How to Find Luxury Hotels in Central African Republic

The landlocked Central African Republic, located at the heart of the African continent, is a land of deep mystery and fierce tradition. It is also currently a land of incredible political turmoil and militant violence, with barely a semblance of law in place, making travel there inadvisable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• The appropriate visas.
• A valid passport.

Find Luxury Accommodations in Central African Republic

1. To book accommodations, contact South Travels at (63) 35 - 4198329 or visit the Web site (see Resources below). Live in a lodge. There are a few lodges operating around the country's national park. These lodges are primarily geared toward hosting tour groups and only open up when they know a tour group is coming. While these accommodations have no amenities per se (you will need to bring your own food and other supplies), you will at least have a clean bed for the night in a place that will probably have indoor plumbing.
2. Leave your expectations at home. If your lodgings have running water and indoor bathrooms, you have found some of the Central African Republic's luxury accommodations.
3. Recognize that safe equals luxury in the Central African Republic. Some missionaries have encampments that they will allow travelers to lodge in for reasonable fees, and may even feed you while you are there. These mission camps are relatively safe and good places to stay and experience some local culture for a few days in relative comfort.

Navigate Central African Republic

4. Charter a plane. Due to the violence in much of the country, the only truly safe way to travel in the Central African Republic is by chartered airplane. These small crafts can get you from one place to another quickly and usually in one piece.
5. Catch a boat ride. If you are visiting any of the larger towns along the country's rivers, you will find plenty of boats traversing the waters for trade between the towns. Most of these boating merchants are friendly and will be happy to give you a lift to the next town down river if you ask.

Explore Central African Republic

6. Visit the national park. Tucked away in a relatively peaceful corner of the country, the national park draws in small groups of visitors from time to time. There is a wide variety of wildlife to be seen here and ample opportunities for hiking.
7. Meet the locals. The Baka tribe makes its home near the national park and its people are by and large friendly and welcoming to visitors. Stop by one of their villages, learn about their customs and make a new friend or two.

Tips & Warnings

• Central African Republic is not a safe country to visit at this time. The political and civil situation there is volatile and there is little enforcement of law. Anyone venturing there should do so with extreme caution and be prepared for trouble.