Chad

Lying in north-central Africa, Chad shares borders with Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. Its capital is N'Djamena, situated at the confluence of the Chari and Logone rivers. French and Arabic are the official languages, and the Central African CFA franc serves as the currency. Chad's identity is shaped by more than 200 ethnic groups and a meeting point between Arab-Berber northern cultures and sub-Saharan traditions in the south.

Most visitors require a visa to enter Chad, and visa-on-arrival is available at N'Djamena International Airport for many nationalities, though conditions can change. Travellers are advised to consult Chad's nearest embassy or official government channels well in advance, as requirements vary by nationality and processing times can be lengthy.

The Ennedi Massif in the northeast is a UNESCO World Heritage sandstone plateau riddled with natural arches, gorges, and ancient rock art. Lake Chad, once one of Africa's largest lakes, remains a significant ecological and cultural landmark shared across four countries. The Tibesti Mountains contain Emi Koussi, the highest peak in the Sahara at 3,445 metres. Zakouma National Park in the south protects one of Central Africa's most resilient elephant populations. The old quarter of N'Djamena retains colonial-era architecture alongside traditional markets.

Chad spans three distinct climate zones. The north is hyper-arid Saharan desert, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 45 °C and winters can drop to near 5 °C overnight. The central Sahel zone receives limited seasonal rainfall between July and September. The tropical south sees more predictable wet seasons with temperatures ranging 25–35 °C. The cooler dry season from November to February is generally the most practical time to travel, particularly for wildlife visits to the south.

• Lake Chad has shrunk by roughly 90% since the 1960s.
• Chad holds some of the earliest known hominid fossil discoveries.
• Over 200 distinct ethnic groups live within Chad's borders.
• Chadian Arabic is a widely used lingua franca across regions.
• The Ennedi rock art dates back more than 7,000 years.

• tourisme.gouv.td — Chadian Ministry of Tourism official portal
• meteotchad.td — national meteorological service for Chad
• ambatchad-fr.org — Chad embassy network information resource
• lac-tchad.org — Lake Chad Basin Commission official site