What animals live in Chad?

Chad is home to some remarkable animals! In the southern grasslands and near Lake Chad, you can spot elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, and crocodiles. The Sahara Desert in the north has its own tough survivors too — like the fennec fox, which has huge ears to help it stay cool in the heat. Chad's Zakouma National Park is one of the last places in Central Africa where large herds of elephants still roam together. You might also find ostriches, African wild dogs, and dozens of antelope species like the giant eland. God packed a lot of variety into this one country — from desert to savanna to wetlands along the Chari River.

What do kids eat in Chad?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Chad often eat a thick porridge called 'boule' — it is made from millet or sorghum grain and shaped into a ball you scoop with your fingers right from the bowl. Families dip it into sauces made from okra, peanuts, or dried fish, and they usually eat together from one shared dish. Rusty wants to add that in the dry, desert north, food can be hard to come by, especially when rains are low and crops are small. Dates and camel milk are important foods there. Many children in Chad do not always have enough to eat, which is something real to know — and something worth bringing to God in prayer, asking Him to provide for families and for the people who share His love there.

How do people say hello in Chad?

Great question! Chad is a country with over 100 different languages, so there are many ways people say hello there. In Arabic, which many Chadians speak, a common greeting is 'As-salamu alaykum,' which means 'Peace be upon you.' The reply is 'Wa alaykum as-salam,' meaning 'And upon you peace.' In Sara, one of the most widely spoken local languages in southern Chad, people say 'Mal' as a friendly greeting. Chadians also put a lot of meaning into greetings — they often ask about your family, your health, and how things are going, because relationships really matter to people there. A good greeting can open the door to a whole conversation!

What sports or games do kids play in Chad?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Chad love soccer more than almost anything else. You'll find them kicking a ball — or even a bundle of rags tied together — on dusty fields in villages and cities alike. It's the game that brings everybody running. Rusty wants to add that kids in Chad also play traditional wrestling, which is a big deal in many communities there. Younger children enjoy running games, clapping games, and storytelling circles too. Life can be hard in Chad — it's one of the poorer countries in the world — but kids still find ways to laugh and play together, just like kids everywhere.

What's the weather like in Chad?

Chad is one of the hottest countries on earth! The north is mostly Sahara Desert, where temperatures can climb above 120°F (49°C) and almost no rain falls all year. The south gets a rainy season from about May to October, which turns the grasslands green and makes farming possible. There is actually a place in Chad called the Sahel — a wide band of dry, dusty land between the desert in the north and the greener south. Sandstorms called 'haboobs' can roll across the land like giant walls of dust, turning the sky orange. Life in this kind of heat is tough, and many families work very hard just to grow enough food to eat.

Tell me a fun fact about Chad.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Chad is home to Lake Chad, one of the largest lakes in Africa — but here's the wild part: it sits right at the edge of the Sahara Desert, so you can find fishermen casting nets just a short walk from sand dunes. It's one of the most striking contrasts you'll find anywhere on a map. Rusty wants to add that Chad has more than 100 different people groups living within its borders, each with their own language and traditions. That means traders in the market city of N'Djamena might hear a dozen different languages in a single afternoon. For missionaries, that's both a big challenge and a big opportunity — so many people to reach with the good news of Jesus!

What is school like for kids in Chad?

In Chad, going to school is not easy. Many children, especially girls, never get to finish school at all — some schools have crumbling buildings, few books, and one teacher for a very large group of students. Classes are often taught in French or Arabic, but many children speak a completely different language at home, which makes learning extra hard. In the dry season, some children walk a long way across hot, dusty land just to reach a classroom. In poorer villages, a child might study under a tree with no desk and no pencil of their own. Missionaries and local Christians in Chad work hard to build schools and teach children to read — and some of those children are learning to read the Bible for the very first time, which is a treasure worth more than any textbook.

Who are the unreached people in Chad?

Chad is home to several groups of people who have rarely or never heard the good news about Jesus. Some of the largest unreached groups include the Arab people of Chad, the Kanembu, the Kanuri, and the Toubou — many of whom follow Islam and live in the dry, desert regions of the north. 'Unreached' means there are very few Christians among them and almost no churches to carry the gospel forward in their own language and culture. The Toubou, for example, are tough desert nomads who travel across the Sahara with their camels and goats — but most have never met a follower of Jesus or heard why He came. The same is true for the Daza and many Arab clans scattered across Chad's vast landscape. That is why missionaries and local believers work hard to bring the Bible and the story of Jesus to these groups — because God loves every one of them and wants them to know Him.

How can I pray for the people of Chad?

Chad is a country where many people have never heard the good news about Jesus — and that is one of the most important things to bring before God in prayer. You can ask God to send workers into Chad who will share the gospel clearly and boldly, and that Chadian hearts would be open to hear it. You can also pray for the believers already in Chad, because following Jesus there can be dangerous — some Christians face real pressure and suffering for their faith. Ask God to protect them, make them strong, and raise up Chadian men and women who will lead churches and teach the Bible to their own people for generations to come.

What is a holiday or celebration in Chad?

One of the biggest celebrations in Chad is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan — a month when many Muslim Chadians fast from food and water during daylight hours. When Eid arrives, families dress in their finest clothes, share big meals, and visit neighbors and relatives. It is a lively and colorful time across much of the country. Chad also celebrates its Independence Day on August 11th, remembering the day in 1960 when it became its own nation, free from French rule. People gather in the streets, and there is music, dancing, and a sense of pride in their country. What makes Chad so interesting to us is that underneath all these celebrations, millions of Chadians have never heard the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save them — and that is exactly why missionaries keep pressing into this land.

What language do people speak in Chad?

Chad is a country with a lot of languages — over 120 of them! But the two official languages are French and Arabic. French comes from when France governed Chad long ago, and Arabic spread through trade and the Islamic faith over many centuries. Beyond French and Arabic, most people speak the language of their own people group at home. Languages like Sara, Kanuri, and Maba are spoken by different communities across Chad. This is one reason Bible translators work so hard there — some of those 120 languages still do not have the Bible in them yet, and people need God's Word in the language that speaks to their hearts.

What's a famous place to visit in Chad?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most striking places in Chad is the Ennedi Plateau in the northeast. It's a rugged stretch of sandstone rock towers and natural arches carved by wind and water over thousands of years — some of the formations look like giant sculpted castles rising out of the desert. Rusty loves this part: hidden inside the Ennedi's caves and rock walls are ancient paintings made by people who lived there long, long ago — drawings of cattle, horses, and human figures. Lake Chad in the west is another landmark, a huge but slowly shrinking lake that millions of people depend on for water and fish. The people of Chad live in some tough conditions, and many have not yet heard the good news about Jesus — which is exactly why we keep Chad on our map and in our prayers.

Chad — Kids Missions Explorer

Addax

This pale desert antelope can survive for months without drinking water, getting all the moisture it needs from the plants it eats in the Sahara.

African Elephant

Small herds of African elephants still roam Zakouma National Park in southeastern Chad, one of the few places in Central Africa where elephant populations have been growing.

Boule

This thick, doughy ball made from millet or sorghum is the staple food for most Chadian families, scooped by hand and dipped into savory sauces.

Daraba

A hearty stew made from okra, peanuts, and leafy greens, daraba has an earthy, slightly sticky texture and is eaten across many regions of Chad.

Kisser

These thin, sour flatbreads made from fermented millet batter are a bit like a tangy crepe and are eaten for breakfast or as a snack throughout the day.

Chad

Things you should know about Chad

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Chad

Missions in Chad

Pray for Chad