Central African Republic Trips & Tours

While the Central African Republic’s international airport is in the capital, Bangui, our guests travel straight to Dzanga-Sangha from the Republic of Congo. Most often, guests will travel to Sangha Lodge from Odzala via the following route. Every Sunday and Wednesday, a scheduled flight operates from Mboko Airstrip to Kabo Airstrip in the Republic of Congo. Following this, a five-hour boat transfer takes guests up the Sangha River into the Central African Republic. A trusted Congo Conservation Company guide accompanies all transfers and border formalities are managed along the river. Departure happens via the same route, where you’ll travel downstream to Kabo by boat, take a flight to Odzala (available on Sundays and Wednesdays) and arrive in Brazzaville via a charter flight (on Mondays and Thursdays).

Health & Safety Please consult your personal physician and/or a travel clinic preferably 6 weeks prior to your departure. Vaccine requirements vary based on your country of origin and your travel itinerary and your previous vaccination history. It is best to consult with your physician or the CDC website for guidelines. Important vaccinations to consider and which may either be required or recommended are: Hepatitis A & B, typhoid and yellow fever (this must have been received at least 10 days prior to arrival). Please always carry your ‘International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)’ or ‘Yellow Card’ with you. Malaria We advise that you consult a medical practitioner at least six weeks prior to travel. Malaria is present in CAR and it is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit. Please consult a medical professional regarding which prophylactics will be suitable for you. In addition to the recommendations of your travel clinic or physician, you may also consider the following proactive preventative measures: ● Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Recommended repellents contain 20-35% DEET but it is a very virulent repellent, and should be used cautiously. ● Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants at dawn and dusk, as well as closed shoes. ● Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed. If you come down with flu-like symptoms either during or within four to six weeks after your visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice immediately and let him/her know that you have been in a malaria area. You can also visit www.malaria.org.za for more information. Communication CAR country code: +236 Calling overseas from CAR: From a landline dial 00 followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: 00 1 910 795 1048 When calling from a cell phone dial + prefix followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: + 1 910 795 1048

Money The Central African CFA Franc (FCFA) is the official currency of the CAR. Circulation of the FCFA is in banknote denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 francs. Please check with your bank for charges and advice when using international ATMs. VISA and Mastercard are the most widely accepted credit cards, while American Express has limited to no coverage. It is advisable to have some cash for smaller shops and for tipping; this will need to be done before entering CAR. IMPORTANT: When bringing foreign currency (e.g. USD, GBP, EUR) into the country, be sure to have the new format with no damage or marks. Gratuities Gratuities are not compulsory or expected; rather it is a reward for excellent service. If you are pleased with the service you receive, you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff. Gratuities suggestions: Guides: 20 Euro per guest per day Gorilla trackers: 10 Euro per guest per trek General staff (put in a central box in the camp’s main area): 15 - 20 Euro per guest per night Any gratuities for the general Congo Conservation Company team will be evenly distributed, so it’s best if individual tips aren’t given.

Insurance It is a condition of booking that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents/travelling companions for the duration of your trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: Compulsory Insurance: a. Emergency evacuation expenses b. Medical expenses c. Repatriation expenses Recommended Insurance: a. Cancellation or curtailment of trip b. Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

As a general precaution, we recommend you make several copies of your travel-related documents (passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets, insurance cover, visas, etc). Leave one set at home, and bring another set with you, and place it in a location separate from your originals. Most nationalities do require a visa to enter CAR. Immigration control is very strict, and is known to deny entry to those not meeting the requirements. Passports MUST be valid for at least six months (we recommend nine) from your departure from CAR to home. There must be at least TWO consecutive blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Please do contact the embassy or consultant in your home country to reconfirm visa requirements, as they change often. Visa Central is also a good resource for further information.

Climate The CAR as a whole experiences higher than average rainfall, with most falling between August and November, and around May (the ‘short rainy season’). Regardless of the time of year, Dzanga-Sangha experiences intense humidity. Dress code Generally speaking, light layers of clothing in neutral safari colours of green, khaki and beige are the best items to bring with you. Dark colours such as navy or black can attract tstese flies and are best avoided, as are bright colours like yellow, red and purple. What to pack Lightweight layers: breathable long-sleeve shirts and long trousers, etc. Waterproof sandals and / or boots Rain poncho (dependant on the season) Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat Well-sealing water bottle Waterproof bag Insect repellent, hand sanitizer / wipes A good pair of Binoculars (8x40/8x42 is recommended) Spare batteries, plug adaptors and charging equipment The camp will have a small medical and first aid kit, but we recommend bringing your own supply of essentials - cough medicine, plasters, vitamins, aspirin and paracetamol, and anything else you use on a regular basis. Electricity The CAR uses 220V, 50Hz AC, and sockets take mostly Type C and E. It is best to bring an adapter/convertor combination. Camera Equipment (for the enthusiasts) • A telephoto lens (200/300mm) • Flash and fast film (400 ASA) for night photography • Lots of film (64,100,200,400 ASA) if using an SLR camera • Spare memory cards for digital cameras • Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag • Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, charging capacity can be limited. Luggage Please check with your airlines for the specific luggage restrictions relevant to your flight schedule. Many international airlines have a baggage allowance of 20kgs or more per person and commercial airlines generally permit two (2) pieces of checked luggage per person. The carry-on bag must be of such dimensions and weight as set by the airlines. The Congo Conservation Company allows 15kgs per person, including hand luggage. Anything above this amount needs to be requested with the team beforehand. If possible, pack your belongings in a soft bag for ease of transport.