Getting to
Chageen from N'DjamenaYour options for getting from N'djamena to anywhere in Chad are pretty
limited. During the dry season (which is 8 months out of the year) you can drive
just about anywhere, but be prepared to suffer for it. There are only about 130
miles of paved road in the country - the rest is poorly maintained dirt tracks.
The 200 miles from N'Djamena to our home in Chageen is a long day's drive. We
have recently purchased a new used Toyota Land Cruiser (below on it's maiden
voyage to Chageen) for our traveling enjoyment. 
Public transportation exists - on top of overloaded trucks. There is a
privately owned bus that runs very sporadically if it's still running (Diane's
adventurous spirit led her to use it to visit Niellim a couple years ago).
The trucks are very hazardous - count on breakdowns, and don't be surprised if
bandits relieve you and all the other passengers of your belongings, and occasionally
even your clothes. Roll-overs are common too. Nevertheless, it's the main means
of transport for the Chadians. 
Air Chad exists on paper, but their lone twin engine prop plane has been
minus an engine for several years now. It sits on the tarmac in N'djamena, a
monument to incompetent management. For a few years there were some Russian guys
with an old Ukranian troop transport that were flying around. Several
missionaries took up the dare and lived to tell about it. It was never at all
clear whether they actually owned the plane or had absconded with it. We didn't
figure anyone would come looking for them or the airplane in Chad in any
case. 
Your best bet - and Mark's primary means of transport to and from Chageen for the past 9 years - is MAF - Missionary Aviation Fellowship. They have two Cessna aircraft, and several dedicated staff and pilots who raise their own support just like the rest of us. We couldn't live without them. The schedule is a little wacky sometimes - nothing like "daily nonstops" to anywhere - but if you're flexible on the timing, and don't mind divulging your weight to the pilot, $100 will get you a seat to Chageen.