Central African Republic flag

Central African Republic

History

The region was heavily depopulated by trans-Saharan and Atlantic slave raiding.
France established the territory of Ubangi-Shari.
Independence came on 13 August.
Jean-Bedel Bokassa ruled, declaring an empire in 1976.
Conflict between Seleka and anti-balaka groups displaced much of the population.
Africa thumbnailPart ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalBangui
Population6.5M
Area623k km2
CurrencyCentral African CFA franc

Short facts

RegionCentral Africa
LanguageFrench, Sango
Time zoneWAT (UTC+1)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Dzanga-Sangha: Rainforest reserve where forest elephants gather at the Dzanga clearing.
  • Boali Falls: A wide waterfall on the Mbali River, north-west of Bangui.
  • Manovo-Gounda St Floris: A northern savannah park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Find a city in Central African Republic

Showing all cities

Bangui thumbnailBanguiCity

Planning questions

What is Central African Republic known for?Dzanga-Sangha, Boali Falls, Manovo-Gounda St Floris.
What is the capital?Bangui.
Which language is useful?French, Sango.
When is the national day?1 December.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Central African Republic National Day thumbnailCentral African Republic National Day1 December 2026 — Across Central African Republic — Central African Republic

Use Bangui as the first planning anchor for Central African Republic, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Street food thumbnailStreet foodSignature dishCoffee thumbnailCoffeeLocal drink

Known for

Dzanga-SanghaBoali FallsManovo-Gounda St FlorisBanguiStreet foodCoffee
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Africa thumbnailAfrican outdoorsParks, coasts, desert routes and seasonal nature calendars.