Located in central Africa, Chad is slightly more than three times the size of California, and is among the 10 poorest countries in the world despite its rich resources of gold, uranium and oil. Chad's lack of economic development is the result of more than 30 years of political instability, continuous rebellions and civil warfare that has left the country's infrastructure in ruin and tens of thousands of Chadians dead.
After two civil wars, evolving primarily from a power struggle between Arab-Muslim northerners and Black African Christians and animists in the south, Chad held its first multiparty elections in 1996, electing President Idriss Deby, who was re-elected in 2001.
Chad is slowly regaining its pre-war reputation as one of Central Africa's liveliest countries, with especially vibrant nightlife, and its economy is expected to expand with the construction of the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline and the development of the Doba Basin oilfield in southern Chad. An Exxon-Mobil-led consortium is at the helm of the Doba Basin oil project, the largest private infrastructure investment ever in sub-Saharan Africa (USD 3.7 billion).
Chad's climate and weather is divided into three zones. The south is warm and tropical with a rainy season from May to November. Central Chad experiences a longer dry season and a brief rainy season between June and September. The Saharan zone in the north has desert-like conditions, with temperatures ranging from 57 to 91 F (14-32 C) in December and 73 to 108 F (23-42 C) in August.
Chad's population is comprised of 200 distinct ethnic groups. Most of the people living in Chad's northern and central regions are Muslim (55 percent) and Christian (35 percent); the south has a high Animist population.
The country's telecommunications system is not well-developed. International direct dialing is extremely expensive and can cost up to USD 20 for three minutes. Links for long distance calls only exist between N'Djamena and Abeche, Moundou and Sarh. A GSM 900 network allows for limited coverage and Internet access is only available in N'Djamena.
Bring U.S. dollars or euros rather than sterling into the country. CFA francs can be difficult to exchange outside the French Monetary Area. Traveler's checks may be exchanged at one or two banks in N'Djamena. Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at the airport, major hotels, and several restaurants in N'Djamena. It may not be possible to obtain cash advances at banks on credit cards.
N'Djamena International Airport (NDJ) is served by several European and African airlines. Flight time from Paris is five hours 30 minutes. The national airline, Air Tchad, operates domestic service to major urban areas and offers international service to Paris. Yellow taxis and car rentals are widely available. Road travel is restricted in many areas in Chad for security reasons. Buses are normally overcrowded and in poor condition.
One- and three-star hotels are only available in N'Djamena.
For a free map of Chad and more detailed information, be sure to click on the Destination Brief above.
Please note: the situation in Chad can be volatile and dynamic. You are encouraged to purchase an Intelligence Brief ($7.50) or Destination Tracker ($25) for complete, up-to-the-minute information on the Country, Security and Health, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Transportation, Communications/Technology, Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language in the Chad.