The main street of N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, is a commercial thoroughfare lined with colonial-style buildings that date from the time during which the country was occupied by France. Much of the street was damaged by violence in 1981 and again in 2008, making it representative of Chad's history, both older and modern.
A stunning geological formation, the Guelta d'Archei is several hours south of the town of Fada and only accessibly by foot. Once inhabited by people, as shown by the primitive drawings on its walls, this place is now famed for the herds of wild animals it houses.
Once a major stop on the path Arabic slave traders took to the sea, Abéché still retains some of its Oriental charm. The town is worth a visit for its mosques, markets and a palace that one was home to the region's sultan.
Almost 1200 square miles in size, Zakouma occupies much of the lush southern part of the country. Home to huge herds of elephants, giraffes and lions, the park still suffers from a poaching epidemic that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of animals, particularly elephants. Zakouma was recently nominated by Chad as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Toubou tribe put on some of the best camel racing in the world in this arid region of craggy bluffs and deep chasms. Few people have seen this area, which remains mostly closed to outsiders. The region is best observed from Emi Koussi, a dormant volcano over 11,000 feet tall.
Located in Chad's west, the lake provides water to over 20 million people in the region surrounding it. Very shallow--it is little over 30 feet deep at its deepest section--the lake has shrunk dramatically over the last 80 years, precipitating conflicts for its supplies among those who rely on it for survival. See it now, while it still exists.
Once covered over by Lake Chad, the Ennedi still boasts a collection of hundreds of stone sea arches, now sunk in sand. Home to the Saharan lion, this bizarre, forlorn land boasts neolithic rock painting and desert lakes. Much of this desert remains unexplored due to its remoteness and its unforgiving terrain.
