Africa · Middle Africa

Central African Republic

Flag of Central African Republic
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+01:00
🏛️ Capital
Bangui
👥 Population
6,470,307
📐 Area
622,984 km²
💱 Currency
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
🗣️ Languages
French, Sango
📞 Calling Code
+236
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+01:00
🌐 Region
Africa / Middle Africa

About Central African Republic

The Central African Republic occupies a vast, landlocked heart of Africa, a country of enormous biological wealth and deeply challenging circumstances. Dense rainforests in the southwest, vast savannas across the center, and rocky highlands to the north create a landscape of exceptional diversity that harbors western lowland gorillas, forest elephants, bongo antelopes, and one of the most extraordinary concentrations of wildlife on the continent. The country's rivers — tributaries of the Congo and Ubangi systems — are arteries of life supporting communities that have lived in these forests for thousands of years.

Bangui, the capital on the Ubangi River, sits at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and offers a small-city atmosphere where the pace of life feels entirely distinct from urban Africa elsewhere. Riverside markets, the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Boganda Museum give a compressed but meaningful introduction to the country's identity. For those with the resources and resolve to venture deeper, the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve in the southwest offers one of Africa's most intimate wildlife experiences: forest elephant clearings (bais), western lowland gorilla habituation, and BaAka pygmy cultural immersion in jungle settings of extraordinary primeval beauty.

The CAR is not a destination for unprepared or risk-averse travelers. Significant portions of the country have experienced armed conflict for over a decade, and infrastructure is among the most limited on the continent. But for wildlife professionals, serious conservationists, and the most intrepid adventurers willing to navigate its complexities, the Central African Republic offers encounters with nature at a rawness and scale that few places on earth can still provide.

History & Background

The territory of the Central African Republic was home to advanced Iron Age societies and was part of the great Saharan trade networks in the pre-colonial era. The region suffered immensely from the 19th-century slave trade — Arab slavers from the north and east raided communities across the territory for decades, decimating populations. French colonial forces arrived in the 1880s, and the territory was organized as Ubangi-Shari within French Equatorial Africa. French companies were granted concessions over vast areas and extracted rubber and ivory through brutal forced labor systems that rivaled the worst excesses of the Belgian Congo.

Independence came on August 13, 1960, under President Barthélemy Boganda, who coined the national motto "Unity — Dignity — Work." The country's post-independence history has been marked by repeated military coups, the extraordinary rule of Jean-Bédel Bokassa (who declared himself Emperor in 1977 in a ceremony that cost the equivalent of the country's annual healthcare budget), and endemic poverty driven by governance failures despite significant diamond, gold, and timber resources. A civil war beginning in 2012 and continuing in various forms has created a major humanitarian crisis. International peacekeeping forces and the Khartoum peace process have brought partial stabilization to some areas.

Culture & People

The Central African Republic is home to over 80 ethnic groups, with the Baya and Banda peoples forming the two largest communities in the country's center and north. Sango, a Creole-influenced lingua franca derived from a Ngbandi river dialect, serves as the national language alongside French and is spoken by the majority of the population, giving the country a linguistic cohesion unusual in Africa's diverse landscape. The Sangha River basin in the southwest is home to the BaAka people — one of Africa's last remaining forest-dwelling hunter-gatherer communities, whose profound ecological knowledge and polyphonic music represent one of humanity's most ancient living traditions.

Music and dance are deeply embedded in Central African social life: the hindewhu vocal style of the BaAka — recorded internationally by ethnomusicologists and influenced composers from jazz to contemporary classical — is a remarkable artistic achievement built on call-and-response singing, yodeling, and forest spirit invocations. Wooden slit drums, harps, and thumb pianos feature in the musical traditions of communities across the savanna. Weaving, basket-making, and iron-smelting traditions, though diminished by conflict and displacement, represent a living material culture connecting modern Central Africans to deep pre-colonial histories.

Food & Cuisine

Central African cuisine is characterized by the tropical abundance of the forest and savanna — cassava, plantain, yams, and maize form the starchy foundation of most meals, cooked with an array of leafy greens, freshwater fish, and game meats into stews and soups that are deeply flavorful and satisfying. Gozo, a thick cassava dough similar to West Africa's fufu or banku, is the primary staple and is eaten by hand with vegetable or meat sauces. Roadside grills throughout Bangui serve brochettes of goat, beef, and chicken over charcoal, seasoned simply with salt and local spices.

The Ubangi River and Congo tributaries provide exceptional freshwater fish: capitaine (Nile perch), tilapia, catfish, and smaller species are smoked, dried, or freshly grilled and form a critical protein source for communities throughout the country. Bush meat, including duiker antelope, is consumed in rural areas though conservation concerns have made this increasingly contentious. Palm nut soup cooked with meat, tomatoes, and chili is a rich, oil-infused classic found throughout the country. Locally brewed sorghum beer (bili bili) is the traditional social drink, consumed communally from large clay pots during celebrations and gatherings.

Top Attractions

  • Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve — A UNESCO World Heritage rainforest harboring forest elephants at the Dzanga clearing, western lowland gorillas, and BaAka forest culture.
  • Dzanga Bai — A forest clearing where up to 100 forest elephants gather simultaneously at the mineral lick, one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles.
  • BaAka Cultural Experiences — Visits to BaAka communities in the Sangha forest offer rare insight into one of humanity's oldest surviving hunter-gatherer traditions and musical cultures.
  • Bangui Cathedral — The Notre Dame Cathedral overlooking the Ubangi River is one of Central Africa's most striking colonial-era religious buildings.
  • Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park — A UNESCO-listed savanna park of exceptional biodiversity, though currently inaccessible due to security conditions in the north.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Check the latest government travel advisories without exception before planning any visit — large parts of the CAR are subject to "do not travel" warnings from most Western governments.
  • Travel to Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve should be organized exclusively through vetted specialist operators who have active conservation relationships with the reserve management.
  • Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory; hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria prophylaxis, and meningococcal vaccination are all strongly recommended.
  • The Central African CFA franc is the currency; euros are useful for changing in Bangui but US dollars are also accepted in some contexts.
  • Always travel with a registered local guide and remain in contact with your country's embassy in Bangui throughout your stay.
  • Internet and mobile connectivity is limited outside Bangui; download offline maps and carry paper backup materials for any overland journey.

Visa Overview

All foreign nationals require a visa to enter the Central African Republic. Visas should be obtained in advance from a CAR embassy or consulate abroad, as visa on arrival is not reliably available. Requirements include a valid passport with at least six months of validity, a completed application form, passport photos, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and the visa fee. Travelers should also carry a letter of invitation or confirmation from a tour operator, particularly for wildlife tourism to Dzanga-Sangha. Given the security situation, specialist tour operators handling Dzanga-Sangha visits typically manage the visa and entry process for guests.

Getting Around

Bangui's Bangui M'Poko International Airport receives limited international flights primarily from Paris, Ethiopian Airlines hubs, and regional African carriers. Within the country, road travel is extremely challenging — vast distances on unpaved roads that become impassable in the rainy season. Overland travel outside Bangui and immediate environs should only be undertaken with specialist operators who have current security intelligence. Dzanga-Sangha is best reached by small aircraft charter from Bangui, as the overland route is long and passes through areas of security concern. Hiring vehicles in Bangui requires going through established local operators.

Safety Notes

The Central African Republic is one of the world's most challenging travel destinations from a safety perspective. Armed groups operate across large parts of the country, and multiple Western governments advise against all travel except to specific areas like Bangui and Dzanga-Sangha under specialist guidance. If visiting, register with your embassy, travel only with expert local guides, avoid political gatherings and military checkpoints, and maintain a low profile. Malaria is hyperendemic. Medical facilities are extremely limited — comprehensive evacuation insurance is not optional.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Central African Republic.

Central African CFA franc (XAF) Fr
Updated: 2026-05-20
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.019078
AAVE 0.000020
ADA 0.007067
AED 0.006508
AFN 0.111364
AGIX 0.020972
AKT 0.002237
ALGO 0.015108
ALL 0.145491
AMD 0.651890
AMP 2.102581
ANG 0.003194
AOA 1.624797
APE 0.012105
APT 0.001851
AR 0.000794
ARB 0.015659
ARS 2.477296
ATOM 0.000880
ATS 0.020977
AUD 0.002477
AVAX 0.000189
AWG 0.003172
AXS 0.001455
AZM 15.062373
AZN 0.003012
BAKE 2.038651
BAM 0.002982
BAT 0.017819
BBD 0.003544
BCH 0.000005
BDT 0.217833
BEF 0.061498
BGN 0.002982
BHD 0.000666
BIF 5.276674
BMD 0.001772
BNB 0.000003
BND 0.002265
BOB 0.012244
BRL 0.008870
BSD 0.001772
BSV 0.000118
BSW 2.389960
BTC 0.000000
BTG 0.005544
BTN 0.171320
BTT 5,496.774260
BUSD 0.001773
BWP 0.024038
BYN 0.004855
BYR 48.554192
BZD 0.003568
CAD 0.002437
CAKE 0.001208
CDF 4.066829
CELO 0.021650
CFX 0.029858
CHF 0.001395
CHZ 0.038580
CLP 1.592620
CNH 0.012051
CNY 0.012052
COMP 0.000078
COP 6.577600
CRC 0.801340
CRO 0.025572
CRV 0.007372
CSPR 0.597026
CUC 0.001772
CUP 0.042530
CVE 0.168106
CVX 0.001026
CYP 0.000892
CZK 0.037044
DAI 0.001773
DASH 0.000035
DCR 0.000102
DEM 0.002982
DFI 1.960650
DJF 0.315852
DKK 0.011392
DOGE 0.016941
DOP 0.104364
DOT 0.001415
DYDX 0.011596
DZD 0.235181
EEK 0.023853
EGLD 0.000447
EGP 0.094672
ENJ 0.039222
EOS 0.021742
ERN 0.026581
ESP 0.253654
ETB 0.286048
ETC 0.000195
ETH 0.000001
EUR 0.001524
EURC 0.001523
FEI 0.001783
FIL 0.001827
FIM 0.009064
FJD 0.003901
FKP 0.001318
FLOW 0.049058
FLR 0.212067
FRAX 0.001785
FRF 0.0100
FTT 0.005400
GALA 0.517812
GBP 0.001318
GEL 0.004729
GGP 0.001318
GHC 204.627152
GHS 0.020463
GIP 0.001318
GMD 0.130455
GMX 0.000265
GNF 15.545726
GNO 0.000015
GRD 0.519470
GRT 0.070137
GT 0.000250
GTQ 0.013511
GUSD 0.001776
GYD 0.370699
HBAR 0.019800
HKD 0.013880
HNL 0.047136
HNT 0.002134
HOT 4.387829
HRK 0.011486
HT 0.012289
HTG 0.232028
HUF 0.548268
ICP 0.000693
IDR 31.286435
IEP 0.001201
ILS 0.005148
IMP 0.001318
IMX 0.010243
INJ 0.000349
INR 0.171320
IQD 2.321668
IRR 2,342.164564
ISK 0.218614
ITL 2.951825
JEP 0.001318
JMD 0.280426
JOD 0.001256
JPY 0.281564
KAS 0.050693
KAVA 0.030026
KCS 0.000221
KDA 0.214296
KES 0.229478
KGS 0.155006
KHR 7.108085
KLAY 0.034650
KMF 0.7500
KNC 0.012329
KPW 1.594872
KRW 2.652169
KSM 0.000354
KWD 0.000547
KYD 0.001474
KZT 0.836885
LAK 38.881451
LBP 158.191791
LDO 0.004896
LEO 0.000176
LINK 0.000183
LKR 0.610631
LRC 0.105157
LRD 0.324376
LSL 0.029186
LTC 0.000033
LTL 0.005264
LUF 0.061498
LUNA 0.027681
LUNC 23.089572
LVL 0.001071
LYD 0.011281
MAD 0.016347
MANA 0.019813
MBX 0.045287
MDL 0.030803
MGA 7.441202
MGF 37.206010
MINA 0.030891
MKD 0.093974
MKR 0.000001
MMK 3.720827
MNT 6.340896
MOP 0.014297
MRO 0.708374
MRU 0.070837
MTL 0.000654
MUR 0.084002
MVR 0.027370
MWK 3.072818
MXN 0.030655
MXV 0.003482
MYR 0.007034
MZM 113.176136
MZN 0.113176
NAD 0.029186
NEAR 0.001060
NEO 0.000609
NEXO 0.002005
NFT 6,272.300351
NGN 2.430602
NIO 0.065217
NLG 0.003360
NOK 0.016424
NPR 0.274240
NZD 0.003018
OKB 0.000022
OMR 0.000682
ONE 0.872634
OP 0.013626
ORDI 0.000413
PAB 0.001772
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.006058
PEPE 472.880784
PGK 0.007728
PHP 0.108959
PI 0.011669
PKR 0.493801
PLN 0.006475
POL 0.019474
PTE 0.305633
PYG 10.930828
QAR 0.006450
QNT 0.000024
QTUM 0.001967
ROL 79.855394
RON 0.007986
RPL 0.001013
RSD 0.179010
RUB 0.126703
RUNE 0.004013
RVN 0.321428
RWF 2.593912
SAND 0.024411
SAR 0.006645
SBD 0.014240
SCR 0.025912
SDD 106.357674
SDG 1.063577
SEK 0.016549
SGD 0.002265
SHIB 304.743810
SHP 0.001318
SIT 0.365329
SKK 0.045927
SLE 0.040491
SLL 40.491056
SNX 0.005579
SOL 0.000020
SOS 1.011271
SPL 0.000295
SRD 0.065806
SRG 65.805789
SSP 8.341836
STD 37.648251
STN 0.037648
STX 0.007268
SUI 0.001642
SVC 0.015505
SYP 0.195898
SZL 0.029186
THB 0.057697
THETA 0.008748
TJS 0.016472
TMM 31.089319
TMT 0.006218
TND 0.005150
TON 0.000859
TOP 0.004268
TRL 80,774.595368
TRX 0.004945
TRY 0.080775
TTD 0.012017
TUSD 0.001774
TVD 0.002477
TWD 0.055978
TWT 0.003825
TZS 4.630966
UAH 0.078450
UGX 6.684427
UNI 0.000490
USD 0.001772
USDC 0.001773
USDD 0.001773
USDP 0.001775
USDT 0.001774
UYU 0.071463
UZS 21.426521
VAL 2.951825
VEB 91,887,828.219041
VED 0.918846
VEF 91,884.589099
VES 0.918846
VET 0.265417
VND 46.725835
VUV 0.210797
WAVES 0.004559
WEMIX 0.006329
WOO 0.102834
WST 0.004798
XAG 0.000023
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.004798
XCG 0.003194
XCH 0.000490
XDC 0.050570
XDR 0.001297
XEC 243.601409
XEM 2.637565
XLM 0.012269
XMR 0.000004
XOF 1.0000
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.181920
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.001287
XTZ 0.005177
YER 0.422841
ZAR 0.029186
ZEC 0.000003
ZIL 0.445607
ZMK 33.654977
ZMW 0.033655
ZWD 0.641303
ZWG 0.046507
ZWL 116.207741

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Cities in Central African Republic 178
Browse all cities and towns
( Balé-Loko) ( Bogongo Gaza) (Lessé) Abba Akourousoulba Akpia Alindao Amada-Gaza Amada-Gaza (Haute-Boumbé) Baboua Bagandou (Moboma) Bakouma Balego Bamba Bambari Bambio (Mbaéré) Bamingui Bang Bangassou Bangui Bania Baoro Baoro (Bawi-Tédoa) Bata Batangafo Batibla Bayanga Bégoua Békadili Békazénan Beloko Bémal Berbérati Betoko Bilolo Bimo Bingué Birao Boali Bobangui (Pissa) Bobanou Bocaranga Boda Bodoupoua Boganangone ( Boutélossi) Boguila Bohong Bondia Bongangolo Bossangoa Bossembélé Bossemptele Bossongo II Bossongo-Manoeuvres Bouansouma Bouar Bouca Bowaye Boyabane Boyo Bozoum Bria Budua Bukoko Carnot Dabizi Damara Déde-Mokouba (Haute-Kadéï) Dekoa Dilapoko Dimbi Djemah Doaka Féré Gadzi (Topia) Gallo Gambo Gamboula (Basse-Boumbé) Gaudrot Gbada Gisibanda Gogourtakoro Goussou Gouze Grimari Guen Hang-Zoung Herman-Brousse Ippy Kabo Kaboro Kaga-Bandoro Kassagon Kemba Kembé Kolo Kongbo Kouango Koui Kounang Kounde Kounpo Léré Linga Lopo Maloum Mambéllé Mamvoula Mann Markounda Mbaïki Mbali Mbankoé Mbata Mbolo Mbotoga Mboula Mbouli Mbrès Mingala Mobaye Mongoumba Moyenne Sido Nana-Bakassa Nandobo (Haute-Batouri) Nao Nassole (Ouakanga) Ndélé Ndim Ndinguiri Ndogba Ndomete Ngakobo Ngaoundaye Ngodjo Ngotto ( Lobaye) Niem Niem-Yéléwa Nola Noufou Nzako Nzoro Obo Ongo Ouadda Ouanda Djallé Ouango Paoua Pende Poumayassi Rafaï Sabou Salo Sam-Ouandja Sapoua (Basse-Mambéré) Satema Senkpa-Mbaéré Sibut Sosso-Nakombo (Basse-Kadéï) Taley Tapourou Tere Tiringoulou Vange vilage minier village minier Wampo Wapo (Basse-Batouri) Yaloke Yawa ( Boganda) Yéléwa Yenga Yombo Yoro-Samba Bougoulou Zémio Zondo Zotoua-Bangarem Zoulouma

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Central African Republic needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Central African Republic?
The capital of Central African Republic is Bangui.
What currency does Central African Republic use?
Central African Republic uses the Central African CFA franc (Fr) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Central African Republic?
The official language(s) of Central African Republic include French, Sango.
What is the population of Central African Republic?
Central African Republic has a population of approximately 6,470,307 people.
What region is Central African Republic in?
Central African Republic is located in Africa, specifically in the Middle Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for Central African Republic?
The international dialing code for Central African Republic is +236.
What time zones does Central African Republic observe?
Central African Republic observes the following time zone(s): UTC+01:00.
What is the current time in Central African Republic?
The local time in Central African Republic is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Central African Republic?
Central African Republic covers a total area of 622,984 km².
How many states or provinces does Central African Republic have?
Central African Republic is divided into 17 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Central African Republic in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Central African Republic in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Central African Republic?
Visa requirements for citizens of Central African Republic vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.