Chad

Chad feels like a crossroads of the Sahara, Sahel, and Central Africa all at once. Most trips start in N’Djamena, a dusty-but-energetic capital stretched along the Chari River. Expect traffic circles with goats wandering through, open-air markets piled high with okra and dried fish, and friendly curiosity from locals when you stop for tea. Plan at least a couple of days here to get your bearings before heading deeper into the country.

Daytime heat can be intense, especially from March to June, so aim to do most walking in the early morning and late afternoon. Pack light, breathable clothing and something modest that covers shoulders and knees when visiting mosques or rural villages. With Hello eSIM connectivity, you can buy and activate data before you land, then use maps for navigation from the airport to your hotel and to quickly check safety updates or embassy contacts.

As you arrive, organize your journey with Hello trip planning: save your hotel details, transfer info, and any domestic flights to Abéché, Moundou, or Faya-Largeau. This makes it easier to adapt your itinerary if roads wash out after rain or you decide to detour to Lake Chad or Douguia for a river excursion.

Chad’s wild landscapes are the main reason many travellers come. The Ennedi Massif in the northeast is a highlight: surreal sandstone arches, canyons, and rock formations rising out of the Sahara. Multi-day 4x4 expeditions from Faya-Largeau or Abéché typically include camping under the stars, visiting gueltas (desert waterholes) where camels drink, and seeing ancient rock art. Conditions are remote, so travel with experienced local guides and a well-maintained vehicle.

Closer to N’Djamena, Lake Chad and the Chari River offer a gentler introduction to nature. From Douguia, you can take pirogue (wooden boat) trips at sunset, watching fishermen and flocks of birds glide over the water. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water; the reflection off the lake can be intense.

Connectivity can be patchy in these regions, so download offline maps and key documents while you still have strong Hello eSIM signal in the city. Use Hello trip planning to keep copies of guide contacts, permit details, and emergency numbers all in one place. If you’re sharing costs for a vehicle, fuel, and camping gear, Hello’s expense splitting makes it easy to track who paid for what, even when you’re far from ATMs.

Chadian food is hearty, flavorful, and built around staples like millet, rice, and sorghum. In N’Djamena, try boule (a thick millet paste) served with rich sauces, grilled fish from the Chari River, and sauce gombo (okra stew). Street stalls around the central market fry fresh beignets, sell skewers of brochettes (grilled meat), and offer sweet mint tea that locals linger over for hours.

Expect simple restaurants with limited written menus; often, you just ask what’s cooking that day. To keep things easy, note a few key phrases for chicken (“poulet”), fish (“poisson”), and vegetarian options. Budget around 2,000–4,000 CFA (roughly 3–7 USD) for a basic local meal, more if you’re eating in hotel restaurants or expat-oriented cafés.

Tap water is generally not recommended; buy sealed bottled water, and consider carrying a reusable bottle to refill from large containers at your guesthouse. Use Hello budget tracking to log daily food costs in CFA so you quickly see if you’re leaning too much on hotel buffets instead of exploring local spots. When sharing big meals or ordering several dishes for the table, Hello’s expense splitting helps you divide the bill fairly without complex math at the end of a long day.

Chad uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF). Cash is still king, especially outside N’Djamena. ATMs are limited and occasionally offline, so withdraw enough in the capital for your onward journey. Keep small notes (500–1,000 CFA) handy for taxis, tea stalls, and market purchases. Track how much you’re carrying and spending with Hello budget tracking, which helps you avoid running dry on a long desert leg.

In N’Djamena, getting around mainly means taxis and moto-taxis. Always agree the fare beforehand; short rides within central areas might be 500–1,500 CFA (about 1–3 USD), more at night or for longer trips. Roads can be rough, and traffic is unpredictable, so allow extra time to reach bus stations or the airport. Domestic flights connect a few major towns, but schedules can change at short notice.

For overland travel to places like Moundou, Sarh, or Abéché, you’ll likely use long-distance minibuses or shared 4x4s. Bring snacks, water, and patience—departures often happen when vehicles are full, not at a fixed time. With Hello eSIM, keep maps and translation apps ready for negotiating fares and checking routes, and store tickets, booking confirmations, and emergency contacts in Hello trip planning so everything you need is at hand even when you’re offline.