Central African Republic is a travel destination in Middle Africa. Its capital is Bangui. July and June are its two best months to visit, ranked on 1991–2020 climate averages.
Top places to visit in Central African Republic
Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve (natural, Sangha-Mbaéré) — UNESCO World Heritage tri-national rainforest — Dzanga Bai forest clearing attracts 100+ forest elephants daily; the world's premier elephant viewing and western lowland gorilla trekking site.
Dzanga Bai (Forest Clearing) (natural, Sangha-Mbaéré) — Mineral-rich forest clearing where dozens of forest elephants gather daily — one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles, viewable from an elevated observation platform.
Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (natural, Bamingui-Bangoran) — Vast UNESCO World Heritage site (though endangered) — black rhinos, elephants, cheetahs, red-fronted gazelle, and hippos in a mosaic of floodplains and savanna. The most biodiverse park in CAR.
Boali Waterfalls (natural, Bangui) — 50 m wide curtain of water on the Mbali River — impressive falls an easy day trip from Bangui, framed by wooded hillsides; the site of a historic hydroelectric dam.
Bangui Quartier Lakouanga (landmark, Bangui) — Colourful artisans' village on the Ubangi River — traditional craftsmen weaving baskets, carving masks, and painting textiles; the best place to understand Sango cultural traditions.
Notre-Dame de Bangui Cathedral (landmark, Bangui) — Sky-blue colonial cathedral at the heart of the capital — fine stained-glass panels, ornate altar, and a peaceful courtyard garden; one of Central Africa's oldest Catholic churches.
Runga Sultanate Palace (Ndélé) (landmark, Bamingui-Bangoran) — Ruins of the 19th-century Runga Sultanate capital — the palace complex, mosque, and ancient granaries document the pre-colonial Islamic kingdom that dominated northeast CAR.
Central African Pottery Village (landmark, Bangui) — Living craft tradition near Bangui — entire family cooperatives fashioning distinctive terracotta pots using ancient coiling techniques; vibrant weekly market of handmade ceramics.
Sangha River Kayaking (natural, Sangha-Mbaéré) — Multi-day kayak journeys along the Sangha River through pristine Congo Basin rainforest — fishing villages, forest elephants drinking at the bank, and dense birdlife.
Bangui Kilometre 5 Market (city, Bangui) — The pulsating heart of the capital — a sprawling open-air market where every product of the CAR countryside converges; bush meat, dyed cloth, medicinal herbs, and local music.