Passport/Visa Requirements: Passports, visas, sufficient funds and proof of onward passage are needed for travelers from Canada and the U.S. An airport departure tax of CFA fr 2,000 must be paid in cash. An exit permit may also be required, but should be available at any border crossing or the airport. Reconfirm travel document information with your carrier before departure.
Population: 3,742,482.
Languages: French, Sango and other local languages..
Predominant Religions: Christian, Animist, Islamic..
Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 236, country code;
The unit of currency in the Central African Republic is the Central African CFA franc (XAF) which is linked with the West African CFA franc (XOF) at a rate of one to one. However, you can't make payments with the West African CFA in the Central African CFA zone or vice versa.
Unless a service charge is included in the bill, tip 10%.
Though the C.A.R. gets a lot of rainfall (mostly May-October), it's not as oppressively hot and humid as many equatorial countries, thanks to its elevation. The dry season (and the best time to visit) is December-April. We do not recommend visiting during the rainy season. Not only is the weather unpleasant and the risk of malaria high, but it can be extremely difficult to get around the country. When it rains, the roads are closed to prevent cars from digging up the surface. Hours—sometimes an entire night—may be spent camping out at the site of a rain barrier, waiting for the roads to dry.
Bangui Airport (BGF) is 3 mi/5 km northwest of the city center. There are direct flights from New York and Paris as well as other cities in Africa. Irregularly scheduled air service is available within the country. Small planes are available for charter as well. There are a few places to cross the Oubangui River to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but the ferries often break down and some official border crossings are closed to foreigners. Check with embassies about the status of border crossings before going.
There is no railroad, but taxis and buses are available. Taxis will likely follow a fixed route and accept other passengers. Agree on a price with the taxi driver before you get in. We don't recommend traveling by bus. Passengers are crammed together so tightly that even uncrossing your legs requires a great deal of maneuvering. Intercity buses tend to keep irregular schedules.
Rental cars are available, but we recommend them only if they come with a driver. Roads can be flooded during the rainy season—expect delays whenever it rains, because you will not be allowed back onto the roads until they are dry. Traffic moves on the right.
Tourist Offices
Central African Republic does not have tourist offices in Canada or the U.S. For tourism information, contact the nearest embassy.
Central African Republic Embassies
Canada: 6111 du Boise (4-F) St., Montreal H35 2V8, Canada. Phone: 514-731-8459
U.S.: Embassy of the Central African Republic, 1618 22nd St. N.W., Washington, DC 20008. Phone 202-483-7800. Fax 202-332-9893.
Embassies Serving Central African Republic
The Canadian High Commission in Yaounde, Cameroon, deals with enquiries relating to the Central African Republic.
U.S. Embassy, Avenue David Dacko, Bangui. Phone 236-610-200. Fax 236-614-494.
Song From the Forest by Louis Sarno (Penguin). A memoir of life among the Bayako Pygmies of southwestern C.A.R.
Malaria Dreams: An African Adventure by Stuart Stevens (Atlantic Monthly Press). The story of a crazy road trip that begins in C.A.R. and then gets stalled there because of breakdowns, bureaucratic red tape and other assorted hassles.
Africa on a Shoestring by Kevin Anglin (Lonely Planet).
