N'djamena, Chad Report of what it's like to live there - 02/28/23
Personal Experiences from N'djamena, Chad
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
I’ve had four previous overseas assignments.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Air France flies between N’Djamena and Paris, sometimes with a stop in Abuja.
3. What years did you live here?
2021-23.
4. How long have you lived here?
Two years.
5. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Work
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Nice-sized single family homes. Easy commutes.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Imported goods are available at large expat-friendly grocery stores like Modern Market and AG, but they are more expensive than at home.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
I can get by here with what’s in the local market.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are some good restaurants: French, Chinese, pizza, local cuisine
Daily Life:
1. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help is widely available and affordable.
2. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are sometimes accepted, but I usually use cash. ATMs are available.
3. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Very useful to have French. If you can pick up basic Chadian arabic, that’s useful also.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Black Taxi is a safe and affordable taxi service.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
SUV, or something similar. Useful to have a rigged vehicle with high clearance, if you want to travel on rough roads in the countryside. (Around N’Djamena, a sedan is fine.)
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
Many!
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The expat community is friendly and morale is good.
2. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
The lovely Chadian people; very friendly and welcoming.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes! Really enjoying my time here.
