Yes Central African Republic is worth visiting this is because the Central African Republic (CAR) lies at the heart of the African continent. Its high plateau of grass and scattered trees rises to mountainous land on the Cameroon and Sudan borders.
The northeast of the country is dry, but the forests of the southwest grow green and lush in the tropical rains. In the rainy season, roads often become a sea of mud, impassable to trucks.
There are no railroads, so rivers are used to transport goods.
The main waterway is the Oubangui River, which flows south into the Zaire (Congo) River. All of the CAR’s borders are far from the sea, so exports for the coast must be transported by riverboat and train.
What are the Best things to do in Central African Republic?
Here is a rundown of all the exciting activities to do in here, in addition I will show you my personal favorite things to do and awesome places to visit on your next holiday to Central African Republic.
Les Chutes de Boali (Boali Waterfalls)
Less than two hours drive from Bangui, Les Chutes de Boali or the Boali Waterfalls are a nice breath of fresh air after the one hour and a half trail of the forest. Depending on the season, the water level is variable and it is possible to descend into the wide waterfall drop.
Be very careful as it is sometimes slippery and wear a good water shoe. The Chutes De Boali is a lovely watery heaven that tumbles from an imposing altitude of 164 ft.
The exquisite water enjoyment is a charming sight for all guests. There is an admission fee to enter this park and it is managed by an upriver water dam.
Boali is a lovely town that is nestled in the Middle Africa region and has some scenic and well paved landscapes, which takes you to a tall waterfall that is known for its enchanting, and mystical charm that entices tourists to keep coming back again.
Placed on the banks of the River Mbali this is extremely popular for its waterfalls and the stunning hydroelectric plants that help supply power to the region. The famous falls measures at about 250m wide and over 50m high.
This is an exceptionally popular tourist spot that can be found after passing through streams and a tropical forest. These falls look glorious and are much higher than the Niagara Falls. With the lovely wilderness right amidst the delightful African Republic this has some wonderful tour attractions.
Visit this interesting area and bring once again with you delightful memories of a beautiful area loaded with excellent sights and tour joys.
My favorite stuff to do in Central African Republic
Dzanga-Sangha Reserve
The absolute highlight in the Dzanga Sangha Reserve is of course the opportunity to go there and meet the western lowland gorillas.
There are in Dzanga Sangha two habituated gorilla groups that can be visited by tourists. This sanctuary can be found in the rainforest in the South-Western side of the Central African Republic.
It includes an aggregate region of more than 400 000 hectares. The two focal parts of the park consists of the Dzanga and Ndoki areas which comprises the Dzanga Ndoki National Park.
Huge mammals rule and occupy this territory like; forest elephants, bison’s, rhinos, wild boars, gorillas and gazelles and can be observed in hordes and behaved in their own habitat.
At the Dzanga, it is estimated that the total elephants that survive here is around 4,000, and all of them are properly marked and well cared for.
From a viewing deck at the edge of this park, guests often find the opportunity to see between 30 and 100 elephants nourishing on the fertile mineral salts soil, proudly showing their guests the perceptions of their social conduct.
These great pachyderms and other form of mammals needed a vast expanse and portion of this park to become well nurtured and their species totally protected.
There is a wide variety of activities that can be explored here along with the chance to meet the interesting locals and tribes that maintain this place. There are cultural events and traditional performances and be sure not to miss any of them.
Fun things to do in Central African Republic
Musee de Boganda (Boganda Museum)
One of its impressive collections is the delightful selection of tribal and modern musical instruments.
Aside from the musical tools, there are cookware, old swords, gemstone adornments, precious jewelries, potteries, handicrafts, old sculptures, and other archaeological artifacts and other rare objects can be seen well laid out on this huge museum that has been established on this nation since 1964.
Another part of the exhibit room highlights the following pieces that showcase historical expressions and old customs of Middle Africa like; the custom veils, national dress for men and women, tribal masks, ancient coins and old monetary notes, and statuettes made of black and ivory material.
A special corner is dedicated to the origin and history of the pygmy culture, their tribal groups, lifestyle, customs, and tribal leaders.
Popular Central African Republic tourist attractions
K-Cinq (Km-5 Intersection)
More commonly known as the Km-5 Intersection is a popular market in Bangui where you can see the hardworking locals and how they engage into trading their basic needs and fresh produce. Although this is not really a tourist attraction here in Bangui, it is still interesting to check out and observe the daily life of the people in this very typical market.
However, it is not advisable to venture alone if you are not accompanied by a resident and think you are going to draw much attention, it is very rare to see foreigners walking around here, although some of them are doing business or has helped put up shop and invest here.
There is much to see on this busy market, native traders here gather to sell tomatoes, peppers, and okra (green pods with a sticky and slimy juice). The market offers a chance to catch up with neighbors’ news as well as to buy and sell homegrown produce.
You can also taste and try the local cuisine here, or shop for some bananas, cassava, corn, root crops, and millet. On weekends, it gets more crowded as traders from nearby towns travel all the way here to market their products.
What else to do in Central African Republic ?
Place de la République (CAR)
The Central African Republic’s main trading partner is France, which ruled this part of the equatorial Africa from the 1880’s. In 1960, the country became independent.
For 14 years it was ruled by Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who declared himself as its emperor and lived in luxury while ordinary people went hungry.
In 1979, he punished schoolchildren who did not wear expensive uniforms by throwing them into prison and having them killed. As a result he was removed from power. In 1993, the people chose a new leader in democratic elections.
The arch of the Place de la Republique which is situated in the heart of the city stands as a living memorial to the atrocities of the despotic leader and the ultimate freedom of the people of the Central African Republic.
There are no plated markers or anything in particular that explains the importance of the white arch that can be found in this small square.
The national flag of each country has been hoisted. Please be careful when taking pictures as this place is not allowed to be photographed without a processed permit at the nearest military headquarters of this republic square.
It is highly recommended to bring a tour guide with you who can process all the necessary permits that you need to show when visiting an attraction in the Middle Africa region.
Must see places in Central African Republic
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park
Situated between two vital environmental zones, the Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park draws more tourists in because of its rich biodiversity.
It is home to numerous environmentally threatened species including the dark rhino, elephant, giraffes, antelopes, hippopotamus and a large amount of the herbivore animals.
This National Park is a fascinating case of a crossroad point where the animal categories from savanna groups of East and West Africa, and in addition those of the jungle groups of the South, cross ways.
The Park is also a significant range for the investigation of atmospheric progressions happening all around the Sahel and Sudan region which suffers greatly from a long dry spell and overgrazed fields.
What else to see in Central African Republic ?
Bamingui-Bangoran National Park and Biosphere Reserve
The recreation center and biosphere animal conservation complex can be found in the nation’s central north western part of N’délé and close to the boundary of Chad.
It is easily accessible from Bangui, the capital city.
At its western side you can see a part of the huge Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park, and holds more lush vegetation and а bigger number of wild creatures than Manovo-Gounda.
The chimpanzees here are fully protected and poachers get arrested especially the ones who capture and export these poor animals to circuses, zoos, and research laboratories all over the world.
The Bamingui-Bangoran National Park and Biosphere Reserve is over 1,070,000 hectares and exists in the mid-Sudanian preserved area of the Central African Republic. The recreation center is arranged on а flat landscape at а rise of 400m to 500m above ocean level.
Its streams flows straight and north-westward leading to the Chari River. The reserve complex also has a wide selection of amphibian species kept and preserved for further studies and breeding purposes.
The most common species are the puddle frogs, rare flat toads, bullfrogs, and other staple wildlife animals like the cheetah, lions, zebras, manatees, chimpanzees, antelopes, giraffes, and wild African dogs.
You can spend a day here or stay in an Eco-tourism village where you can have the chance to stay with a local resident’s hut for a night.
Popular places to visit in Central African Republic
N’dele
The place called the N’dele is a typical town in the northeast part of the nation. It is still contending to make it on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The number one attraction here is the imposing presence of the huge fortress and castle named “The Tata”.
This prominent castle was developed here in the nineteenth century by the request of the then reigning tribal leader named Sultan Mohammed Al- Senoussi. The Sultan’s private quarters stay, as do the houses of his family and close constituents and the bloody site of an execution chamber.
The Kaga-Kpoungouvou hidden caves that are located outside the secluded city are additionally important as it is where the indigenous tribes sought shelter to escape slave trading by merchants throughout the Sultan’s rule.
Do not fail to visit this town as it holds many interesting sites and corners that have a rich historical significance to the Central African Republic.
Things to do in Central African Republic with kids
Bossangoa
The capital city of Ouham, one of the 14 municipalities of the Central African Republic. The Mandjia tribe that inhabits this town is deeply regarded as the third most crowded ethnic gathering in Central Africa.
Alongside the Baya, a closely related tribe to the Mandjia is vital to the history of CAR because of their strong aggression to intrusion by different Muslim forces to the north part of Bossangoa. From 1901 to 1905 Bossangoa and the encompassing zone was in insubordination to early French colonizers.
Bossangoa turned into a focal point of the Protestant religion throughout the 1920s. There is a small airport and runway here that serves private aircrafts. The principal revenue earning agricultural product here is cotton and coffee.
Most tribes survive by making handicrafts and other local textiles that they can weave and offer to sell during market days in the city.
Things to do around Central African Republic
Kongbo Mobaye
Although the Central African Republic mostly mines diamond on its mountains, there are some who maintain rubber and cotton plantations as their main source of livelihood.
The export of timbers, such as mahogany and obeche is another way to help sustain their developing livelihood in the forest. Almost all the precious rain forest timber that is felled is used as fuel for cooking or industrial purposes.
At the town of Kongbo , north of Mobaye a typical scene involves a logger’s truck travelling through its muddy road that cuts through its dense forest to pick up fallen timber. Tree cutting is a major industry on this side of the Central African Republic.
It is for this reason that the forests are disappearing fast. Despite the modern age, there is yet little awareness in the Central African Republic of the threat that deforestation poses to the environment.