CHAD

Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings

Adre: this is the place where you must make the entry formalities when you come from Sudan. Get your entry stamp here, otherwise you may have serious problems further in Abeche. Customs, police and "gendarmerie" offices are closed on Sunday, so avoid this day to cross the border if you don't want to wait one day here. Note that here is no accommodation here, unless you want to sleep on the ground! Be sure that you will ask for "registration fees" in every office. Of course, they are all bribes. With a bit of patience and good humour, you may avoid some of them.

Note that the French now need a visa to enter Chad (around US$30 at the Chad Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan).

You must go to the security police office to make them stamp your passport. They are rather nice here, but they want to see the Adre stamp if you come from Sudan. The office is not far from the post office.

Ndjamena: you must register in Ndjamena at the Immigration office. It costs FCFA2000, and you get yet another stamp in your passport.

Eric Boudin, France (Feb 99)

Travel Tips

Money may be a problem in Abeche. There was one bank near the market, Banque Tchadienne de CrΘdit et de DΦp⌠t, but it is closed for an unknown time. Travellers' cheques and cards are useless. Take cash with you - French francs are easy to change. If you have small notes, it is better to ask around the "big" grocery stores, as you will receive a better exchange. If you still have Sudanese pounds, they are easy to change. Beware that what people call 10000 Sudanese pounds ("liras") is a note of 1000 Sudanese dinars. You will hear about the "rial" unit at the market - it means 5FCFA.

In many villages, they don't have good wells, and the only thing you can often get to drink is muddy water. Keep in mind that lots of people in these areas commonly drink from the ponds and find it natural to offer you this water, which is not always safe. It is a good idea to carry a jerry can with you for good water when you find it - there are good wells in Abeche and Ati.

Ndjamena: the main banks are BTCD, BIAT and Federal Bank. They accept travellers'cheques, but commissions are high Eric Boudin, France (Feb 99)

Moving About

You can find old Toyota landcruisers going to Ndjamena. It is cheaper and faster during the dry season (less than 10000 CFA for 2 or 3 days). During the rainy season (July to October), it may cost more than 15000 CFA and last four or five days (without considering breakdowns). For these prices, you sit on the road, squeezed between the other passengers. If you want to sit in a cabin, it will be more expensive. Otherwise, there are planes going to Ndjamena at least once a week.

Landcruisers also go to Geneina in Sudan and Adre. Between Abeche and Adre, expect a hard trip. Eric Boudin, France (Feb 99)

For more news, views and the odd bit of gibberish, drop in on the rec.travel.africa newsgroup.

For detailed up-to-date travel information check out Lonely Planet's Destination Chad.

Check out more African Postcards