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: 2026-07-07
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.024337
AAVE 0.000019
ADA 0.009645
AED 0.006403
AFN 0.110924
AGIX 0.022882
AKT 0.002794
ALGO 0.020207
ALL 0.143319
AMD 0.640498
AMP 3.942564
ANG 0.003137
AOA 1.599709
APE 0.012862
APT 0.002813
AR 0.000874
ARB 0.022326
ARS 2.590471
ATOM 0.001094
ATS 0.020977
AUD 0.002511
AVAX 0.000257
AWG 0.003121
AXS 0.001742
AZM 14.820350
AZN 0.002964
BAKE 2.330674
BAM 0.002982
BAT 0.019931
BBD 0.003487
BCH 0.000007
BDT 0.214626
BEF 0.061498
BGN 0.002982
BHD 0.000656
BIF 5.186583
BMD 0.001744
BNB 0.000003
BND 0.002253
BOB 0.012068
BRL 0.008960
BSD 0.001744
BSV 0.000123
BSW 5.177851
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.033218
BTG 0.005067
BTN 0.166236
BTT 6,516.415445
BUSD 0.001743
BWP 0.023513
BYN 0.005043
BYR 34.183566
BZD 0.003508
CAD 0.002479
CAKE 0.001221
CDF 4.022854
CELO 0.024597
CFX 0.039542
CHF 0.001405
CHZ 0.098017
CLP 1.616222
CNH 0.011849
CNY 0.011845
COMP 0.000101
COP 5.850994
CRC 0.793901
CRO 0.030118
CRV 0.008401
CSPR 0.918603
CUC 0.001744
CUP 0.046218
CVE 0.168106
CVX 0.001380
CYP 0.000892
CZK 0.036848
DAI 0.001745
DASH 0.000050
DCR 0.000158
DEM 0.002982
DFI 2.381827
DJF 0.310255
DKK 0.011395
DOGE 0.023244
DOP 0.102962
DOT 0.002033
DYDX 0.013640
DZD 0.232227
EEK 0.023853
EGLD 0.000620
EGP 0.085173
ENJ 0.058350
EOS 0.023350
ERN 0.026154
ESP 0.253654
ETB 0.279973
ETC 0.000248
ETH 0.000001
EUR 0.001524
EURC 0.001525
FEI 0.001745
FIL 0.002242
FIM 0.009064
FJD 0.003902
FKP 0.001302
FLOW 0.062813
FLR 0.256712
FRAX 0.001762
FRF 0.0100
FTT 0.007521
GALA 0.778652
GBP 0.001302
GEL 0.004591
GGP 0.001302
GHC 198.683214
GHS 0.019868
GIP 0.001302
GMD 0.128897
GMX 0.000298
GNF 15.287031
GNO 0.000017
GRD 0.519470
GRT 0.096625
GT 0.000260
GTQ 0.013295
GUSD 0.001747
GYD 0.364102
HBAR 0.024168
HKD 0.013675
HNL 0.046635
HNT 0.007369
HOT 5.051161
HRK 0.011486
HT 0.050455
HTG 0.227467
HUF 0.539387
ICP 0.000800
IDR 31.362882
IEP 0.001201
ILS 0.005218
IMP 0.001302
IMX 0.012569
INJ 0.000368
INR 0.166236
IQD 2.280688
IRR 2,399.302623
ISK 0.219535
ITL 2.951825
JEP 0.001302
JMD 0.275286
JOD 0.001236
JPY 0.282237
KAS 0.058543
KAVA 0.038671
KCS 0.000249
KDA 0.279282
KES 0.225457
KGS 0.152505
KHR 6.986566
KLAY 0.050206
KMF 0.7500
KNC 0.015688
KPW 1.569654
KRW 2.655047
KSM 0.000508
KWD 0.000541
KYD 0.001450
KZT 0.823439
LAK 39.335081
LBP 156.054881
LDO 0.006264
LEO 0.000186
LINK 0.000221
LKR 0.582992
LRC 0.139179
LRD 0.315899
LSL 0.028301
LTC 0.000040
LTL 0.005264
LUF 0.061498
LUNA 0.035300
LUNC 28.594190
LVL 0.001071
LYD 0.011168
MAD 0.016325
MANA 0.025042
MBX 0.068139
MDL 0.030685
MGA 7.394217
MGF 36.971086
MINA 0.035182
MKD 0.093959
MKR 0.000001
MMK 3.661147
MNT 6.246296
MOP 0.014085
MRO 0.694657
MRU 0.069466
MTL 0.000654
MUR 0.082064
MVR 0.026955
MWK 3.017779
MXN 0.030328
MXV 0.003459
MYR 0.007107
MZM 111.359631
MZN 0.111360
NAD 0.028301
NEAR 0.000864
NEO 0.000888
NEXO 0.002335
NFT 6,583.367428
NGN 2.385033
NIO 0.064110
NLG 0.003360
NOK 0.017086
NPR 0.266102
NZD 0.003060
OKB 0.000022
OMR 0.000671
ONE 1.413008
OP 0.016558
ORDI 0.000504
PAB 0.001744
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.005928
PEPE 652.575083
PGK 0.007652
PHP 0.107066
PI 0.015581
PKR 0.483998
PLN 0.006539
POL 0.023485
PTE 0.305633
PYG 10.549206
QAR 0.006347
QNT 0.000027
QTUM 0.002499
ROL 79.728520
RON 0.007973
RPL 0.000957
RSD 0.178900
RUB 0.134464
RUNE 0.004404
RVN 0.459859
RWF 2.555077
SAND 0.035338
SAR 0.006538
SBD 0.014109
SCR 0.025471
SDD 104.646367
SDG 1.046464
SEK 0.016799
SGD 0.002253
SHIB 402.645738
SHP 0.001302
SIT 0.365329
SKK 0.045927
SLE 0.040044
SLL 40.043911
SNX 0.007877
SOL 0.000022
SOS 0.993895
SPL 0.000291
SRD 0.065882
SRG 65.881989
SSP 8.285608
STD 37.591524
STN 0.037592
STX 0.010451
SUI 0.002375
SVC 0.015256
SYP 0.192775
SZL 0.028301
THB 0.058099
THETA 0.012211
TJS 0.016109
TMM 30.512748
TMT 0.006103
TND 0.005140
TOP 0.004199
TRL 81,659.997983
TRX 0.005291
TRY 0.081660
TTD 0.011816
TUSD 0.001747
TVD 0.002511
TWD 0.055935
TWT 0.005039
TZS 4.578797
UAH 0.077767
UGX 6.362266
UNI 0.000558
USD 0.001744
USDC 0.001744
USDD 0.001747
USDP 0.001749
USDT 0.001745
UYU 0.070026
UZS 20.976555
VAL 2.951825
VEB 116,692,805.112361
VED 1.167011
VEF 116,701.073147
VES 1.167011
VET 0.353893
VND 45.858950
VUV 0.209813
WAVES 0.006667
WEMIX 0.006580
WOO 0.147311
WST 0.004826
XAG 0.000029
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.004721
XCG 0.003137
XCH 0.001087
XDC 0.063179
XDR 0.001284
XEC 332.794311
XEM 4.156298
XLM 0.008905
XMR 0.000005
XOF 1.0000
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.181920
XPT 0.000001
XRP 0.001547
XTZ 0.007087
YER 0.413373
ZAR 0.028301
ZEC 0.000004
ZIL 0.570777
ZMK 31.993356
ZMW 0.031993
ZWD 0.630998
ZWG 0.046895
ZWL 117.177040

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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.