Central African Republic 10 days – the Green Heart of Africa,
Central African Republic for nature lovers, but surely also for others, an unforgettable experience will be the visit in the Dzanga-Sangha National Park where we will admire the flora and fauna of rainforests of the central part of the continent.
This is one of last so rich tropical ecosystems, not only in Africa. We will meet there with lowland gorillas and forest elephants. We also will explore the culture of Pygmies whose lands are now part of the Dzanga-Sangha National Park. Finally, after the hardships of the journey, it is time to relax on Atlantic beaches. You are welcome to take part in this exceptional journey to places off the beaten path. BTP Adventure
itinerary
Flights to Bangui usually take place in the afternoon and evening. After arrival, visa formalities. Transfer to the hotel and, after a short rest, an organisational meeting and dinner.
D.
After breakfast, short boat ride on Ubanui River in traditional boat. After that we will visit Boai Waterfalls and. After lunch, we will go to the pygmies village . Dinner and overnight in Bangui.
B.D.
After Berakfast we will drive in 4WD vehicles from Bangui to Shanga Dzanga via Bayanga, and then to lodges for dinner and night rest.
B.L.D.
IThe Dzanga-Sangha National Park is one of the most valuable natural areas of the Central African Republic. It gives shelter to numerous populations of western lowland gorillas, African forest elephants and forest buffaloes. Many of the bird, amphibian and reptile species present there have still not been described, not to mention invertebrates and other extraordinary flora of this area.Dinner and night rest in a lodge.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will go to the Ba’aka village where we will learn about the life of Pygmies who still inhabit the forest parts of the National Park. Then, accompanied by the village inhabitants, we will go to the forest for a traditional hunt. We will also learn about medicinal plants and edible fruits. It will be an exceptional opportunity to have a close encounter with the disappearing Pygmy culture. Dinner and night rest in a lodge.
B.L.D.
In the early morning, we will set off for a hike in the search for family groups of Western lowland gorillas. In line with the regulations protecting this endangered primate species, observation is possible for only one hour. We will also see other, smaller, very interesting inhabitants of the Central African forests. Dinner and night rest in a lodge.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will go to meet forest elephants in Dzanga Bai. En route, we will get to know also other inhabitants of Dzanga-Sangha. During our trip, we will learn about the fauna, flora and geology of Dzanga-Sangha. Dinner and night rest in a lodge
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will drive in 4WD vehicles from Dzanga-Sangha to Bayanga, Dinner and night rest in hotel in Bayanga.
B.L.D.
In the early morning, we will set off for Bangui. Last shopping and lunch in Bangui. Evening departure for flight to Europe or other destination in Africa
B.L.
If the departure is on the next day, an additional dinner and overnight stay in Bangui. (not included in the price)
Practical information
- the length of the tour : 10 days in Africa;
- start of the trip: Bangui;
- end of the trip: Bangui;
- the highlights of this expedition:The principal attraction of the trip will be the stay in the Dzanga Sangha National Park in the Central African Republic. It will be an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the fauna and flora of one of the most species-rich habitats in the world, which are the rainforests of Central Africa. In particular, we should have close encounters with forest elephants and lowland gorillas.
The tour will be an expedition to one of the regions of the world rarely visited by tourists. The tour has a nature of a tourist expedition and will be oriented on cultural, sightseeing and nature tourism. Because of the special nature of the visited places and of the expedition features, the travellers are required to be physically and mentally fit. Long car rides through the wilderness of Central African Republic, often at more than +30°C, overnight stays in hotels and lodges with limited access to toilets and showers may be very tiresome and cause considerable discomfort. Furthermore, as the expedition will take place to very remote areas, during its course there will be practically no access to medical services, except for the capital Bangui, and even there only to a limited extent. During the tour, hikes in the Dzanga Sangha National Park are planned. The itinerary was designed to enable best possible viewing of the places away from mass tourism routes, while meeting basic safety standards and ensuring comfort to the travellers. You should bear in mind that Central African Republic are countries of many cultures and traditions, having a special and unique character.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of the tour.
- The single-entry visa for Central African Republic can be obtained at the airport in Bangui
- Having booked the tour, the travellers will receive a letter of invitation necessary for obtaining the visa. The completed visa application and two current colour photographs will also be necessary.
- You should take with you for the tour a photocopy of your passport (the photo page) and an additional ID document.
- Take with you for the trip the yellow vaccination booklet with certified valid yellow fever vaccination – it is impossible to enter the Central African Republic without this document and vaccination.
- Vaccination against yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B, meningococci, typhus and meningitis is recommended.
- Despite a low risk, it is worth preparing to malaria prevention (Malarone or Lariam).
- There is a risk of dengue and tuberculosis at the places planned to be visited during the trip.
- During our expedition, we will drink only bottled water. You should avoid ice in your beverages and eating raw or undercooked foods. Only private medical care exists in Mali, and this only in the capital.
- Because of difficult travelling and accommodation conditions and particularities of the country, good general health and physical fitness are necessary. Furthermore, your patience will definitely be tested and you should prepare for hardships of long journeys, lassitude and discomfort.
- Before departure, we recommend a consultation with a family physician and a tropical medicine specialist.
- Please take with you a first aid kit and a sufficient supply of your regular (prescription) medicines, if any. Some useful contents of the first aid kit:
- insect repellents – absolutely necessary
- high sun protection cream (recommended SPF 50)
- disinfectants, wound dressing materials
- analgesics and antipyretics
- antibiotics, as a precaution
- anti-diarrhoeals, electrolytes and vitamins
Central African Republic is a country characterized by political instability and a major risk of an armed conflict. However, in the region that we plan to visit the actual terrorist threat or armed conflict risk is nowadays relatively low. We design our itineraries so as to avoid places that are potentially dangerous (the north-eastern region of the Central African Republic and the north-eastern region of Cameroon, near the border with Nigeria and Chad).
Owing to the good relations we have with local contractors, we keep following the news to be aware of any potential threats and safety risks. We also recommend you to read the latest news on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.
The legal tender in Central African Republic is the Central African CFA franc. Currency exchange is possible only in the capital – at the airport and in hotels. You cannot change money anywhere else. Using payment cards is impossible outside the capital. The best foreign exchange rate is for euros. US dollars or UK pounds are not generally exchangeable.
For current foreign exchange rates see www.xe.com or install xe.com on your phone.
The official languages in Central African Republic are French and Arabic. Several dozen local languages are also spoken. In the case of a group tour, the tour leader will speak English or French. For self-guided tours, you must speak French, while English-speaking travellers must hire a local guide with a command of English.
Central African Republic are multi-ethnic and multi-religious countries. Their inhabitants are predominantly Christians of different rites and followers of traditional African religions. Local customs and traditions are very much preserved
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws. You will receive the relevant information from your local guide or the tour leader.
The tour dates are proposed in periods of the best possible weather conditions at the sites included in the itinerary. The best time for expeditions to Central African Republic is the period between December and the end of June. Temperatures exceed +30°C during the day and +20°C at night. Rainfalls are possible. Major problems are low quality of roads, dust in the air in the dry season and mud after rainfalls.
For detailed information see https://www.meteoblue.com/en.
Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and villages. In areas outside of large towns, mobile network services are mostly unavailable. Purchase of a local SIM-card is complicated and of little benefit. Before the trip, please enquire with your mobile network operator whether they have a contract signed with operators in Central African Republic and what the prices of call and SMS roaming are. To avoid a nasty surprise, we recommend disabling mobile data usage.
- Wi-Fi is available only at certain accommodation sites and in a handful of restaurants.
- Additionally, we recommend taking a capacious power bank, solar charger or car charger. In national parks and in the course of car rides, it will be possible to charge electronic equipment only from vehicle power supplies.
- Power sockets of type C, D, E and F. Voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz.
For climatic and cultural reasons, loose garments will be most appropriate: long trousers, long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, which can be easily washed and will quickly dry. The most comfortable footwear for the tour will be lightweight boots. Palladium brand boots are recommended. You may walk in open sandals but in towns as well as in savannas and desert regions this may be uncomfortable because of stones, thorny plants and sharp grasses. Hiking boots are not necessary. The following are worth taking:
- sachet for documents and money
- wet wipes for body cleaning and antibacterial gels
- dry shampoo
- polar fleece jacket or warmer blouse, especially useful at evening and night times
- head cover and sunglasses – mandatory, the sun is no joke!
- comfortable summer clothes, useful during practically the whole trip
- light T-shirts/shirts
- useful odds and ends: torch, Swiss Army knife, sewing kit (usually is not needed but is not heavy and does not take much place), chargers, mug (for special occasions); inflatable neck pillow, useful on the plane and during car rides; small wallet for the local currency; books to pass the time on flights and car rides
Price
Price: £ 2290 p/p
Price per person for a group of at least 4 people. In the case of a trip for a smaller number of people, the price will be given individually:
During the expedition, we will travel by 4WD vehicles. The expected number of travellers in one vehicle will depend on the size of the off-road minibus + driver. Our cars may not be equipped with air conditioning or the air conditioning system may be switched off because of too much dust particles in the air. Speed depends on the road surface conditions, terrain characteristics and number and length of stops.
We are not able to guarantee a uniform accommodation standard at each of the planned sites during the stay in Central African Republic. Our priorities are your comfort, appropriate location, character of the site and historical, cultural and natural values. We always place emphasis on the support of local community when selecting the sites for our accommodation. In general, rooms will be assigned on the assumption of two people sharing a twin room (rooms with individual bathrooms). The surcharges for single rooms are quoted in the “Price” section.
- Two overnight stays in 3 and 4-star hotels are planned during the stay in Bangui.
- In the Central African Republic, four overnight stays in lodges with individual bathrooms are planned.
Meals are included in the tour price, as specified in the itinerary. B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner. Breakfasts will be provided at the hotel. We will go for lunches and dinners to local restaurants. The cuisine of Somalia is very varied, similarly as the culture and history of this part of Africa.
For information about the local costs of living see https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.
Services of a tour guide, local and special gudes in National Parks
All entrance fees and permits to visit national parks and reserves in the itinerary
The price includes the cost of tips and porters’ fees.
Trip preparation, visa mediation, the invitation necessary to obtain a visa
Costs of the main flight to and from Bangui
Costs of flight tickets are not covered by the tour price. BTP Adventure does not directly arrange and buy tickets for international flights. However, we may suggest the best connections and airlines. For this purpose, contact us by e-mail or call us.
The single-entry visa for Central African Republic can be obtained at the airport in Bangui
Having booked the tour, the travellers will receive a letter of invitation necessary for obtaining the visa. The completed visa application and two current colour photographs will also be necessary.
Insurance is not covered by the tour price. Having valid insurance is a condition for taking part in the trip. We recommend taking out insurance that will be appropriate for the planned itinerary and for your individual state of health and needs. Please send us the proof of your insurance contract.
You can purchase insurance on your own on the website of Axa or any other insurance company: https://www.axa.co.uk/travel-insurance/.
BTP Adventure may help you obtain adequate insurance cover. If you want our help, please contact us.
Meals other than those listed in the final itinerary.
Personal expenses and souvenirs.
Surcharge for a single room: 250 £
supplementary payment for the additional accommodation In the case of arrival or departure on a different date,
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the itinerary may be modified. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
We can arrange a self-guided tour – if you are interested, please contact the office.
We will keep updating the detailed information on the safety and final itinerary of the tour. Before you decide to submit the booking form, please learn about the current political and sanitary situation in Central African Republic.
The planned expedition is an exclusive proposal prepared on the basis of our experience and knowledge of the local peculiarities and major sightseeing attractions of Central African Republic
We are committed to ensure the best possible and safe and, as far as feasible, comfortable travelling through these little-frequented and extremely interesting country.
With any questions please contact BTP ADVENTURE
2290 £ Per Person
We can arrange a self-guided tour – if you are interested, please contact the office.
