Chad

Chad is a vast, landlocked country in north-central Africa where Saharan deserts, Sahelian grasslands and southern savanna meet. Its remote landscapes, long history and diverse cultures give it a raw, distinctive character that appeals mainly to adventurous travellers, researchers and business visitors.

The capital, N'Djamena, is the main gateway and sits on the Chari River near the border with Cameroon. Other important centres include Moundou, the country's industrial hub in the south, Sarh in the cotton-growing region, and Abéché in the east, a historic crossroads with links to the former Ouaddaï kingdom.

Chad's geography ranges from the volcanic Tibesti Mountains and the rock arches of the Ennedi Massif in the north to the shrinking wetlands of Lake Chad in the west and Zakouma National Park in the southeast. Across the Sahel and savanna, mud-brick architecture, mosques, markets and dozens of ethnic groups reflect centuries of trade and history, from the Sao civilisation to the Kanem and Ouaddaï empires.

Chad became independent from France in 1960 and remains a crossroads of Arabic and French influence. Today its economy centres on oil, cotton, livestock and trade, while N'Djamena hosts government, business and international activity in the region.

Transport within Chad relies mainly on roads and air travel, with N'Djamena International Airport as the principal entry point. A limited but practical network of highways, airport shuttles, private transfers, chauffeur services, charter vehicles and car rental supports journeys between airports, cities, hotels, business districts and more remote destinations.