N Djamena tourist information
N Djamena
Introduction The dusty capital city of N'Djamena, near the Cameroon border, isn't really worthy of a visit by itself, but as the country's largest city (pop. 512,000), it often figures in a visit to Chad. You might want to take time to browse and people-watch in the market areas (those scattered about town are open only in the morning -- the Central Market has longer hours). Should you find yourself in the city for more than a few hours, you might visit the National Museum. There are some lively nightclubs in town, but ask the personnel at your hotel for tips on which venues are safest for visitors.
Note: Always carry your passport or a photo ID, and plan on showing it at checkpoints, especially at night. Petty crime is common around markets and shopping areas.
N'Djamena is ofen the jumping off point for visits to Lake Chad, which begins about 50 mi/80 km northwest of the capital. To be honest, the lake is not that impressive -- it has been shrinking in size for decades and sometimes dries up completely. Though the water level is highest just after the rainy season, the lake is never more than 5 ft/1.5 m deep. And the hippos that were once common along the shores have begun to disappear. Furthermore, touring Lake Chad is not all that convenient. The most interesting parts require a 185-mi/300-km drive from the capital. There, you can see traditional fishing and reed boats similar to those found on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Peru. Thor Heyerdahl tried to use the Chadian design to build his reed ship, Ra, to sail across the Atlantic, but it fell apart halfway across. (Ra II succeeded, with help from the Peruvians.) The lake is generally seen as a long and tiring day trip from N'Djamena -- there's no place to stay in the vicinity of the lake aside from some camping areas. It's best to get a four-wheel-drive vehicle to negotiate the deep sand along the lakeshore.
Note: Don't wade or swim in the lake -- bilharzia (a parasite that causes potentially fatal liver damage) is present in the water.
N Djamena aerial map
Please click on any icon on the N Djamena aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of N Djamena.
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