautions from a reference medical source. World Heritage · UNESCOThe country’s inscribed sites and tentative list. WikidataCapital and currency, verified structured data.
- Wikidata · Chad (Q657)
- World Bank · World Development Indicators
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Chad · Foreign travel advice · Entry requirements (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Chad · Foreign travel advice · Health (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) · Chad · Foreign travel advice · Safety and security (page updated on 19 Oct 2026)
- Wiktionary · Checked entries (French)
- Wikipedia · Kisra
- Wikipedia · Tagalié
- Wikipedia · Daraba (ragoût)
- Wikipedia · Karkanji
- Wikipedia · Esh (dish)
- Wikipedia · N'Djaména
- Wikipedia · Parc national de Zakouma
- Wikipedia · Abéché
- CIA World Factbook · Chad (public domain) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- France Diplomatie · Tchad · Travel advice · Security (zones, in French) (page updated on 15 Sept 2026)
- Wikidata · Airports of the country (IATA code, traffic) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
- Wikipedia (climate normals) · N'Djamena · monthly normals (Météo Climat,{{cite web) (page updated on 29 Oct 2026)
Information checked on 28 Oct 2026. Check the official source before you travel. Viafro gives no safety rating and publishes no price without a source.
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