Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. Over an area of 622,984 square kilometres, around 4.4 million people live. More than 550,000 of these inhabitants live in Bangui, the capital and largest city of the country.

The population of the Central African Republic is made up of various ethnic groups. Among these ethnic groups are, for example, the different Bantu tribes, the Pygmies, and also the Sahelian-Sudanese tribes. Due to the various ethnic groups in the country, the population also speaks regionally different languages. Alongside the various tribal languages, Sango is considered the common national language and French the official administrative language. More than 55 percent of the inhabitants of the Central African Republic are animists. In addition, around 30 percent of the population are Christians and about 15 percent of the population adhere to Islam.

Sights of the Central African Republic

Among the popular excursion destinations in the Central African Republic is the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area north of the Congo Basin for many tourists. This area protects 28,000 square kilometres of rainforest. This rainforest provides a protected habitat for many endangered animal species, such as lowland gorillas, leopards, forest elephants, bongos, golden cats, forest buffaloes, giant forest hogs, and many more. For tourists, this protected area offers the opportunity to observe these animals in their natural habitat, for example during a gorilla trekking excursion with local researchers or on a guided tour to the salt licks.

The capital Bangui is also a popular destination for travellers. Sights in this city include, for example, the Arc de Triomphe at the 'Place de la République', the Boganda Museum, Avenue Boganda, the cathedral, and the African market, which is open every morning. Near the city are also the Boali Waterfalls and a forested area inhabited by Pygmies.

Location and Climate

The Central African Republic is located in Central Africa. As a landlocked country, it shares borders with Sudan to the east, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, Chad to the north, and Cameroon to the west.

The Central African Republic has a predominantly humid and hot tropical climate. In the north, the climate changes to a savannah climate with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius. The weather in the northeast is determined by the Sahel climate, and in the south, the rainforest determines the climate, so that tropical rainforest climate predominates in this part of the country. The Central African Republic is best visited during the dry seasons, as during the rainy seasons large parts of the roads are impassable. The dry seasons are from November to April in the north and from December to March in the south.

Entry and Arrival

The Central African Republic’s international airport, M’Poko International Airport, is located about five kilometres from the capital Bangui. Taxis and buses run between the city and the airport. Entry into the country is also possible by car, for example via border crossings from Chad, Cameroon, and Sudan. However, travellers should inform themselves in advance about the political situation in the individual countries.

For entry into the Central African Republic, German tourists require a valid passport and a visa. The visa can be applied for in advance at the Central African Republic’s embassy in Paris. Children do not necessarily need a passport for entry; their child ID is accepted for short stays during the holiday. In addition, all travellers over the age of one year require proof of vaccination against yellow fever.