←All destinations
Travel Guide
Visiting Central African Republic
Select your passport to instantly check if you need a visa.
Avoid Some Regions
UK FCDO: Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Updated 2025-12-10
Discover
Top Attractions in Central African Republic
The most iconic and unmissable experiences this country has to offer.
UNESCO World Heritage
Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
This vast rainforest reserve in the far southwest shelters one of the world's densest populations of western lowland gorillas, along with forest elephants, bongos, and more than four hundred bird species. You can track habituated gorilla families on foot with local guides, one of only a handful of places on Earth where this is possible. The reserve forms part of the wider Sangha Trinational, inscribed by UNESCO in 2012.
Dzanga Bai
Known as the village of elephants, Dzanga Bai is a wide mineral-rich forest clearing where as many as a hundred or more forest elephants gather each day to drink and socialise. From a raised wooden viewing platform you can watch herds dig for salts in the mud while buffalo, sitatunga, and forest hogs pass through. It lies within the Dzanga-Sangha reserve near the village of Bayanga.
Wise
Your bank marks up every USD you spend in the CAR. Wise doesn't.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free ATM withdrawals up to your limit
- Pay in local currency at the real rate
4.8 ★ App Store·4.8 ★ Google Play
Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for the CAR.
- No SIM swapping
- No data roaming charges
- Active in minutes
4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Where to Go
Top Cities to Visit in Central African Republic
Health & Safety
Health & Emergency Info
Before You Travel
Before you travel check that: your destination can provide the healthcare you may need you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. Emergency medical number Call 610600 or 117 and ask for an ambulance. Emergency numbers are unreliable in the Central African Republic. The emergency services are unlikely to respond outside of Bangui. Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment. Vaccine recommendations and health risks At le
Full health advice (FCDO) →Emergency Numbers
Police117
Ambulance1220
Fire118
Health information sourced from UK FCDO. Always consult a travel health professional before departure.
Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Central African Republic
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Central African Republic page at Yoogo.
The Central African Republic uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF). Cash is essential, as card payment infrastructure is virtually non-existent outside Bangui. US dollars and euros can be exchanged at banks in the capital.
The Central African Republic faces an extremely serious security situation. Armed groups control large portions of the country, and violent conflict between government forces, UN peacekeepers, and multiple armed factions is ongoing. Most governments advise against all travel to the country. Bangui itself has experienced political violence. Travel should only be considered with specialist security advice and robust contingency planning.
Road infrastructure is extremely poor, and most routes outside Bangui are impassable during the rainy season. There is no functioning domestic rail network. Domestic flights operate to a limited number of destinations. Movement outside Bangui requires careful security planning and ideally convoy or NGO escort arrangements.
The dry season from November to April offers the most accessible conditions for travel, with clearer roads and lower flood risk. Temperatures are hot year-round. The wet season from May to October makes most unpaved roads impassable.
Sango is the national language and is widely spoken across the country as a lingua franca. French is the official administrative and educational language. Over 70 local languages are also spoken across the country.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry. Malaria prophylaxis is essential throughout the country. Hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, meningitis, and rabies vaccinations are strongly recommended. Healthcare infrastructure is extremely limited; medical evacuation insurance is strongly advised.
Tipping is not formally expected but is appreciated in a country where wages are very low. Leave a modest amount for guides, drivers, and restaurant staff where service has been good.
Telecel and Orange provide mobile coverage in and around Bangui, but coverage is very limited outside the capital. Internet access is slow and unreliable. Satellite communication devices are advisable for travel outside urban areas.