The central African Republic is rather unpopular when it comes to tourism and particularly tourist arrivals from western countries. This is mainly caused by the long-lasting civil war in the country which began in 2004 and lasted until 2007, followed by 5 troublesome years which resulted in another civil war that rages till this day.

Traveling info

All visitors to the Central African Republic must have a valid passport. Entry requirements to the Central African Republic vary depending on the nationality of the visitor. Citizens of some African and European nations may enter CAR without the requirement of a visa. Citizens of all other nations must obtain a visa from CAR embassies, missions or consulates. If there are none available in your country, the French mission, embassy or consulate might be able to aid in acquiring a visa. Visitors who wish to drive in CAR must have both their national driving permit and an international driving permit to drive legally. Drivers must beware that an IDP is only a translation of the original document and does not substitute for it. Both documents must be with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

In Bangui, road conditions vary, and many roads have large holes and degraded areas that prevent the normal flow of traffic. Only a small portion of the roads in the country, including in the capital, is paved, and many of the compacted dirt roads have been degraded. Drivers tend to prefer to drive on the smoothest portion of the road and ignore basic traffic laws, thus slowing the flow of traffic and increasing the risk of collision. The city of Bangui does have a public transportation system consisting of green buses and yellow taxis, though these vehicles are often dangerously overcrowded and very badly maintained. Due to the risk of armed attacks on motorists in the northern, eastern, and western regions of the country, overland travel in these areas should be avoided. Any driving outside the capital should be only during daylight hours. Most remote areas in the CAR that are frequented by tourists are accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles, although some roads are not passable at all during the rainy season, from May to October. There are currently no distracted driving laws in effect in the Central African Republic, but police may pull over drivers who talk or text while driving for not following unspecific safe driving procedures.

Environmental hazards

The central African Republic is vast and boasts diverse flora and fauna. The African bush elephant is the largest animal on earth and despite not being aggressive, is very dangerous. When angered or startled these animals can easily trample people to death, flip over cars or even break trees. Lions can be found in CAR, they are the apex predators of Africa and are not afraid to attack. These animals are responsible for over 250 deaths across Africa each year. Hippopotamuses can be found in the rivers and lakes of CAR. These animals may look docile but they are responsible for more deaths than crocodiles, elephants and lions took together. Hippos are fiercely territorial and even attack crocodiles who entered their territory. Crocodiles are present in the rivers and freshwaters of CAR. These large reptiles are dangerous and merciless. Although mostly nocturnal they will also attack during the day. Snakes of Africa can be nasty and some of the most dangerous can be found in CAR. Most dangerous of these are the black mamba, the gaboon viper and the puff adder which alone is responsible for 30 thousand deaths across Africa.
Floods, storms, and wildfires are the main natural hazards in Central African nations, with climate change a key factor. Floods are responsible for most damage and carry the biggest death toll.

Health hazards

All visitors traveling to CAR are required to be vaccinated against yellow fever. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is also required. Apart from the yellow fever vaccinations, there are no other required vaccines. There are however several vaccines which are strongly recommended to greatly decrease the chances of contracting any diseases. These vaccines are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis, cholera and rabies vaccines. Unfortunately, there are no approved vaccinations against Zika virus and malaria. Both of these diseases are carried by mosquitoes in CAR, therefore, an alternative way to protect against contracting the disease is to protect against mosquito bites. Using mosquito repellents and installing mosquito nets in the windows of your accommodation is recommended. There is medicine on prescription against malaria. It should be available to anyone after contacting your local general practitioner. Healthcare in the CAR is dysfunctional in every area, and at every level. Embroiled in civil war healthcare is largely disregarded and considering the poor GDP of the country, it is heavily reliant on foreign aid for the healthcare system to function at all. The life expectancy at birth is 43 years old. Comprehensive international medical insurance which covers repatriation and emergency evacuation are highly recommended for all travelers considering a trip to the Central African Republic.
In case of an emergency dial 114.

Crime

CAR is one of the most crime-ridden countries in Africa. This largely attributed to the dysfunctional government and a hopeless economic situation. This, in turn, leaves few options for the country’s youth. Many individuals turn to militias and rebel groups to earn a living, often illegally. Within Bangui, crimes against foreigners occur periodically. Neighborhoods where government leaders, business professionals, NGOs, and foreign diplomats, while to some degree safer because of the increased security presence, are still susceptible to being targeted by criminals. Home or compound invasions occur most often where security is the weakest, where poor exterior lighting exists, and/or where there is poor access control. Generally, criminals do not kill their victims, but the threat of force or the use of force is not uncommon. Attempts to resist criminals are often met with violence. Outside the capital, expatriates are regularly the victims of crimes armed robbery, aggravated battery, homicide. Along the main supply route from Cameroon to Bangui, criminal activity, especially banditry, is constant. Whilst violence based on a religious background is rather uncommon, political violence is widespread involving various militias around the country fighting against the local government making many places off limits to visitors. Possession, distribution, and cultivation of any narcotics are illegal in CAR however poor law enforcement makes locals disregard the law.

Summary

Currently, the country is not a place for families to visit for a calm holiday. Travel to CAR is generally discouraged by most tourist advisories making it a destination only for experienced travelers who can independently take care of themselves and not rely on local services which are inefficient or nonexistent in parts of the country. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/central-african-republic/passport-visa/
http://www.projectvisa.com/visainformation/Central_African_Republic
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/central-african-republic