Week 9: Chad - Thibaut De Bruyker

We arrived at the heart of Africa, Chad. 

There are some countries from where the citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Chad. Unfortunately Belgium was not on that list.

So a visa was required to enter Chad. A single-entry visa costs US$100 for 1 month and multiple-entry visas cost US$150 (3 months) or US$200 (6 months). We had to write a letter of invitation to a member of the administration of Chad. Than we got a letter back that everything was all right and after the payment we’d receive our visas.

The best way to travel to Chad is by plane because there are no railroads and it is impossible to reach Chad by boat unless crossing illegally through Lake Chad. Roads are in bad condition and are mostly unpaved. There is only one paved road, which runs from the North to the South. It is the best road in the country but still it’s a disaster, there are wholes and bumps everywhere. It runs through the center of a number of small villages and drivers should pay attention and be caution. It’s not a good idea to test the maximum speed limit of your car on this road.

Some tips we got from locals are:

• ·      Be very careful
• ·      Drive defensively
• ·      Don’t stop unless there’s a good reason
• ·      Do not drive at night because road bandits are common

What do the people in Chad eat? I must admit that if you'd asked me this question one week ago I would not be capable to give you a proper answer. 

Luckily meat dishes are very popular in Chad, I really enjoyed the lamb a lot. Important to remember is that Muslims find it offensive to eat with the left hand. If eating with or being served by Muslims in Chad, be sure to eat with your right hand only.

Next to that it’s a good advice to bring a health travel guideline book concerning raw fruit and cooking requirements to avoid disease.

In Chad you can easily pay with Euros, but don’t expect this country to be very cheap. It’s expensive compared to the rest of Africa.

Believe me on this: when you buy water don't do this from any stores unless you know the brand. Eat only your own food that you buy in grocery stores. Avoid restaurants whenever possible. Stay away from people that look sick, there are many diseases in Chad to beware of. Go to a doctor once a month if you can afford it.

Sources:

• Wikitravel
• Image