Chad Safari Trips & Tours

Getting there
Airlines flying into Chad include Air France, Egyptair and Royal Air Maroc. If you are travelling from the UK or USA, you will need to make at least one stopover. All flights arrive at the N’Djamena International Airport (NDJ) and, after spending a night in the capital city, you will travel via a charter flight to Zakouma.

Health & Safety
Please consult your personal physician and/or a travel clinic preferably 6 weeks prior to your departure. Vaccine requirements vary based on your country of origin and your travel itinerary and your previous vaccination history. It is best to consult with your physician or the CDC website for guidelines.

Important vaccinations to consider and which may either be required or recommended are: Hepatitis A & B, typhoid, rabies, meningitis and yellow fever. Please always carry your ‘International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)’ or ‘Yellow Card’ with you.

Malaria
We advise that you consult a medical practitioner at least six weeks prior to travel. Malaria is present in Chad and it is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit. Please consult a medical professional regarding which prophylactics will be suitable for you.
In addition to the recommendations of your travel clinic or physician, you may also consider the following proactive preventative measures:

● Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Recommended repellents contain 20-35% DEET but it is a very virulent repellent, and should be used cautiously.
● Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants at dawn and dusk, as well as closed shoes.
● Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed.

If you come down with flu-like symptoms either during or within four to six weeks after your visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice immediately and let him/her know that you have been in a malaria area.

You can also visit www.malaria.org.za for more information.

Communication
Chad country code: +235

Calling overseas from Chad:
From a landline dial 00 followed by the country code plus area code and number.
e.g. USA: 00 1 910 795 1048

When calling from a cell phone dial + prefix followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: + 1 910 795 1048

Money
The official currency in Chad is the Central African CFA Franc (FCFA). You can convert money to FCFA at a bank or Forex Bureau, or withdraw from an ATM at the airport. Please check with your bank for charges and advice when using international ATMs. VISA and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards, while American Express has limited to no coverage. It is advisable to have some cash for smaller shops and for tipping. IMPORTANT: When bringing foreign currency (e.g. USD, GBP, EUR) into the country, be sure to have the new format with no damage or marks.

Gratuities
Gratuities are not compulsory or expected; rather it is a reward for excellent service. If you are pleased with the service you receive, you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff. Tipping is usually done at the end of your stay. You may tip the staff individually, give the tip to the manager to distribute, or do both.

Gratuities suggestions:
Safari Camp lead guide: $15 - $20 per person per day
Transfer drivers (e.g. in cities or between airport and hotel/lodge): $5 per person per transfer
Porter: $1 per bag
Ranger or any “ancillary” guides on ad-hoc basis for a specific activity: $5 - $10 per person per activity
General Camp staff (put in a central box in each camp’s main area): $10 - $15 per person per day

Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents/travelling companions for the duration of your trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities:

Compulsory Insurance:
a. Emergency evacuation expenses
b. Medical expenses
c. Repatriation expenses

Recommended Insurance:
a. Cancellation or curtailment of trip
b. Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

As a general precaution, we recommend you make several copies of your travel-related documents (passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets, insurance cover, visas, etc). Leave one set at home, and bring another set with you, and place it in a location separate from your originals.

Most nationalities do require a visa to enter Chad. Immigration control is very strict, and is known to deny entry to those not meeting the requirements. Passports MUST be valid for at least six months (we recommend nine) from your departure from Chad to home. There must be at least TWO consecutive blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Only the citizens of 14 countries can enter Chad without a visa and stay there for up to 90 days. Visas on arrival are available, but just for people who are given an Entry Authorization letter issued by the authorities of Chad before departure. Only the citizens of Benin can obtain a visa on arrival for Chad without such an authorization letter. As for the rest of the nationalities, they are all required to obtain a visa for Chad before departure.

Please do contact the embassy or consultant in your home country to reconfirm visa requirements, as they change often. Visa Central is also a good resource for further information.

What to pack
Climate
Across the board, Chad is hot and tropical, so high levels of humidity are expected. The south receives the most rain but from November to May, Zakouma experiences its iconic, Sahara-like conditions.

Dress Code
Whilst in N’Djamena, you’ll want to dress fairly modestly in trousers, ¾ sleeves and a scarf, specifically for women, although it is unlikely you’ll need to cover your head. Generally speaking, light layers of clothing in neutral safari colours of green, khaki and beige are the best items to bring with you to Zakouma. Dark colours such as navy or black can attract tstese flies and are best avoided, as are bright colours like yellow, red and purple.

What to pack
Easy to layer, comfortable clothing including long-sleeve shirts and long trousers, and warmer items depending on the time of year
Breathable shoes and / or sandals
Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
Well-sealing water bottle
Insect repellent, hand sanitizer / wipes
A good pair of Binoculars (8x40/8x42 is recommended)
Spare batteries, plug adaptors and charging equipment

Most camps and lodges will have a small medical and first aid kit, but we recommend bringing your own supply of essentials - cough medicine, plasters, vitamins, aspirin and paracetamol, and anything else you use on a regular basis.

Camera Equipment (for the enthusiasts)
• A telephoto lens (200/300mm)
• Flash and fast film (400 ASA) for night photography
• Lots of film (64,100,200,400 ASA) if using an SLR camera
• Spare memory cards for digital cameras
• Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag
• Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, charging capacity can be limited.

Luggage
Please check with your airlines for the specific luggage restrictions relevant to your flight schedule. Many international airlines have a baggage allowance of 20kgs or more per person and commercial airlines generally permit two (2) pieces of checked luggage per person. The carry-on bag must be of such dimensions and weight as set by the airlines.

Transfer to Zakouma
It’s best to check on the luggage allowance as it varies between season, however the amount is usually 15kg.

Electricity
The CAR uses 220V, 50Hz AC, and sockets take mostly Type D, F and E. It is best to bring an adapter/convertor combination.