Transportation in Chad offer visitor the option of a bus and ferry ride. The cities and towns of the country enjoy the facilities of good buses and ferry transport. Transportation in Chad is also very economical.
Chad has an estimated 33,400 kilometers of roads. Only 450 kilometer of the roads is paved. In 1992, there were about 8,720 passenger cars and 12,350 commercial vehicles in use. These included trucks and buses. As there are no railways in the country road transport is the most important mode of transport.
The transportation scenario in Chad is developing. During the rainy season, the roads become impassable and the economy slows down almost to a standstill.
Travel by road outside N'Djamena is possible by 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Permits are usually needed for driving out into the countryside. In rural areas drivers should watch out for livestock. As there are no emergency services drivers need to exercise extreme caution.
Buses ply regularly to Sarh during the dry season. Minibuses and bush taxis operate between N'Djamena and Kousseri in Cameroon. Public transport is also available to the Central African Republic, Niger and Nigeria. It is necessary to change vehicles at the border. Taxis operate in N'Djamena, with a flat fare charged. A 10 per cent tip is sought by taxi drivers.
The Government has restricted travel, to the central and northern areas of the country. Petrol is expensive and petrol stations are not widely available. While traveling it is advised to travel in convoy. One should keep doors locked, carry spare fuel and supplies, and not travel after dark, due to the potential for highway bandits. International Driving Permit is required for car hire as well as an official authorization de circular.
Total waterways cover 4,800 kilometers of which 2,000 kilometers are navigable all year. On the Chari, between N'Djamena and Lake Chad, transportation is possible all year round. During the months of September and October, the Logone is navigable between N'Djamena and Moundou, and the Shari between N'Djamena and Sarh.
Air Chad provides internal service to 12 locations. In 1997, scheduled airlines in Chad carried 93,000 passengers on domestic and international flights.
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