Ennedi Plateau, ChadPhoto: Valerian Guillot from Cambridge, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Chad
Chad, made clear: Saharan wonders, planned with care
Chad holds some of Africa's most astonishing and least visited places: the sandstone arches of Ennedi, the blue lakes of Ounianga in the Sahara and the elephant herds of Zakouma. It is also a country where planning really matters. This guide gives you honest answers on safety, entry, money and seasons, so you can decide with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyTravel advice, visa, yellow fever and cash, answered
- LandingN'Djamena's airport and first night, explained
- Your days in ChadCapital, safari and desert, planned around the seasons
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest answersWe tell you plainly where visitors go, and where governments advise against travel.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Chad rewards travellers who prepare. We answer the hard questions first, so you can choose the right trip, the right season and the right partners, and travel with a clear head.
Visiting family in N'Djamena, Moundou or Sarh, or dreaming of Ennedi? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels well planned.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your government's current advice for Chad, which shapes every other choice.
- Choose your ChadThe capital, a Zakouma safari, or a desert expedition to Ennedi and Ounianga.
- Sort the essentialsVisa, yellow fever certificate, euros in cash and the right season, checked against official sources.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape realistic days with specialist operators where needed.
Everything your Chad trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
N'Djamena, Zakouma, Ennedi, Ounianga and Sarh, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
Markets, mosques, museums, desert arches, safari camps and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into N'Djamena and stays in each area.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The Chad few people see
Desert arches and elephant herds
Chad's great draws are wild places: Zakouma National Park in the south east, one of Africa's best conservation comebacks, and the Ennedi Plateau and Ounianga lakes in the Sahara, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are reached with specialist operators and, often, charter flights.
- Zakouma's elephants, buffalo and birdlife in the dry season
- Ennedi's arches, canyons and ancient rock art
- The salt and freshwater lakes of Ounianga
- N'Djamena's markets and the Chari river at sunset
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the parks and the desert fit together.
Chad destinationsPlan with confidence
A realistic route, without the worry
Distances in Chad are huge, roads are few and government travel advice covers much of the country. Our free planner helps you think through seasons, travel times and the kind of support a trip here needs.
- Realistic travel times
- The right season for parks and desert
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Chad
From the capital on the Chari to the savannah of Zakouma and the sandstone of the Sahara.
N'Djamena
N'Djamena
Chad's sprawling riverside capital, with lively markets, mosques and sunsets over the Chari.
Read the guidePhoto: DREOINDJI INES SERVICE, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Salamat region
Zakouma National Park
A remote savannah park with recovering elephant herds, huge buffalo groups and superb birds.
Read the guidePhoto: YACOUB DOUNGOUS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ennedi Ouest and Ennedi Est
Ennedi Plateau
A Saharan sandstone massif of arches, canyons, gueltas and rock art, listed by UNESCO.
Read the guidePhoto: Sven.oehm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ennedi Ouest
Ounianga Lakes
A chain of salt and freshwater lakes in the Sahara, fed by ancient groundwater and listed by UNESCO.
Read the guidePhoto: Jacques Taberlet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Moyen-Chari region
Sarh
A leafy southern city on the Chari river, with a regional museum, markets and easy river walks.
Read the guidePhoto: Valerian Guillot from Cambridge, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Chad safe for visitors?
Chad carries some of the strongest government travel warnings in Africa. The UK, US and other governments advise against travel to large parts of the country, including border areas and the Lake Chad region, and urge great caution elsewhere. Read your own government's current advice before booking, and travel beyond N'Djamena only with established operators.
Do I need a visa for Chad?
Most visitors need a visa arranged before travel, through a Chadian embassy or the official channel your embassy points you to. Rules vary by passport, so check the official source before you book.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Chad asks arriving travellers for proof of yellow fever vaccination, so carry your certificate with your passport. See a travel clinic about malaria prevention and other vaccines too.
When is the best time to visit Chad?
The cool dry months, roughly November to February, are best for most trips. Zakouma is usually open in the dry season only, and the desert is far more comfortable in winter.
What languages are spoken in Chad?
French and Arabic are the official languages, and Chadian Arabic is the everyday common tongue in the north and the capital. In the south, Sara languages are widely spoken. A few French phrases go a long way.
How do I get help planning?
Use our free trip planner to shape your route, or send a question through our contact page.
Ready to find your Bliss in Chad?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates, the seasons and the current advice.