Chad Travel Guide

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Shopping

Chad has an excellent crafts industry. Items include camel-hair carpets, all kinds of leatherware, embroidered cotton cloths, decorated calabashes, knives, weapons, pottery and brass animals.

Shopping hours: Tues-Sat 0900-1200 and 1600-1930. Food shops open Sunday morning. The market in the capital is open from 0730 until dusk.

Currency

CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XAF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XAF10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of XAF250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1.

Chad is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency Exchange

It is advisable to bring US Dollars or Euros rather than Sterling into the country. CFA Francs can be difficult to exchange outside the French Monetary Area.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at two hotels in N’Djaména. It may not be possible to obtain cash advances at banks on credit cards.

Travelers Checks

May be exchanged at one or two banks in N’Djaména. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in Euros.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import of local currency; visitors can export up to XAF10,000. There are no restrictions on importing foreign currency providing it is declared on arrival; up to the amount of foreign currency imported and declared can be exported.

Banking Hours

Mon-Sat 0700-1300, Fri 0700-1030.

Exchange Rate