Practical information Chad

Yes, a visa is mandatory for almost all nationalities and must be obtained before departure from Chad's embassies in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, or Washington, depending on your country of residence. A one-month tourist visa costs approximately 100 euros and requires two identity photos, a passport valid for six months after return with two blank pages, a completed form, and an invitation letter. Our agency issues this official invitation letter, an essential document for your file. Allow two to three weeks for processing. The e-visa is not reliably operational at this time. For the Tibesti region and certain parts of the Ennedi, additional permits are required, which our on-site team will arrange for you.

Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory upon entry to the country, with an international certificate required at border control. Vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningococcal meningitis (particularly between December and June during the Sahel dry season), rabies for extended or remote stays, and DTP booster are strongly recommended. Malaria is present year-round in the south and center; discuss preventive treatment with your doctor before departure, such as Malarone or doxycycline. Bring insect repellent and wear long clothing at dusk. We recommend a consultation at a travel medicine clinic six weeks before departure to adjust recommendations according to your itinerary.

Expect between €180 and €280 per day per person excluding international flights, based on two travelers. This budget includes the 4x4 with driver-guide, fuel, accommodation in bivouac or lodge, all meals, administrative permits and mandatory escorts. Fuel is a significant factor in the total cost, with some tracks consuming 30 liters per 100 km. For Zakouma, the lodge package with safaris is around €600 per day all-inclusive. In N'Djamena, a decent meal costs €15 to €25, a night in an international hotel €120 to €180. Flights from Paris to N'Djamena range from €700 to €1,100. Faris will provide you with a detailed quote based on your itinerary.

The main window runs from November to March, the dry season with comfortable temperatures, 18 to 32°C during the day depending on the region, cool nights in the desert that can drop to 5°C in January in the Tibesti. For Zakouma National Park, the best season runs from mid-December to mid-April, with peak wildlife and bird activity in March. Avoid April and May, the hottest months, when temperatures exceed 45°C in the Sahel and the north. The rainy season from June to September makes most tracks in the south and certain Sahelian regions impassable. The Ennedi and Tibesti remain technically accessible year-round, but comfort dictates the cool season.

The 4x4 with experienced driver-guide is the near-exclusive mode of transport outside N'Djamena. The tracks are sandy, sometimes unmarked in the Ennedi and Tibesti regions, requiring careful planning of water, fuel, and supplies over several days. Expect 250 to 400 km of driving per day depending on terrain. For Zakouma, charter flights from N'Djamena cut short a two-day road journey. A few internal air connections exist to Abéché and Faya-Largeau, with irregular frequencies. Public bush taxis and buses connecting major cities are not suited to the tourism traveler, neither for comfort nor flexibility. Our team selects recent vehicles and seasoned drivers.

Chad is a generally stable country but with clearly identified zones to avoid. The Lake Chad strip on the Nigeria side, the eastern borders with Sudan, and certain northern areas close to Libya are subject to restrictions, sometimes fluctuating. Classic tourist itineraries—Ennedi, Zakouma, N'Djamena surroundings, Kanem—are secure and frequented by our clientele. Military escorts are mandatory on certain northern tracks, integrated into our circuits. Low petty crime outside the capital, standard precautions advised in N'Djamena in the evening. Our team monitors the situation daily and adjusts itineraries if necessary. We recommend comprehensive repatriation insurance including medical evacuation.