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African savannah at sunset
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This arid land-locked country located in Central Africa does not welcome many visitors, other than those who are not daunted by its reputation for edgy policemen, poor roads over long distances and the unavoidable excessive heat at certain times of year. But those who make it in spite of some harsh conditions are rewarded by some great experiences on offer. From the northern part in the Sahara to the southern regions in the Sahel, the must-see sights include the stunning Tibesti Mountains, the shrinking but still beautiful Lake Chad and the Zakouma National Park.
The country's capital city Ndjamena is undergoing rapid development, while still having pockets of neighbourhoods where mud huts are the most common form of dwelling and farmers still cultivate the banks of the Chari River. Alongside all this, and in spite of its war-ravaged history, the feel is generally and increasingly lively and upbeat. Travellers will love to explore the colourful daily market, the best place to browse and barter for Chadian fabrics and jewellery, as well as the National Museum which houses some of Africa's most important archaeological treasures from the Sao and Kanem Empire and from the Sarh culture dating back to the ninth century. The city is beginning to regain its pre-war reputation as one of the best places in the Sahel for nightlife, and there are many bars which come alive at dusk to provide travellers with the perfect surroundings in which to regail anyone willing to listen with stories of their experiences over a bottle of Moundou's beer.
Well worth a detour would be a chance to see the fierce Toubou tribe racing camels in the Tibesti Mountains. Related to the legendary 'Troglodytes' from the writings of Herodotus, they live in an astonishing rugged landscape of chasms and crags which is as yet closed to travellers, so that the spectacle is best watched from afar. Another tour that should be undertaken is to the Zakouma National Park, 800km south east of Ndjamena, which was restocked and revamped by government and foreign investment following its decline during the war years, and which now is one of the region's best places to wonder at the incredible wildlife on display, including large herds of elephants, giraffes, wildebeests and lions.
Lake Chad is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, once the centre of Africa's lucrative salt trade, and still exploited using traditional reed boats for fishing. These wetlands support a diverse range of bird species, although it is becoming more unlikely that you will spot a hippo on the banks of the lake. You may also enjoy a trip to the town of Moundou, Chad's second-largest town where you can see the Gala brewery, the Premier Musée du Logone Géographique, and admire the ss of local craftsmen and women as wood-carvers and painters produce their wares at the Centre Artisanal.
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|
African savannah at sunset
|
This arid land-locked country located in Central Africa does not welcome many visitors, other than those who are not daunted by its reputation for edgy policemen, poor roads over long distances and the unavoidable excessive heat at certain times of year. But those who make it in spite of some harsh conditions are rewarded by some great experiences on offer. From the northern part in the Sahara to the southern regions in the Sahel, the must-see sights include the stunning Tibesti Mountains, the shrinking but still beautiful Lake Chad and the Zakouma National Park.
The country's capital city Ndjamena is undergoing rapid development, while still having pockets of neighbourhoods where mud huts are the most common form of dwelling and farmers still cultivate the banks of the Chari River. Alongside all this, and in spite of its war-ravaged history, the feel is generally and increasingly lively and upbeat. Travellers will love to explore the colourful daily market, the best place to browse and barter for Chadian fabrics and jewellery, as well as the National Museum which houses some of Africa's most important archaeological treasures from the Sao and Kanem Empire and from the Sarh culture dating back to the ninth century. The city is beginning to regain its pre-war reputation as one of the best places in the Sahel for nightlife, and there are many bars which come alive at dusk to provide travellers with the perfect surroundings in which to regail anyone willing to listen with stories of their experiences over a bottle of Moundou's beer.
Well worth a detour would be a chance to see the fierce Toubou tribe racing camels in the Tibesti Mountains. Related to the legendary 'Troglodytes' from the writings of Herodotus, they live in an astonishing rugged landscape of chasms and crags which is as yet closed to travellers, so that the spectacle is best watched from afar. Another tour that should be undertaken is to the Zakouma National Park, 800km south east of Ndjamena, which was restocked and revamped by government and foreign investment following its decline during the war years, and which now is one of the region's best places to wonder at the incredible wildlife on display, including large herds of elephants, giraffes, wildebeests and lions.
Lake Chad is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, once the centre of Africa's lucrative salt trade, and still exploited using traditional reed boats for fishing. These wetlands support a diverse range of bird species, although it is becoming more unlikely that you will spot a hippo on the banks of the lake. You may also enjoy a trip to the town of Moundou, Chad's second-largest town where you can see the Gala brewery, the Premier Musée du Logone Géographique, and admire the ss of local craftsmen and women as wood-carvers and painters produce their wares at the Centre Artisanal.