PureTravel
Central African Republic Holiday
In the Lobaya Region 100km (60 miles) from the capital there are
forest tribes who still live in small huts made of vines with
roofs made of leaves, and there are coffee plantations at the
edge of the forest. At Zinga there are beautifully crafted
wooden houses, while at Bouar there are burial mounds that are
thousands of years old.
The Boali Waterfalls are both wide and high and are used to
generate hydroelectricity. You can visit the hydroelectric power
plant near the falls. There are also spectacular waterfalls on
the River Kotto called the Kembe Falls and the Toutoubou Falls
near Berberati. There are no railways in the Central African
Republic so goods are mainly transported by river. Basketball is
the most popular sport.
Nature & Wildlife -
CAR is noted for its population of forest elephants and has
potential as an ecotourism destination. The most visited
National Park is Dzanga-Sangha National Park in the rainforest
of the southwest where you can search for gorillas and
elephants. Aka people live in this remote area. The nearby
village of Bayanga offers accommodation and most people arrive
by air rather than pass through the many checkpoints by road. In
the forest surrounding Mbaiki there are pygmy settlements in the
rainforest.
There are two other important parks. Manovo-Gounda St Floris
National Park to the north is on the UNECO World Heritage List
and has leopards, lions, black rhinos and a high concentration
of hippos. Bamingui-Bangoran National Park is in the northeast.
There is an impressive variety of wildlife although the
activities of poachers, particularly from neighboring Sudan,
have led to a considerable decrease in the last 20 years,
particularly of elephants and rhinos. The best way to see the
wildlife is in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. From Birao, a tour
operator can set you up with reliable guides and, more
importantly, reliable vehicles. You’ll only be able to get
around, though, during the dry season. Otherwise, the roads
become more than swamps; they become flowing rivers!
Trekking - Trekking
and hiking in CAR is very arduous even for the intrepid
traveller. There is not much in the way of accommodation once
you get out of the main cities, though a tour operator can
connect you with all you’ll need. Have a 4x4 booked and ready to
take you to various places where day hikes are possible. The
best place to go walkabout is Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National
Park or Bamingui-Bangoran. Walking trips through the park must
be accompanied by a guide, but you may see black rhinos,
cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, gazelles and elephants. Poaching
has taken its toll but strong programs are being implemented to
save the wildlife.
Mountain Biking -
Riding a bike around CAR will not be that easy, as the country
is a bit smaller than Texas with the rolling hills of British
Columbia. Most of what you’ll find here is savannah, though
undulating hills is the common terrain feel. The Fertit Hills
and the Yade Massif in the northeast and northwest respectively
offer some great “roads” (dirt tracks) for riding and seeing the
country’s interior. It’s only possible to bike here during the
dry season.
Fishing - There are
all kinds of places to cast your rod in CAR. The problem is
getting there. If you’ve pre-booked something with your tour
operator, then you can try your luck at any number of the
rivers, streams and tributaries that branch from the Congo
River. Parts of the Mbomou, Ubangi, Uele, and Sangha River feed
thousands, maybe millions, of people a day. The watershed here
is extremely vital to the lives of not only people but of the
animals that call CAR (and the surrounding countries) home.
Common species are catfish, perch, pike, and carp.
Other Outdoor Activities -
There is a lot to see and do in CAR. Developing activities
includes rock climbing and golf outings. There are some great
rock formations and you won’t even have to bring your own
equipment. The guides are trained and have years of experience
to help you climb some of this areas most famous, though
low-key, rocks. This is a great way to experience 360 views of
various areas.
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