Find places in Central African Republic

Must-Haves

• Notre-Dame of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (Centre)
  The red brick cathedral is Bangui's best-known landmark and a lively place on Sunday mornings.
• Barthélemy Boganda National Museum (Centre)
  The national museum tells the founding father's story and shows masks, instruments and objects from across the country.

Off the Beaten Path

• Arc de Triomphe Jean-Bedel Bokassa (Centre)
  An unfinished triumphal arch from the Bokassa era, a strange and telling piece of the country's history.
• Palais de la Renaissance (Centre)
  The presidential palace is worth seeing from the road, though photography of official buildings is not allowed.

Fun for Everyone

• Alliance Française de Bangui (Centre)
  The French cultural centre hosts concerts, films, exhibitions and a library open to visitors.

Must-Haves

• Marché Central (Centre)
  The central market is the place for wax print fabric, carvings, baskets and everyday city bustle.

Off the Beaten Path

• PK5 market (PK5)
  The city's biggest trading district, best visited only with trusted locals once you have checked current conditions.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marché Combattant (Near the airport)
  A sprawling everyday market near the airport road, full of produce, cloth and household goods.
• Marché de Gobongo (Gobongo)
  A neighbourhood market where you see how most of Bangui shops for food each day.
• Marché de Pétévo (Pétévo)
  A busy local market in the south of the city, good for fruit, fish and cassava.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bangui Rapids (Ouango road)
  Fishermen work the rocky rapids that once stopped river boats and gave the city its location.
• Gbazabangui Hill (North of the centre)
  The forested hill behind the city gives Bangui its green backdrop and views over the river.
• Bimbo riverside (Bimbo)
  The neighbouring town of Bimbo stretches along the river south west of Bangui.

Must-Haves

• Oubangui river front (Centre)
  A sunset stroll by the wide river, with pirogues crossing to the Congolese bank, is a Bangui ritual.

Fun for Everyone

• Dry season sandbanks on the Oubangui (River front)
  In the dry months sandbanks appear in the river and families head out for picnics.

Fun for Everyone

• Place de la République (Centre)
  The central square is the heart of national celebrations and a handy landmark for getting your bearings.
• Stade Barthélemy Boganda (Bangui)
  The national stadium comes alive for football and big national events.
• Pirogue ride on the Oubangui (Port Amont)
  A short ride in a dugout canoe shows the city from the water.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ouango riverside (Ouango)
  The eastern riverside district is quieter, with fishing villages and wide water views.
• Learn a few words of Sango (Bangui)
  Greeting people in Sango opens doors and smiles everywhere you go.

Must-Haves

• Ledger Plaza Bangui (Centre)
  A long-established business hotel with a pool, restaurant and the security arrangements many visitors look for.
• Hôtel Oubangui (River front)
  A landmark riverside hotel with views over the Oubangui toward the Congolese bank.

Fun for Everyone

• Hôtel Ledger Plaza pool (Centre)
  The pool is a welcome cool down during hot afternoons.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Grilled fish stalls at Port Amont (Port Amont)
  Freshly grilled capitaine and tilapia by the river is classic Bangui food.
• Brochette grills on Avenue des Martyrs (Avenue des Martyrs)
  Evening grills sell spicy skewers and plantain to a sociable crowd.
• Makara sellers (Across the city)
  These small fried doughnuts are the city's favourite breakfast and snack.

Must-Haves

• Ngounja and gozo at a local maquis (Centre)
  Cassava leaves in peanut sauce with gozo is the dish to try first in the capital.

Great for Date Night

• Ledger Plaza restaurant (Centre)
  A reliable choice for a calm dinner with French and international dishes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Morning coffee stalls (Centre)
  Street sellers serve sweet coffee and bread to commuters before work.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lobaye coffee in the markets (Marché Central)
  Look for locally grown coffee from the Lobaye forest to take home.

Must-Haves

• Live music bars (Lakouanga)
  Weekend bands play Central African and Congolese rumba in the riverside quarters.

Great for Date Night

• Riverside drinks at sunset (River front)
  A cold drink by the Oubangui as the sun sets is the easiest pleasure in town.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Neighbourhood buvettes (Across the city)
  Small open-air bars serve local beer and music, best visited with friends who know the area.

Fun for Everyone

• Football nights in local bars (Across the city)
  Big matches draw loud, friendly crowds to bars with a television.

Off the Beaten Path

• Palm wine in the outer quarters (Outer Bangui)
  Fresh palm wine, called mbako, is sold by local tappers, best tasted with friends who know the sellers.

Must-Haves

• Independence Day (Place de la République)
  Each year on 13 August the city marks independence with parades and celebrations.
• Republic Day (Place de la République)
  On 1 December the country celebrates the founding of the Republic with official ceremonies.

Fun for Everyone

• Boganda Day (Bangui)
  On 29 March the country remembers Barthélemy Boganda with commemorations across the capital.
• Christmas Mass at Notre-Dame (Centre)
  Midnight Mass at the cathedral is full of singing and a joyful start to the holiday.

Must-Haves

• Dzanga Bai (Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve)
  Watch forest elephants gather in this mineral clearing from a raised platform.

Off the Beaten Path

• Forest walk for medicinal plants (Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve)
  BaAka guides show the plants used for food, medicine and building.
• Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (South of Bayanga)
  Strictly protected rainforest at the heart of the Sangha Trinational World Heritage Site.
• Agile mangabey habituation walk (Bai Hokou)
  Follow a habituated troop of agile mangabeys through the forest.

Fun for Everyone

• Birdwatching around Sangha Lodge (Sangha river)
  Forest species, kingfishers and hornbills make this a quiet birding hotspot.

Must-Haves

• Gorilla tracking at Bai Hokou (Dzanga-Ndoki National Park)
  Track a habituated western lowland gorilla group with expert BaAka trackers.
• Gorilla tracking at Mongambe (Dzanga-Ndoki National Park)
  A second gorilla camp, reached by river and forest, with its own habituated group.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset pirogue on the Sangha river (Bayanga)
  Glide past forest banks as the light fades over the water.

Fun for Everyone

• Dzanga-Sangha tourism office (Bayanga)
  The place to arrange permits, guides and activities in the reserve.

Must-Haves

• Sangha Lodge (Sangha river)
  A small, much-loved lodge on the Sangha river, a base for gorillas, Dzanga Bai and birding.

Fun for Everyone

• Doli Lodge (Bayanga)
  The reserve's lodge in Bayanga, overlooking the Sangha river.

Must-Haves

• BaAka net hunt (Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve)
  Join BaAka families as they set nets in the forest, a living tradition of the forest people.
• BaAka polyphonic singing (Bayanga area)
  The layered singing of the BaAka is recognised by UNESCO and unforgettable to hear.

Off the Beaten Path

• Primate Habituation Programme (Bai Hokou)
  Learn how years of patient work let visitors meet gorillas safely.

Fun for Everyone

• BaAka crafts (Bayanga)
  Baskets and simple forest crafts make meaningful souvenirs when bought directly.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bayanga market (Bayanga)
  The village market sells forest produce, fish and cloth to local families.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fish from the Sangha river (Bayanga)
  Fresh river fish grilled or in sauce is the local everyday meal.

Must-Haves

• Boali Falls (Mbali river)
  A wide waterfall dropping into a forested gorge, at its best late in the rainy season.

Fun for Everyone

• Viewpoint path to the base of the falls (Boali Falls)
  A slippery but rewarding walk down for spray, rainbows and the full height of the falls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lac de Boali (Mbali river)
  The reservoir above the falls makes a peaceful stop for views over the water.
• Mbali river walk (Boali)
  Walk the river above the falls through gallery forest and farmland.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Grilled fish and chicken at the falls (Boali Falls)
  Eat local food in the shade after walking the falls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Boali hydroelectric dams (Boali)
  See from a respectful distance the dams that light Bangui, with no photography allowed.

Fun for Everyone

• Family picnic at the falls (Boali Falls)
  The falls have long been Bangui's favourite weekend outing for families.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Boali roadside stalls (Boali)
  Buy fruit, smoked fish and cassava from sellers along the main road.
• Boali market (Boali)
  A small market where you see everyday life in the town.

Must-Haves

• Mbaïki market (Mbaïki)
  Forest produce like mushrooms, caterpillars, honey and koko leaves fill the stalls.

Must-Haves

• Lobaye rainforest walks (Lobaye prefecture)
  A guided walk shows tall trees, butterflies and forest birds within a day of Bangui.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lobaye river (Lobaye prefecture)
  The river that gives the region its name winds through the forest to the Oubangui.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bobangui (Near Mbaïki)
  The home village of Barthélemy Boganda, the country's founding father.

Fun for Everyone

• Aka community visit (Around Mbaïki)
  With a trusted contact and fair payment, a respectful visit shows forest skills and song.

Off the Beaten Path

• Coffee plantations (Around Mbaïki)
  The Lobaye has grown coffee for generations, and you will see bushes and drying yards along the roads.

Fun for Everyone

• Roadside fruit stops (Bangui to Mbaïki road)
  Pineapples, bananas and mangoes straight from the farms make the journey sweeter.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Koko with peanut paste (Mbaïki)
  A forest dish best eaten close to where the leaves are gathered.