Central African Republic — Travel Tips
Social Conventions
Dress is informal. Care should be taken to dress modestly in Muslim areas, and Muslim customs should be respected and observed; visitors should not, for instance, show the soles of their feet when sitting. Shorts are also generally frowned upon, and women are expected to dress modestly. It is customary to shake hands. Women are strictly segregated, especially in towns. In Muslim areas, visitors should not smoke or drink in public during Ramadan.
Photography: Film is expensive and should be sent abroad for developing. Show caution and discretion when photographing local people; ask for permission. Do not photograph military installations or government buildings.
International Travel
Getting There By Air
The main airlines serving the Central African Republic are Air France (AF), Benin Golf Air, Cameroon Airlines and Sudan Airways. There are regular flights from Bangui to various African cities, including Libreville and N’Djaména.
Departure Tax
XAF2,000 is levied on all passengers.
Main Airports
Bangui M’Poko (BGF) is 7km (4 miles) southeast of Bangui of the city (journey time – 30 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the city (journey time – 15 minutes), during flight hours. A bus service to the city meets all flights. Facilities: Restaurant, post office, bar and car hire/parking.
Getting There By Water
The route by ferry along the Ubangi to Bangui from the Congo (Rep) or the Congo (Dem Rep) is run by ACCF (tel: 610 967) and SOCATRAF (tel: 614 315). However, it is not operating at present, owing to rebel activity in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A car/passenger ferry normally operates across the Ubangi between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangui–Zongo and Bangassou–Ndu. Fares are very low, although the service breaks down frequently and may be disrupted by political instability.
It is sometimes possible to hire a boat, although this is expensive.
Visitors may not cross the river to the Congo (Dem Rep) on Saturday or Sunday, as the customs posts in that country do not operate at the weekend.
Getting There By Road
Road access is from the Congo (Dem Rep), Chad and Cameroon. There are reasonable all-weather roads from Yaoundé (Cameroon) and N’Djaména (Chad). The border with Cameroon may be closed; it is necessary to check locally near the time of travel. Theoretically, all borders are open; however, non-residents can experience difficulty obtaining permission to cross them.
Duty Free
Overview
The following goods may be imported by visitors over 18 years of age into the Central African Republic without incurring customs duty:
• 1000 cigarettes or cigarillos or 250 cigars or 2kg of tobacco (for women, cigarettes only).
• Five bottles of alcoholic beverages.
• Five bottles of perfume.
Note: Firearms must be declared before entering. When leaving the Central African Republic, any animal skins and diamonds must be declared. Dogs and cats must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate.
Internal Travel
Getting Around By Air
Scheduled flights sometimes operate to Berbérati. However, most domestic flying is limited to chartered planes. Contact Minair (tel: 611 963 or 612 236) or BADICA (tel: 613 726/7) for details.
Getting Around By Water
Ferries sail from Bangui to several towns further up the Ubangi.
Getting Around By Road
Traffic drives on the right. Good roads connect the few main towns (although few are paved), but the majority are often impassable during the rainy season and travelers should expect delays. Most roads require a 4-wheel-drive to render them passable. Outside the urban areas, motor vehicles are rare and spare parts virtually impossible to find. Travelers must carry as large a petrol supply as possible, since deliveries to stations outside the towns are infrequent and petrol shortages are common.
Bus: Local services run between towns; they are a cheap but sometimes grueling way to travel. It is also possible to pay for a lift on the numerous goods trucks which drive between the main towns.
Car hire: Self-drive or chauffeur-driven cars are available.
Documentation: International Driving Permit required.
Note: Identification (eg residence permit or certified copy of passport) must be carried at all times. Failure to do so can result in detention by police. Incidents of theft and robbery occur regularly, and armed gangs are known to operate in the outlying areas of Bangui.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Limited bus services run in Bangui on a two-zone tariff. Taxis are only available in the urban areas; they do not have meters and fares must be negotiated.
