Best Time to Visit Central African Republic

Bangui and the rest of the country

Our site covers one place in the Central African Republic: Bangui, the capital, on the Ubangi River. So this guide leans on Bangui's weather. The north is drier and the southwest forest is wetter, so expect some difference once you leave the capital. We don't have figures for those areas.

Travel here is not simple. Security changes from region to region, and many places outside Bangui are hard to reach. Check your government's travel advice before you pick dates.

The seasons

There are two main seasons. The wet season runs roughly from May to October. August is the wettest month in Bangui, with 229 mm of rain. Downpours turn dirt roads to mud, and trips upcountry slow down or stop. Rivers run high, which can make river travel easier but road travel harder.

The dry season starts around November. Skies clear, the dust settles after the rains, and the roads dry out. December is the best month in Bangui. Days are warm without the heavy, sticky air of the rains, and you can plan a full day outside.

Don't leave it too late, though. February is the hottest month at 35°C. Afternoons are fierce, so you'll want to do markets and walks in the morning. Our data shows no other month tying with February for the top temperature.

Holidays and crowds

There's no tourist high season here in the usual sense. You won't fight crowds at sights. The dry months, from December to about February, are the busiest for travellers, aid workers and wildlife visits. That's also when flights and rooms are most likely to be tight.

Independence Day is on 13 August, and it falls in the wettest month. Expect parades and closed offices in Bangui. Christmas and 1 January are public holidays, so shops and banks close for a few days. Easter Monday and 1 December, Republic Day, are also days off.

If you're heading for the Dzanga-Sangha reserve in the southwest, aim for the drier months. Forest tracks are far easier then. For Bangui alone, December is your safest bet.