Safari in Chad

a vast and very little-visited country

At an impressive 1,284,000 square kilometres, the Republic of Chad is the fifth largest country in Africa, twice the size of Texas.

The population is around 14 million people, meaning that the country has the seventh lowest population density in Africa, at around 11 people per square kilometre.

The country lies in the transition belt known as the Sahel, with the extremely arid Sahara Desert to the north and the tropical forest of Central Africa beyond its borders to the south.

The country is deeply religious, with northern parts being largely Moslem (55%), whilst the south is predominantly Christian (40%).

The primary reason to visit Chad is to explore the superb Zakouma National Park, the most important savanna wildlife reserve in Central Africa.

Coming in a close second is the Ennedi area to the north, an area of dramatic rocky mountains and hidden oases, that is known as the Eden of the Sahara.

The country is accessed via the international airport at the capital, N’Djamena.

Chad is usually best visited during the Dec-Mar late dry season, which offers the best conditions in the critical Zakouma area.

The country attracts very few international visitors. Apart from the hotels in the capital N’Djamena and a couple of very simple facilities out in Ennedi and Zakouma, there’s very little in the way of travel infrastructure.

The only practicable way to travel is on a private expedition, in the company of a suitably experienced safari guide.

travel is by private expedition only