Central African Republic

If you want to get away from the Africa of souvenir sellers and slick willy tour operators, the Central African Republic (CAR) may be the place for you. It has pristine forests and lively cities - but also a lawless countryside and crumbling roads.

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Perched just above the equator, the south of the CAR has the typical sultry conditions of this latitude with the sun baking year round and the rainy season lasting six months (May to October). In the north things are a bit drier and regular daily temperatures between 29-32°C (85-90°F) still de riguer.

Transport

Getting there and away

There are direct flights to Bangui from Paris (Air France), Khartoum (Air Sudan) and Douala (Cameroon Airlines), but they aren't always regular and you will need to enquire with the airlines. Benin Golf Air has also serviced the CAR in the past. Flights are generally expensive.

The following are the usual routes for getting to countries bordering CAR; they are well-worn paths, but check with embassies and other reliable sources about the status of border crossings before you go, as all are very prone to opening and closing. At the time of writing, the borders with Cameroon, Congo (Brazzaville) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) were open. The border with Sudan was also open, but the Sudanese embassy said that this frequently changes. The border with Chad was closed, but its embassy indicated that this could change at short notice.

Getting around

Overcrowded 24-seater minibuses connect Bangui with all major towns. Trucks and pickups are also a popular way to travel; their prices are similar to minibus fares. Some main roads are sealed, but pockmarked with wheelswallowing holes. During the dry season, the dirt roads to major towns and the Cameroon and Chad borders are OK, but when the rains begin they become very muddy and can be closed for days.

Health & Legal Requirements

Visas overview

Only nationals of Israel and Switzerland do not need visas. There is a CAR embassy in Washington DC, but none in the UK and only a few in Europe. In most African countries where there's no CAR representation the French embassy can arrange CAR visas.