Geography
Situated about 500 miles north of the equator, the Central African Republic is a landlocked nation bordered by Cameroon, Chad, the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), and the Republic of Congo. Twice the size of New Mexico, and roughly the size of France, it is covered by tropical forests in the south and semi-desert land in the east.

History
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a developing African country with the potential to be a popular tourist destination. However, tourism infrastructure today is almost non-existent in the country. The Dzanga-Sangha National Park, a primeval rain forest in the southwestern region of the country, is an interesting site for ecotourism. A big emphasis has been put on the development of ecotourism, a sector which is already the principal attraction for the few, mainly European, tourists who visit the Central African Republic. In addition, Saint Florist National Park to the north of the country is a huge expanse where lions, leopards, rhinos and a host of other animals can be spotted. The towns and cities have bustling markets, palm and banana wine for sale by the side of the roads, and green hills and giraffes close by.

Climate
It is hot all year round in the Central African Republic, with temperatures soaring highest in the country's northeastern region. The best time to travel however is from November to April, although the rains come by late February in the south, around Bangui. Further south, the rains are heavier and can occur at any time of year although the highest concentration is usually between July and October.

The People
The population consists of approximately 80 ethnic groups, including the Baya, Banda, Sara, Mandija, Mboum, and Mbaka, as well as a small European minority. Considerable migration of inhabitants from urban to rural areas has led to the uneven distribution of the population.

The people of Bantu tribes, living in rural areas, are mainly farmers and eat Cassava as a staple food. Cassava is a sort of taro, called manioc in French, similar to a sugar beet. They live in hut-like homes made of dried bricks with a thatched roof.

Pygmy tribes live in the southern rain forest areas near the border with Congo. They make simple houses from native grasses and live nomadically. Many of these people have been unseen or untouched by civilization for centuries. Today, more and more are beginning to practice farming because of the government's policy to encourage settlements, but most still live in the jungle, hunters and gatherers like their ancestors.

Unlike the Pygmy, Mbororo people build simple houses with roofs made of reeds. They also lead a nomadic life, moving about wherever their cattle and sheep graze. Many are attempting to settle down and farm, leaving their animals to graze in the various pastures.

Due to the governmental economic programs, the majority of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, although only about 3% of the land is under cultivation. Manioc, yams, millet, corn, and bananas are the main food crops.

Bangui: Capital City
A modest French village founded in 1889, Bangui extends over 5 sq. miles and, in the heart of the African quarter, you’ll find bars, dance clubs, and the largest market, with public transportation departing to many locations. The city is shaded by tropical greenery and also features modern buildings, avenues lined with mango trees and a colorful Central Market. It is the liveliest place in town, but it is also the most dangerous, with muggers and thieves on the lookout day and night for potential victims. The few hotels in Bangui have expensive clubs catering to tourists and businessmen; local nightlife is centered on the district known as 'Kilomètre Cinq'.

The Place de la République, in the center of town, has a large, white triumphal arch, a somewhat comical monument to Bokassa's short-lived reign. There are several places to eat in this area but for the best in African fare, the street food stalls in the surrounding areas are better.

In most of CAR, beer halls are on almost every corner, and the beer there is generally very good. Homemade palm wine and banana wine, usually sold in jugs along the roadside, are very prevalent while ginger beer is also widespread. As with any homemade brew the water could be contaminated so the traveler must be discriminating when purchasing it.

Safari
Hunting safaris are still a huge business in CAR, and have been ever since the French arrived a century ago and divided up the land into large private hunting estates. For those with the inclination there are still eiant elands, lions and leopard hunted for sport throughout country. If not, there are plenty of photo opportunities available here as well. The CAR has been renowned for its population of forest elephants, slightly smaller and with straighter tusks than their plains cousins. Parks include the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park in the northeast, the smaller St. Floris National Park further east, the recently created Dzanga-Ndoki Park, and the surrounding Dzanga-Sangha Reserve in the south.

Over the last twenty years however, poachers from the Sudan, other neighboring nations, as well as locals, have butchered a colossal number of animals in these parks (up to 80% of the population in some cases). Those visitors who do travel to CAR generally head for St. Floris where the animal population is a bit higher and there are some facilities to receive visitors. Unfortunately, chartering a plane is almost the only way to reach the park due to its distance from the capital and the preponderance of bad road conditions.

Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Coastline: landlocked

Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Geography—note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

Population: 3,444,951 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African

Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)

Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%

Note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa

Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Central African Empire
abreviation: CAR

Government type: republic

Capital: Bangui

Constitution: 13 August 1960 (from France)

Legal system: based on French law

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 26 21
FAX: [236] 61 44 94

Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy—overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998.

Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Telephone system: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Railways:
total: 0km

Highways:
total: 23,810 km
paved: 429 km
unpaved: 23,381 km (1995 est.)

Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river

Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola

Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includes Republican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, Police Force