Central African Republic
Middle Africa · CAF
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Central African Republic
The Central African Republic is for a very narrow set of travelers who are looking for remote conservation travel rather than a conventional country itinerary. If it makes sense at all, it makes sense as a specialist trip built around Dzanga-Sangha and little else.
Popular For
Things To See
- Bangui
- Dzanga-Sangha
- Sangha Trinational
- Chutes de Boali
- Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Security and logistics sharply limit where travel is realistic, so this is not a general sightseeing destination.
- Most viable trips are conservation-led and highly pre-arranged rather than independent multi-stop routes.
- Anyone considering this country needs current on-the-ground guidance before treating any draft itinerary as real.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
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Open hotel and accommodation options for Central African Republic.
Guidebooks
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Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Central African Republic.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bangui
- Population
- 6,470,307
- Area
- 622,984 km²
- Region
- Middle Africa
Languages
- French
- Sango
Currency
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
XAF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
40.9
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Bangui (4.37°N, 18.58°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
23/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 29/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.414
Low human development
- 5-year change
- +0.023
- 10-year change
- +0.055
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.407
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
- 🌿
Sangha Trinational
Inscribed 2012
- 🌿
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park
Inscribed 1988
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 14.8%
- Forest cover
- 35.7%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 20
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 18
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
16/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
0/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Do not travelto Central African Republic due to risk of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health, and terrorism. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Central African Republic. U.S. government employees working in the Central African Republic must get special authorization to travel outside of Bangui. They are required to travel in armored vehicles in Bangui and are subject to a curfew. Family members cannot join U.S. government employees who work in the Central African Republic. Unrest There is a continuing risk of civil unrest, demonstrations, and election-related violence. This includes renewed outbreaks of armed conflict occurring throughout the country. Unrest can happen in the capital of Bangui. Armed groups and opposition forces control large areas of the country. They regularly kidnap, injure, or kill civilians. Airport, land border crossings, and road closures may occur without warning. Crime Violent crime is common. It includes homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated battery, and larceny. Kidnapping Criminal gangs and armed groups kidnap for ransom on a frequent basis, mainly outside of Bangui. Local law enforcement officials are not equipped or trained to handle the threat of kidnapping. Other - Landmines Unexploded landmines are unmarked. They are a known risk. Landmines may be present anywhere outside Bangui, particularly: Along the border with Cameroon In the tri-border region with Chad in Sector West Near Bambari in Sector East Health Medical services in the Central African Republic are extremely limited. There is no adequate medical treatment available for routine and emergency procedures. Even minor health issues could require medical evacuation at your expense. Make sure you know if your health insurance plan covers any medical expenses coverage abroad. Most U.S. plans do not. If you purchase medical travel insurance, you are responsible for seeking reimbursement from your medical insurance. Be sure to follow their guidance and instructions for filing claims. We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation. Vaccinations Make sure you are up to date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Travelers are required to show proof of yellow fever vaccination for all arriving travelers (at least 9 months old). CDC recommends that travelers going to the Central African Republic take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Stay up to date with the vaccines recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Travelers’ Health World Health Organization Travel Advice Terrorism Ineffective border controls may allow criminal and terrorist groups to seek temporary refuge in the Central African Republic. Be alert to your surroundings. Terrorists can attack without warning. They may target foreign and local government facilities as well as tourist areas.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data