N'Djamena (pron. en-jah-may-nah) is the capital of Chad. It is by far the country's largest city, with a population of 1 million people. It lies directly on the border of Cameroon, and is on the confluence of the Chari and Logone rivers. The city has been at the centre of many heated rebellions and revolts, and in February 2008 was entered by rebel troops.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
During the day, taxis charge 3,000 CFA. At night, taxi fares increase to 5,000 CFA. Agree on the price before you step in the car. Pay when you reach the your destination. It's your responsibility to have exact change. Fares range from 250 CFA to 1,000 CFA, depending on the distance. Do negotiate. Only take moto-taxis that are from official taxi stations, usually on the corners of major intersections.
There are many mosques to see in the city, as well as a cathedral and the presidential palace (be careful about taking photos though). And do not forget the views across the river. Sunset can be quite spectacular. 1 Chad National Museum. The National Museum of Chad, containing many artifacts from its history. Some pieces are lost due to looting during the last civil war, particularly the Sao terracotta artifacts which were placed on the Red List of African Archaeological Objects to alert global auction houses, museums, and customs agents against buying them. The collection is much smaller today, but visitors can still see Sao artifacts.
Go shopping in the local markets, even if only for an afternoon snack, that are scattered throughout the city. This lets you experience the everyday life and culture of Chad, and also helps contributes to the country's poor economy. Avenue Charles de Gaulle. With many colonial houses and embassies, this road is a reminder of the French colonial days.
1 Cote Jardin, Rue Idriss Miskine, ☏ +235 63 59 82 12, +235 66 40 67 16, cotejardin.ndj@gmail.com. Tu–Su 11:00–23:30. (updated Nov 2017)
Chad is a majority Muslim country, so do not expect alcohol to be as widely accepted as in some other countries, particularly outside N'Djamena. The country does however have a brewery in N'Djamena producing the local Gala beer in addition to Castel, Beaufort, Doppel, 33 and Guinness. Bottles are quite large, typically 0.5L or 0.65L for 33. 1 Antique Cafe Snack, Rue 3015, ☏ +235 66 52 02 49. Mmmm, milkshakes! Other cold and hot beverages plus food. (updated Feb 2024) 2 Hybah Coffee House, Boulevard du President N'Garta Tombalbaye, ☏ +235 66 72 99 79. Coffee House that also has typical cafe food. (updated Feb 2024)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, N'Djamena typically sees ~32°C daytime highs and 22 rainy days.
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