Central African Republic Tours

The Central African Republic, as the name suggests is located in the center of Africa slightly above the equator. It is boarded by Chad in the north, Sudan in the north, South Sudan in the east, Democratic Republic of Congo in the south, Congo Brazzaville in the southwest and Cameroon in the West. The country experiences a savannah climate in the north while an equatorial climate in the south prevails.

Gorilla trekking in Central African Republic

All though still in its infancy stages, gorilla trekking is one of the most popular tourist activities carried out in Central African Republic. The Central African Republic is home to the western lowland mountain gorillas that generally spread across seven African countries like Cameroon, Gabon, DR Congo Angola Equatorial Guinea, and Central African Republic. On the other hand, their siblings, the mountain gorilla are only found in DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The Dzanga Sanga Reserve

The Dzanga Sanga Reserve is the greatest lowland gorilla trekking destination in Central African Republic. The mosaic ecosystem of thick rain forest, marshlands, rivers, and mud ponds is a conducive environment for the lowland mountain gorillas where they forage mostly in trees. Encounters with these great apes in their natural habitat offer a fascinating experience.

Over 2,212 individuals of the endangered lowland mountain gorilla live in the Dzanga, however only three groups are fully habituated, that is, fully accustomed to human presence and can be observed by tourists.

Gorilla species in Central Africa

The lowland gorilla family is divided into two subspecies that is the Eastern and Western lowland gorilla. The Dzanga gorillas belong to the Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) the western lowland gorillas are distinguished by their general small size as compared to the Eastern lowland, however with a larger skull and ears. They also have a brown grey coat auburn chest.

OTHER TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Bangui City

The former French colonial post is the capital city of Central African Republic, set upon gentle hills touching the Ubangi River, to give it a magnificent landscape. Bangui is the center of political, economic and cultural life of Central African Republic with iconic tourism attractions like the presidential palace, which bares all political scares of the country, having been overrun by the Seleka rebels in 2013.

The Central market is another exciting place to visit, to experience the local trade, and items being sold. The city nightlife is charming and buzzing to both African and western rhythms escorted by well-brewed drinks.

Berberati City

Far away from the politically volatile Bangui city is the Berberati City in the south west of the country near the border with Cameroon. The city is the safest place in Central Africa republic. The city is host to historical buildings that highlight the German and French administrations that ounce occupied it. In 1911, the City was ceded to German by France but was later recaptured by the French during World War 1. With such history, the city quickly developed infrastructure like and airport and hotels which facilitate tourism especially wildlife lovers who venture into the Dzanga Sanga Reserve.

The city’s countryside is bedrock of cultural diversity. The local communities are welcoming and with a good local guide, one can engage in local cultural activities that expose a tourist in to the humane realm of African culture.

The Manovo Gound St. Floris National Park

The 1,714,000ha area is a diverse ecosystem that combines the animals from the rainforest and the savannah grasslands. Animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, black rhino, leopard, lions and rare bird species are a common citing in the park. The abundance of animal and plant life here is the largest in the entire Central African Republic, offering the tourist a feel of both worlds of adventure, from the rain forest to the savannah experience.

When to visit Central African Republic?

Central Africa is open for tourist through the year however; the best time to visit is during the dry season from December to May, when all kinds of animals cluster around water holes.

What to pack on a Central African safari?

• Valid travel documents like a passport and visa are the most essential documents.
• A valid yellow fever vaccination card is necessary have too.
• Two / three pairs of light clothing and enough underwear are sufficient for a weeklong trip in the Central Africa.
• Luggage weight terms are usually strict thus light packing should be dictated what to park and what not.
• A plug converter is essential as power plugs may differ from ones’ country of origin.
• A mosquito repellant and sunscreen are equally essential.
• A camera with extra battery and memory cards is what makes the journey worthwhile.
• Remember to carry cash as opposed to credit / debit cards as electronic transactions are majorly accessible in urban centers and are sometimes not reliable.