Middle Africa · AfricaCentral African Republic
Discover the Central African Republic - home to forest elephants, lowland gorillas, the Dzanga-Sangha rainforest, and some of Africa's last untouched wilderness.
Where Is the Central African Republic?
The Central African Republic is a country in Middle Africa. Its capital is Bangui.
- Capital Bangui
- Population 5.51M
- Area 622,984 km²
The Central African Republic is one of the least visited countries on Earth, and that is partly because of chronic instability - it has suffered repeated coups, civil wars, and some of the lowest development indicators anywhere. But it is also one of the most ecologically remarkable places on the continent. The Dzanga-Sangha rainforest in the southwest is home to forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and the Ba'Aka people, one of the oldest indigenous communities in Central Africa whose polyphonic singing is a UNESCO-recognized treasure.
The country sits right in the heart of the African continent, straddling the Congo Basin rainforests to the south and the Sahel to the north. The Ubangi and Sangha rivers teem with life, diamonds lie scattered in alluvial deposits, and the Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park was once one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles before poaching devastated it. The Central African Republic is a country of immense natural wealth and human resilience, struggling to find stability in one of the most challenging regions on Earth.
At a glance
Largest cities in Central African Republic
Bangui
Bimbo
Berbérati
Famous people from Central African Republic
Barthelemy Boganda
PoliticsFather of the nation who led the independence movement and envisioned a united Central African state before his mysterious death in 1959
Ba'Aka Pygmies
MusicIndigenous forest people whose complex polyphonic vocal music has been recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of human heritage
Jean-Bedel Bokassa
PoliticsNotorious ruler who declared himself emperor in 1977 and held a coronation modeled on Napoleon, bankrupting the country
Traditional cuisine of Central African Republic
- Gozo
- Thick cassava flour paste that serves as the staple carbohydrate, torn by hand and dipped into stews
- Kanda
- Meatballs made from ground peanuts and meat, simmered in a savory sauce, a protein-rich Central African staple
- Makara
- Bread made from cassava, baked or fried and served alongside soups and stews throughout the country
- Palm Wine
- Mildly alcoholic drink tapped fresh from raffia palms, sweet when fresh and increasingly sour as it ferments
Nature and landmarks in Central African Republic
- Dzanga-Sangha ReserveForest
- UNESCO-listed tropical rainforest where you can track western lowland gorillas and watch forest elephants gather at mineral clearings
- Dzanga BaiLandmark
- Forest clearing where dozens of elephants gather daily at a mineral lick, one of the most spectacular wildlife viewing sites in Central Africa
- Manovo-Gounda St FlorisNational Park
- UNESCO World Heritage site with vast savannas once teeming with wildlife, now endangered but still ecologically significant
- Ubangi RiverRiver
- Major tributary of the Congo River forming the southern border with DR Congo, a lifeline for trade and transport
Sports in Central African Republic
- Football
- The Wild Beasts have competed in African Cup of Nations qualifiers, with football being by far the most popular sport
- Basketball
- Growing basketball culture with increasing participation, though the country has yet to qualify for major international tournaments
Did you know?
The Central African Republic is one of the least densely populated countries in Africa, with vast stretches of uninhabited forest
Jean-Bedel Bokassa crowned himself Emperor in 1977 in a ceremony costing $20 million, roughly one-third of the national budget
Dzanga Bai is called the village of elephants - up to 100 forest elephants gather at the clearing on a single day
Sango, a creole language, is one of the few African languages that serves as a true national lingua franca understood by nearly everyone
The country sits on significant diamond deposits, but most are mined artisanally by hand in river beds
The Ba'Aka people of the southwestern forests are among the shortest people on Earth, with men averaging about 150 cm tall
Read more about Central African Republic
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