Chad has two official languages, French and literary Arabic, and over 120 indigenous languages. A vernacular version of Arabic, Chadian Arabic, is the lingua franca.
Climate
Chad has a hot and tropical climate, though temperatures do vary depending on area. The southern rainy season runs May-October, and the central rains from June-September. The north has very little rain all year. The dry season is often windy, and cooler during the evenings.
Food and drink
N'Djaména offers a fair selection of restaurants serving mainly French and African food. Standard European-style service is normal. Outside the capital, restaurants tend to be cheap and cheerful and there is an acute shortage of some foods. Visitors should exercise caution with street market food.
Specialities:
• Peanut sauce over rice, often eaten in Southern Chad.
Tipping:
10% is normal for most services (US Dollars are the preferred currency).
Regional drinks:
Chad's excellent beer, Gala, is brewed in Moundou and is widely available in the non-Muslim parts of the capital.
Karkanji, a drink made from Hibiscus flowers.
