Bangui, Bayanga, Lobeke, Douala & Kirbi

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

CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XAF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XAF10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of XAF500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1.

The Central African Republic is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

There is no restriction on the import of foreign currency provided it is declared upon arrival. Up to the amount imported and declared can be exported. If importing local currency from Benin (Rep.), Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal or Togo there are no restrictions. If importing local currency from anywhere else it can be up to an amount of XAF75,000.

Currency can be exchanged at banks in Bangui and Berbérati.

Banking

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 07h00-12h30.

Credit cards are not generally accepted, except in major hotels.

There are no international ATM machines and few establishments accept major international credit or debit cards.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros. Even so, commission rates can be very high.

Scheduled flights sometimes operate to Berbérati. However, most domestic flying is limited to chartered planes. Contact Minair (tel: 21 61 22 38) for details.

Self-drive or chauffeur-driven cars are available for hire. A 4-wheel drive is recommended. Road closures are frequent during the rainy season. Cars are driven on the right side of the road.Good roads connect the few main towns (although few are paved), but the majority are often impassable during the rainy season and travellers should expect delays. Most roads require a 4-wheel drive vehicles to render them passable. International Driving Permit required. Identification (e.g. residence permit or certified copy of passport) must be carried at all times. Failure to do so can result in detention by police. Outside the urban areas, motor vehicles are rare.

Limited bus services run in Bangui on a two-zone tariff. Taxis are only available in the urban areas; they do not have meters and fares must be negotiated. Minibuses serve Bangui and other major towns.

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Western food is only available in the capital, Bangui. Most of the top-class hotels have good restaurants. The standard of these restaurants is high, but they do tend to be expensive. Otherwise travellers must call at local villages and barter for provisions. Local food is basic. Many dishes contain gombo (okra), although other popular ingredients include rice, bananas and cassava.

Bars are numerous in Bangui with both table and counter service. Drinking and smoking are not encouraged in Muslim society; in Muslim areas, drinking is best done in private. Elsewhere, there are numerous beer halls offering beverages of a high standard.

A 10% tip is appropriate in expensive hotels and restaurants. Bargaining is normal.

The Central African Republic is hot all year with a defined dry season. It is especially hot in the north, with greater humidity in the south. The rainy season is mainly from May to October, while the driest months are January and February. Heavy rainfall is typical in the southwestern forest areas.

Light natural fabrics are recommended due to the hot climate. Waterproof clothing is advised particularly when visiting from May to October or if you are planning to explore the southwestern forest areas. Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sunhat are essential.

Electrical sockets (outlets) in the Central African Republic are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The "Type C" Europlug and the "Type E" and "Type F" Schuko. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all three types.

Electrical sockets (outlets) in the Central African Republic usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.

But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. If your appliances are not compatible with 220-240 volt electrical output, a voltage converter will be necessary

Set on the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon is an essential central African country of diverse landscapes and wildlife - a microcosm of all that wonderful Africa has to offer in one diverse nation. From the lush tropical rainforests and the remote, idyllic beaches in the south to the vast expanses of desert, lakes and savannah in the north, and the impressive, otherworldly volcanic mountain region in the west, the variety of Cameroon’s landscapes is astounding. Add to this, several excellent game reserves, providing endless opportunities to witness some impressive wildlife, including elephants and lions, and you have one of the most underrated and eclectic nations on the African continent.

Currency

CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) Franc (XAF; symbol CFA) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFA10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFA250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

Cameroon, together with CAR, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, belongs to an economic and monetary community sharing a common currency, the Banque des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) CFA Franc, which is pegged to the Euro. The CFA Franc issued by the Banque des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (Bank of West African States), used in the ECOWAS countries further west, has the same value but is not legal tender in Cameroon.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday - Friday 07h30 - 15h30 or from 08h00 - 17h00 at certain branches.

Major credit cards are accepted on a very limited basis (some airline offices and hotels will take them). Cards cannot be used in banks to obtain cash advances. ATMs are rare.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, although it is possible to exchange Sterling traveller's cheques. Commission rates tend to be high.

This is the most efficient means of national transport. Camair-Co runs services to a number of destinations within Cameroon including Douala, Yaounde, Garoua and Maroua. You can also arrange private charter jets.

Car hire is expensive and limited to Douala, Yaounde and Limbe. Cars are available with or without a driver. Roadside assistance is non-existent.You can drive on your own national licence when you first arrive, but need to obtain a Cameroonian licence from the Delegation of Transport as soon as you can.

Taxis and share-taxis are available at reasonable fixed rates (none are metered). A 10% tip is optional. City taxis do not generally comply with basic security norms and seat belts are often absent. However, they are cheap and fast.

Camrail is the national rail service provider. Services are good, if relatively slow, but it is still much quicker to go by train than by bus. There are daily overnight services from Yaounde to Ngaoundere, with couchettes and first- and second-class seats. There is a rail route running from Douala to Nkongsamba, with a branch line leading off from Mbanga to Kumba. Daily trains also run from Yaounde to Douala. Trains usually have a restaurant car. Tickets must be booked on the day of travel.

Local food is excellent, but luxury items can be extremely expensive. There are many restaurants in big towns and cities, with good service. Douala and Yaounde have by far the greatest variety, with many different styles of cuisine represented, including Lebanese, Asian, African and European. Cheap and tasty Cameroonian food is served in chantiers and chop houses. The coastal area offers excellent fresh fish and prawns. Most international hotels have bars.

The average tip for porters and hotel staff should be about 10%, otherwise service charges are usually included.

The south of Cameroon is hot and dry from November to February. The main rainy season is June to October. Temperatures in the north vary. On the Adamaoua Plateau, temperatures drop sharply at night; the rainy season is May to October. Grassland areas inland are much cooler than the coast with regular rainfall. The best months to visit are January to April.

Electrical sockets in Cameroon are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The "Type C" Europlug and the "Type E" and "Type F" Schuko. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in.

Electrical sockets in Cameroon usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220-240 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.