←Central African Republic travel guide
Mambéré-Kadéï, Central African Republic
Berberati
Southwestern hub among coffee hills and rainforest roads
CultureNature & Outdoors
Berberati sits amid the forested southwest, one of the country's larger towns and a longtime centre of coffee and diamond trade. From here roads lead south towards the Dzanga-Sangha rainforest, so you often share the market with travellers stocking up before heading into the reserve.
Check Central African Republic visa requirements →
Best time to visit
December to February (dry season)
Region
Mambéré-Kadéï
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Berberati
UNESCO World HeritageNature
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.
Nature
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
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Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for the CAR.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Berberati
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel 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.