Chad Safari, Tours & Holidays

Chad, officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the south-west, Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west.

Virtually unvisited for three decades due to a series of civil wars, the last of which ended in 2010, the country has finally reached a level of stability and is opening up to travellers, albeit under certain conditions which the traveller would do well to understand.

By definition, the choice is limited in Chad. Currently, despite rumours of Enedi in the north opening up, Chad remains complicated at the time of writing and Zakouma is the only place you can realistically expect to visit on a pre-arranged safari. However, the resounding success story in terms of conservation is Zakouma National Park, brought back from the brink by Africa Parks, this rich and diverse park is well worth a visit.

Zakouma has been off-limits for the last three decades – tantalizingly however it’s possible to visit this important wilderness once again. Zakouma is, in parts, strongly reminiscent of some of its better-known peers – the Bahr Salamat looks like the Luangwa River with its sand-bars and nesting Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, while its concentrations of enormous crocodiles are comparable to the Katuma in Katavi.

It provides an eccentric mix of the familiar with the unusual. The most remarkable thing about Zakouma is the work of Africa Parks on the conservation front; it has been hauled back from basket-case status to that of a viable national park and those who will gain most from visiting (and be most welcomed) are those looking to be involved as serious donors with the project. Conservation and rarity value aside – it is worth taking a clear-eyed look at the safari experience in Zakouma and asking all but the most committed whether the additional cost is justified by the experience on offer.