A little more
Central African Republic.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Central African Republic: what to know before you go

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country close to the geographical centre of Africa, with savannah in the north and dense rainforest in the south-west along the Sangha River. Very few tourists visit and tourism infrastructure is minimal, but the Dzanga-Sangha forest is one of the best places in Africa to see forest elephants and western lowland gorillas. It suits experienced travellers on carefully organised trips; check your government's current travel advice before you plan anything.

Where to go

• Dzanga Bai. A large forest clearing in the Dzanga-Sangha reserve where forest elephants gather to drink and dig for minerals in the mud.
• Gorilla tracking in Dzanga-Ndoki. Habituated groups of western lowland gorillas can be tracked on foot through the rainforest with local trackers, who follow trails, broken branches and sounds.
• BaAka forest culture. The BaAka people of the south-western forests are known for their deep knowledge of plants and animals and for their polyphonic singing.
• Bangui and the Ubangi River. The capital sits on the northern bank of the wide Ubangi River, facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Best time to visit

The dry season, roughly from November or December to April, is the most practical time to travel, as roads are passable and forest trails are less muddy. The rainy season brings heavy rain, particularly from around June to October, which can cut off roads in the south-west.

Staying online in Central African Republic

Mobile coverage is concentrated in Bangui and some larger towns, and data speeds can be slow. Away from the main towns, and especially in the rainforest and the north, coverage is patchy or absent, and power can be intermittent. Wi-Fi is limited and mainly found in some hotels and organisations in the capital. Download offline maps and translation packs, carry a power bank, and tell people at home when you expect to be out of contact. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land so you have data while you are in range.