Money and payments
Cards and cash
There are Ecobank ATMs in Chad where you can withdraw cash with a Mastercard or Visa card.
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Africa · Middle AfricaOutline guideCountry in Central Africa
Photo: Burmesedays, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Chad (Arabic: تشاد, French: Tchad) is a landlocked country situated in the centre of Africa. Chad is home to more than 200 different ethnic groups (making it one of the most diverse countries in the world) and there are national parks, desert lakes, sand dunes, canyons and camel caravans that will interest the daring and adventurous.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Chad.
Cards and cash
There are Ecobank ATMs in Chad where you can withdraw cash with a Mastercard or Visa card.
You can buy SIM cards of one of the bigger telecommunication enterprises (Airtel & Moov) almost everywhere on the streets.
Officially, Chad has the worst tap water quality in the world.
Officially, Chad has the worst tap water quality in the world. Drink water brands you recognize from stores. Eat at restaurants recommended to you by friends and locals you trust.
There are 200 distinct ethnic groups.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the national capital and largest city
the country's second-largest city
capital of Ouaddai province and historical capital of the Wadai Empire
largest city in the north of the country
Places in Chad on the World Heritage List.
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The northern part of the country, which is also the driest.
The location of the capital, this region is the central part of Chad.
In the south (Soudanian) part of Chad, the climate is wetter.
Public transport and paid services in Chad.
In N'Djamena there are both vehicle taxis and motorcycle taxis.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Chad.
Finding apps for Chad…
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
N'Djamena · International · NDJ
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in N'Djamena
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 34° | 37° | 40° | 42° | 41° | 38° | 35° | 31° | 32° | 36° | 37° | 34° |
| Avg. low | 15° | 19° | 22° | 26° | 28° | 26° | 24° | 23° | 23° | 22° | 19° | 16° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 60 | 133 | 192 | 92 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Humidity | 17% | 14% | 12% | 18% | 33% | 49% | 65% | 77% | 75% | 55% | 26% | 19% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$40
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$115
Per person, per day
Luxury
$300
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $20 | $65 | $175 |
| Food and drink | $10 | $25 | $55 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $25 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $45 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 4 of 4Do not travel
Do not travelin Chad for any reason due to risk of crime, terrorism, unrest, inadequate health infrastructure, kidnapping, and landmines. Outside of N’Djamena, the U.S. government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chad. U.S. government employees working in Chad need special authorization to travel outside of the capital due to safety risks. Embassy N’Djamena has implemented in-city restrictions for U.S. government employees, to include limits on areas acceptable for night driving and requirements for mandatory armored vehicle use. Crime Both violent and petty crime are a real danger in Chad. Violent crimes include muggings, purse snatching, armed robbery, home invasion, carjacking, and sexual assault. Common petty crime includes pickpocketing. Both visitors and residents face these threats. Limited resources and inadequate law enforcement training hinder police response to serious crime in most areas. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Chad. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist groups have targeted: Religious venues Schools Government buildings Police stations Transportation hubs Markets Areas visited by tourists, including national parks These attacks have resulted in the deaths of Chadians as well as foreign visitors. Americans should remain alert and avoid large public gatherings. Unrest Protests can happen without warning. They often develop around special events or political issues like elections. When…
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti provinces FCDO advises against all travel to the northern provinces of Chad: Borkou Province Ennedi Ouest Province Ennedi Est Province Tibesti Province Kanem Province, including Nokou FCDO advises against all travel to the western part of Kanem Province, including the town of Nokou. Lake Chad region FCDO advises against all travel to the Lake Chad region. Within 30km of all Chad’s other borders FCDO advises against all travel to within 30km of all of Chad’s other borders. The rest of Chad FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Chad, including the capital, N’Djamena. Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Limited UK government support Support for British nationals is severely limited in Chad with assistance provided remotely from British High Commission Yaoundé. In-person assistance is not available. If there is serious violence, unrest or a deterioration in the security situation, it could be difficult to leave safely. Do not rely on the UK government to…
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Chad.
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Nature & adventureMany of these parks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They can be visited for safaris, to see the African flora and fauna.
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Nature & adventureAs of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary.
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