Central Africa Republic & Congo Basin

As its name suggests, the Central African Republic lies in the geographic heart of Africa. It is a country characterised by extreme contrasts and intriguing contradictions. In the bustling capital of Bangui, which retains its colonial aesthetic, traditional African tribes roam streets lined with grand imperial French architecture and classic French patisseries are interspersed with colourful traditional African markets. This diversity is equally apparent in the nation’s breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes. While the northern reaches are dominated by the vast Sahara Desert the south boasts magnificent equatorial rainforests, which are widely regarded as Africa’s best destination for viewing forest elephant and western lowland gorilla. The Republic’s star tourist attraction is undoubtedly the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in the southwest, which is home to the world’s highest density of lowland gorillas, as well as an astonishing variety of butterflies and large forest-dwelling African wildlife.

Currency:  
Local currency: CFA Franc 
Symbol: XAF 
ISO code: *ZAR 
Central bank: South African Reserve Bank 
Subunit: Cent 
Banknotes: XAF 10 000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500 
Coins: XAF 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 1 

Banking: 
Card Transactions:  
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Sometimes  
Visa: Sometimes 
American Express: Sometimes 
Diner’s club: Sometimes  
 
Banking Hours: 
Weekdays: 07h00 - 17h00 
Weekends: dependant on bank 
Public Holidays: No 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air: 
Main airlines: Karinou Airlines 
International Airports: Bangui M'Poko International Airport 
 
Road: 
Tar roads: Yes/No 
Gravel roads: Yes/No 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes/No 
Car hire available: Yes/No 
Taxis: Yes/No 
Uber available: Yes/No 
 
Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: Yes/No 
Local city bus networks: Yes/No 
 
Rail: 
Railway system: Yes/No 
Subway System: Yes/No 
 
Water: 
Ferries: Yes/No 
Water taxis: Yes/No 
Leisure cruises: Yes/No 

Food and water safety: 
Can you drink the tap water: No 
Fresh fruit and veg: No 
Ice: No 
Meat: Yes if well cooked 
Street food: No 
 
Local cuisine:  Diverse and interesting, Central African cuisine features Portuguese and Swahili influences, with dishes such as pilaf rice, mandanzi, and sambsusa making appearances. Other must-try's include Kanda tinyama (spiced meatballs), chichinga (skewered pieces of barbecued goat meat).  
 

Drinks: Palm wine, banana wine  

Tipping: 10% 

Annual rainfall: 1384.20 mm 
Average temperature: 33 degrees °C 
 
Summer: 
Average in highs: 33°C 
Average in lows: 22°C 
 
Winter: 
Average in highs: 32°C 
Average in lows: 18°C 
 
Best time to visit:  The best time to visit depends greatly on your choice of activities. In the summer (with March being the peak), animals don’t stray far from water sources, increasing sightings; hikers may prefer the cooler months of winter (July is the coolest time).  

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: Yes 
 
Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Yes 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 
 
General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: No 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes

Internet cafes: Sometimes  
Accommodation options: Sometimes 
Restaurants: Sometimes  
Cafes: Sometimes  
Shopping malls: Sometimes  
Public parks: No 
Libraries: Sometimes  
 

Covered by endless swathes of pristine and moisture-laden rainforest sluiced by gushing rivers and plunging waterfalls, The Republic of Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville) is a prime adventure destination for the intrepid traveller seeking an authentic African escape. The country's lush wilderness known as the Congo Basin is "the planet's second lung", inhabited by western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, buffalo, hippos, extremely rare bongo antelope, and other mammal species. Swim in crystal-clear rivers, kayaking and boating along winding waterways, and tread along forest paths to the soothing sound of monkeys and tropical birds. For a taste of local culture, the capital of Brazzaville is dubbed the 'Little Paris of Africa' and has an intriguing French culture, lively fabric markets, colourful architecture, and the Pierre de Brazzaville monument, one of the city's beautiful cathedrals.

Currency 
Local currency: Central African CFA franc 
Symbol: FCFA 
ISO code: XAF 
Subunit: Centime (1/100 of a Franc) 
Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 francs 
Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 francs 

Banking 
Card Transactions: Limited outside major cities 
ATMs: Yes 
Mastercard: Yes 
Visa: Yes 
American Express: No 
Diner’s club: No 

Banking Hours: Weekdays: 08:00 – 15:30 
Public Holidays: Closed 
Foreign exchange services: Yes 

Air: 
Main airlines: ECAir, Air France 
International Airports: Maya-Maya Airport 
Domestic Airports: Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire 

Road: 
Driving on the: Right 
Tar roads: Yes, mainly in urban areas 
Gravel roads: Yes, common in rural areas 
Valid International Driver's License needed: Yes 
Car hire available: Yes 
Taxis: Yes 
E-hailing services: Limited 

Bus: 
Inter-city bus services: Yes 
Local city bus networks: Yes 

Rail: 
Railway system: Yes 
Subway System: No 

Water: 
Ferries: Yes 
Water taxis: No 
Leisure cruises: No 

Food and water safety: 
Can you drink the tap water: No 
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes, but wash thoroughly 
Ice: No 
Meat: Yes, ensure it is thoroughly cooked 
Street food: Yes, but select well-established vendors 

Local cuisine: 
The cuisine of the Republic of Congo is rich with flavors and includes dishes like Moambe chicken, a popular chicken dish cooked in palm nut sauce, and Saka Saka (cassava leaves with fish or meat). Plantains and manioc also form the staples of the local diet. 

Drinks: 
Palm wine and local beers are popular drinks. 

Tipping: Customary, around 5-10% in restaurants and for services. 

Annual rainfall: Varies, generally around 1200 mm 
Average temperature: 25°C 

Summer: 
Average highs: 30°C 
Average lows: 22°C 

Winter: 
Average highs: 27°C 
Average lows: 19°C 

Best time to visit: 
The best time to visit the Republic of Congo is during the dry season from June to August, when the weather is cooler and drier, ideal for wildlife viewing and exploring national parks. 

Spring and Summer 
Cool, light, breathable and comfortable: Yes 
Lightweight warm clothes: No 

Winter and Autumn 
Jerseys, cardigans, sweaters, jackets: Recommended 
Heavyweight clothing and boots: No 

General 
Umbrella and raincoat: Yes, during the rainy season 
Warm gloves, hat and scarf: No 
Swimming costume (bathing suit): Yes 
Hat, sunglasses, and sunblock: Yes 
Walking shoes: Yes 
Casual: Yes 
Smart-casual attire: Yes 

Internet cafes: Yes, in major cities 
Accommodation options: Yes, with varying connectivity 
Restaurants: Yes, in major cities 
Cafes: Yes, in major cities 
Shopping malls: Yes, in major cities 
Public parks: No 
Libraries: Yes, in major cities