Best Countries

Home of the gorillas

Some call the Central African Republic the great natural gem of our planet.

Location

According to Countryaah, the Central African Republic is located in Central Africa and has no access to the sea. The country shares borders with Chad, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon. The large country in terms of area is relatively sparsely populated with 3.42 million residents.

Travel to the Central African Republic

The area is strongly tropical, so inquire about the travel time. The best travel time is from the end to the beginning of the rainy season, from mid-October to mid-March.

The country is criss-crossed by lush and humid rainforests where gorillas still live. Some refer to the land as the natural jewel of our planet. The Dzanga-Sanga National Park on the border with Cameroon is home to the rare forest elephants.

Culture Central African Republic

The country is also home to the pygmies, whose cultural products, especially their singing, have become known around the world.

At a glance

Capital: Bangui

Official language: French

Currency: CFA franc

Continent: Central Africa

Important facts

Capital: Bangui

Official language: French

Currency

Currency (sub-unit)

CFA franc (100 centimes)

ISO 4217 code

XAF / 950

Geography

Continent: Africa

Region: Central

Geo coordinates: N 6 ° 36 ’40 ” E 20 ° 56′ 22″

Highest mountain: Mont Ngaoui (1,420 m)

Total area: 622,984 km²

Mainland: 622,984 km²

National border: 5,203 km

Politics

Dependency: France until 1960

UN member since: 1960

Other political affiliation: African Union

Form of government: Military dictatorship

Economy

Export goods: Diamonds, cotton, coffee

BSP: $ 1,723,400,000

GDP: $ 1,804,600,000

GDP purchasing power parity: $ 5,236,000,000

Economic growth: 2.9%

Inflation rate: 2.3%

Electricity consumption: 124 million KWh

Oil consumption: 3,100 million m³

Cultivation area: 3.26%

Bovine: 3,406,000 pieces

Fishing: 15,400 t

Demographic data

Residents: 4,303,400

Residents in cities: 1,612,000

Average age: 18.4 years

0-14 years: 41.9%

15-64 years: 53.9%

> 65 years: 4.2%

Population growth: 1.53%

Birth rate: 33.91 / 1,000 residents

Death rate: 18.65 / 1,000 residents

Ratio men / women: 0.98

Fertility: 4.41 children / woman

Infant mortality: 85.63 ‰

Life expectancy men: 43.46 years

Life expectancy women: 43.62 years

Country codes and abbreviations

ISO 3166 Alpha 2: CF

ISO 3166 Alpha 3: CAF

ISO 3166 numeric: 140

Top Level Domain: cf.

IOC country code: CAF

UN / LOCODE: CF

Source: Abbreviationfinder

Communication

Telephone connections: 14,000

Cell Phones: 56,000

Radios: 300,000

TV: 30,000

Computer: 15,000

Internet users: 23,000

Transportation

Paved roads: 684 km

Cars: 11,000

Health

Number of doctors: 240

Daily food intake: 1,990 kcal / resident

HIV- infected people: 280,000

Education

Illiteracy: 48%

History

Foundation: 1960

Last sovereign since: 1960

Religion

Main religious group: Natural religions

Crime

Prison inmates: 4,600

Military

Armed forces (troop strength): 3,000

Defense Spending: $ 17,200,000

GETTING THERE

Arriving by plane

The airlines Air France (AF) (Internet: www.airfrance.com), Benin Golf Air and Sudan Airways (Internet: www.sudanair.com) fly to the Central African Republic.

Departure fee

2000 CFA Fr.

Arrival by car

The roads of Yaoundé (Cameroon) and N’Djaména (Chad) are passable in all weathers, and there are additional roads connecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When arriving via the Democratic Republic of the Congo, you have to cross the Ubangi by ferry (see above).

Due to the unstable political situation in the Central African Republic and some of the neighboring countries, it is advisable to obtain information about the current situation from the embassy before departure.

Arrival by ship

Ships of the ferry companies ACCF (Tel: 610 967) and SOCATRAF (Tel: 236 614 315) operate on the Ubangi and connect Bangui with the Congo and the Dem. Rep. Congo. Entry by boat from the Congo is pleasant and interesting. However, progress is slow and the timetable is not always kept. It is difficult to get information about fares; theoretically the trip takes place every two weeks. It is best to arrange everything in Brazzaville (Congo).

In addition, passenger / car ferries operate between Bangui and Zongo (Dem. Rep. Congo); another ferry crosses the Ubangi and connects Bangassou with Ndu. Fares are low, but you should expect breakdowns and delays.

Boats can also be rented, sometimes at high prices. The relevant border crossings of the Dem. Rep. Congo are closed on weekends, entry and exit by water are not possible.

In the case of political unrest that recurs, shipping is very irregular, if at all.

ON THE GO

warning

A certified copy of the passport must always be carried with you, otherwise there is a risk of arrest by the police. In the outskirts of Bangui, armed attacks by criminal gangs are to be expected.

Traveling by plane

Charter flights with Minair (Tel: 611 963 or 612 238) and BADICA (Tel: 613 726) between Bangui and Berbérati, among others.

On the way by car / bus

The few larger towns in the country are connected by good roads; many are impassable during the rainy season and delays must be expected. Few roads are paved and most of the routes require four-wheel drive. Vehicles are few and far between outside the city limits and spare parts are rare. Every driver should bring several cans of petrol with them, petrol stations outside of the urban areas receive very irregular deliveries.

Bus: Inexpensive public buses run between the cities, but the journey can be exhausting. For a fee you can also be taken by truck drivers who drive to all major cities.

Rental cars: vehicles with and without a driver can be obtained from the localHertz agency (location Solo Hertz) and local companies.

Documentation: international driver’s license.

Traveling in the city

Bangui has a small bus network with two fare zones, taxis are only available in urban areas. The fare has to be negotiated before departure, there are no taximeters.

On the way by ship

Ferries connect Bangui with several cities on Ubangi, Congo and the Sangha.