A country of rare natural beauty, with some of the world’s most amazing wildife, Cantral African Republic (CAR) nonetheless remains underdeveloped, fragmented and poverty-stricken. lt’s a country that has important mineral deposits and great natural resources, yet precious little of the wealth generated seeps down to the population. For centuries CAR has endured rapacity, first from invaders, later from its own leaders, and the situation doesn’t look like chaning any time soon. True to the spirit of ‘real’ Africa, however, the people of this plundered nation are open, friendly and generous.
November to April (day season)
Buying ebony sculptures, leathergood and batiks at Bangui’s artisans centre Taking a guided tour of ‘Emperor’ Bokassa’s former palace outside the capital, past lion cages and other gruesome relics his time power Spotting wildlife at St Floris and Bamingui-bangoran parks Visiting the spectacular Chutes de Boali (Boali Waterfalls )during the rainy season Trekking through the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve
Read The Central African Republic: The Continent’s Hidden Heart, a social history by Thomas E O’ Toole
Listen to Aka Pygmy Music, a Unesco recording
Eat the staples: rice, fermented cassava (manioc root) and bananas
Drink a jug of home-brewed plam or banana wine
Bara ala kwe (hello in the Sango language)
Forest elephants; lowland lowland gorillas; Pygmies; dictators; political chaos
Hunting safaris are still huge business in CAR, and have been ever since the French arrived a century ago and began parceling up the land into hunting estates. Big-game hunting grounds near the Sudanese border were personally sponsored by former French president, Giscard d’ Estaing
The national psyche has taken a battering due to ongoing political instability in the countryside, and to protracted moves by governments and rebels to people from their homes (an act that perpetuates the poverty). And solike all humans, the people of CAR are glad for a release. They like to drink banana and palm wine or beer and dance the gbadoumba, mambo and lououdon.