Royal Air
Maroc airline flight from Malpensa to Bangui (Central African Republic), with a stopover at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca
(Morocco) and a technical
stop (without getting off the plane) at Douala
in Cameroon.
Return ticket price including taxes: Euro 1,001.48).
Having
checked in online and having only hand luggage, only at the Malpensa Gate,
before boarding the plane I was asked to show the mandatory visa to enter the Central African Republic.
Time zone:
Same time as in Italy, -1h
when summer time is in force in Italy.
Entry visa:
required. There is no Embassy of the Central
African Republic in Rome;
the competent Embassy is located in Paris,
30 rue des Perchamps 75016 tel: (+33) 1 55747310 - (+33) 1 45253974.
To obtain
the tourist one, it is necessary to present the following documentation:
1. Visa
form - completed in all its parts and signed
2. Passport
valid for at least 6 months
3. Two
recent passport photos on a white background
4.
Confirmation of the hotel reservation, stamped and signed by the Hotel located
in the Central African Republic
and certified by a local authority, or an original letter of invitation from
the person / body / company / NGO located in the Central African Republic.
5. Flight
tickets or return flights operating
6.
Photocopy of the health card proving the vaccination against yellow fever
7. Consular
rights
Obtaining a
Hotel Booking Confirmation, stamped and signed by the Hotel located in the Central African Republic and certified by a
local authority, or an original letter of invitation from the person /
organization / company / NGO located in the Central African Republic, is truly
difficult.
Therefore I
decided to take the Central African Republic Visa abroad, which is cheaper and
easier.
So I went
to the Embassy of the Central African Republic
in Yaoundé in Cameroon,
because here is the easiest place in the world to get a tourist visa. And in
fact I showed up at 9.00 in
the morning and presented 2 completed and signed forms, 2 passport photos, a
photocopy of the Yellow Fever booklet and 150,000 CFA in cash (130,000 CFA for
the normal procedure (issued in 2 days), in addition to 20,000 CFA for the
urgent procedure to obtain the same day visa). This is the price to obtain the
tourist visa valid for 3 months from the date of issue. If you are interested
in a tourist visa for 1 month from the date of issue, the price to be paid is
as follows: 70,000 CFA in cash (50,000 CFA for the normal procedure (issued in
2 days), in addition to 20,000 CFA for the urgent procedure for obtaining a
visa on the same day). At 11.30 I returned to the Embassy and collected my
passport with my tourist visa affixed.
Languages:
French and Sango are the official languages; there are about 80 native
dialects.
Religions:
Christians (80% of which 50% Protestants and 30% Catholics); Muslims (10%);
animists (10%);
Currency:
CFA franc.
At the Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca
(Morocco),
even though I was in the transit area, before entering it, I had to undergo a
security check.
Once you
arrive, at 8.30 (an hour late), at the Aéroport Bangui M'Poko, located 5 km north-west of the center
of the capital, after having tried the fever, you must show the yellow fever
booklet, you have to fill in the entry form to the country and then go to the
border staff desk. There they check your Visa and affix your entry stamp. Then
you have to go to the desk just behind where your visa is registered.
Subsequently, after having collected the baggage, you must submit to the same
control.
From the
Bangui M'Poko Airport, located 4
km north-west of Bangui Center,
I took a taxi at the price of 3,500 CFA to reach the Embassy of Sudan, located
in Avenue des Martyrs, 200
meters. north - west of the Barthelemy Boganda Stadium
and the Place des Martyrs. If you walk 100 meters. beyond the
airport you can find a motor bike for the price of 1,000 CFA to reach the city
center.
I went to
the Sudan Embassy in Bangui in the Central African Republic,
because here is one of the easiest places in the world to get a tourist visa.
And in fact I showed up at 9.30
in the morning and presented 1 completed and signed
form, 2 passport photos, a photocopy of the Passport, a photocopy of the hotel
reservation made through "Expedia" and 150,000 CFA in cash (the
correct price was 60,000 CFA, but the smart clerk took 150,000 CFA saying mine
was a 3 month visa, but it wasn't true). I waited at the Embassy and at 13.00 I
collected my passport with the tourist visa, valid for 2 months from the date
of issue with the possibility of staying in Sudan for 1 month. The problem that
got me wrong is when it expired before I entered the country and then I had to
go back to the Embassy and they extended my visa for 20 days, until just past
the expiration date of my trip.
Keep in
mind that if you want to take photographs in the Central African Republic, but
especially in Bangui, where there is a lot of police even in civilian clothes
and many UN soldiers, you need to have an authorization from the Ministry, otherwise
if you come get caught, well that you go you will have to pay at least 5,000
CFA, a tip to avoid being reported. If you go wrong you can end up in jail.
From the
Embassy of Sudan in Bangui,
I walked for 200 meters.
until you reach the Barthelemy Boganda Stadium. I entered without problems. It
was a weekday and there were few people inside who were training. From the
highest part of the stands you can enjoy an excellent view of the Piazza dei
Martiri below.
Then I took
a motor taxi for the price of 200 CFA, to reach the Levy's Hotel.
In Bangui, I slept at Hotel
Levy's (Website: www.levyhotel.com. Email: hotel-levy's@yahoo.fr, telephones:
+23621616619, +23675506683, +23675501470, +23675506684, located on Avenue
Barthelemy Boganda , in the center, at the price of 15,000 CFA, for a single
room, with air conditioning, fan, television, private bathroom, poor wifi, in
the hotel lobby, mosquito net. The reception staff also speaks English. There
is the security staff who guard the facility 24 hours a day. Excellent value
for money in a city where hotels cost a lot.
At the
reception of the Levy's Hotel, it is possible to change money at the following
exchange rate: 1 Euro = 650 CFA.
Through
Hotel Levy's I rented a car with driver (who speaks French only) at a cost of
55,000 CFA per day, over 3,000 CFA tip (from 6.00 to 16.00), including fuel, to
visit the Capital and the Falls of Boali, 70
km north-west of Bangui.
The section
of road number RN1 between Bangui
and Boali is probably the safest in the whole country. Normally, if you travel
during the day there are no particular dangers. The asphalt is also in fair
condition.
The only
problem is the police checkpoints: the first they let me pass without asking me
anything, the second they asked my driver for money. Instead they told me that
I had a visa but not a residence permit and this was a big problem that could
be solved by giving them 20,000 CFA. Eventually I started crying and only gave
him 5,000 CFA.
At the
third roadblock they asked my driver for money. Instead they told me that I had
to pay 5,000 CFA if I wanted to go through there. Eventually I started to cry
and only gave him 3,000 CFA.
Once in the
southern outskirts of Boali, to reach the Falls, you need to turn right and
drive along 5 km
of dirt road in good condition.
Once we
arrived at the Boali
Falls, 5 boys accompanied
me on their visit without my having asked them anything and at the end of the
visit they wanted 10,000 CFA. I only wanted to give them 2,000 CFA, but they
threatened me to go to the police if I didn't pay them. In the end, I gave him
5,000 CFA.
Entrance to
the falls costs 1,000 CFA.
There is a
concrete path with stairs and viewing platforms that allows a good view of the
falls, but if you want to get the best photographs, you need to go to the
valley of the same, along a short steep, steep and very slippery path. Once you
get to the base of the falls, the wet rocks are so slippery that it is very
difficult to remain standing.
Once back
on the RN1 road, by car we turned right to reach the center of Boali. To do
this, however, it is necessary to overcome another roadblock where, however,
they did not ask me for money.
In the
center of Boali I visited the Catholic and Protestant Churches.
On my
return to Bangui
I had to overcome the 4 roadblocks already faced in the first leg, but this
time nobody asked me for money.
Once back
in Bangui I
visited:
1. Peace Monument,
in Place Marabena;
2. Place
des Martyrs;
3. Place
des Nations Unies;
4. Place de la Republique in PK0;
5. Place du Cinquantenaire;
6. Musee
National Barthelemy Boganda, (open from Monday to Friday from 7.30 to 15.00);
7.
Cathedrale Notre Dame, where the Pope opened the Holy Door;
8. University of Bangui;
9. Oubangui
Hotel: I asked for permission at the reception to go up to the 12th and last
floor to take pictures of the Ubangui River, which divides the Central African Republic from the
Democratic Republic of Congo. They granted it to me but forced me to walk up
the security iron stairs located outside the building. To get off, however, I
took the elevator. Then I went to the Hotel Bar where there are benches and
tables to relax and enjoy a great view of the Oubangui River.
Be careful to take pictures here as there are military posts not far from the
Bar.
From the Levy's
Hotel I took a motor taxi for the price of 1,000 CFA, to reach the Bangui
M'Poko Airport, located 5 km
north-west of Bangui
Center.
Before
entering the Airport Hall, you must undergo a security check, then you must
check in, then you must fill out the form to exit the country, then at the desk
get the exit stamp from the country, then there is the security check with the
scanner and then another 2 of the hand luggage.
Flight of
the Royal Air Maroc Company from Bangui (Central African Republic) to Malpensa,
with a 17-hour stopover at Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport (I would have been
entitled to a Room in the Hotel, including dinner and breakfast, offered by the
Royal Air Maroc Company, but I didn't know so I spent the night in the cold
airport). Return ticket price including taxes: Euro 1,001.48.
My complete travel report
with map, photographs and videos is available at this link: https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/10/travel-in-repubblica-centrafricana.html
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