How to get to Central Afrika??
Replies: 17 - Last Post: Nov 29, 2012 5:48 PM Last Post By: inkspot01
jump to
How to get to Central Afrika??
Hello guys!I am thinking about going to CAR in the coming weeks. However, looking into plain tickets tells me it might be impossible.. Deadly expensive.
I wonder:
what european city is best to fly from?
Does anyone know of travel agency spcialised in flcghts to CAR?
Is there neighbouring country that is cheaper to fly into and then go overland from to CAR?
And all other tips, I appreciate!
Thanks!
John
2
Alright, then I can stop looking for the cheap option.. : ) And the second question, how does it work with visas?I think I have to apply in Belgium. But do I have to go there in person? And is there usually any specific demands to be granted a visa, such as one needs to have a booked tour with a travel agency?
5
Obvously you do dare.. : ) And ofcourse you should. The first answer is, "why not?". I really want to see every place on this earth, escpecially interesting are the once that I know the least of. But nowdays I also work as a journalist which gives me even more reasons.And may I the dare to ask back; have u been to CAR? Or how do you know about the costs of travelling there?
6
I lived and worked in Benin (West Africa) for an institute that worked across the whole continent, so that gave me an awareness of costs to get to and operate within different countries. Sadly, I never got anywhere near CAR (I was limited to Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and The Gambia as well as dealing with papers and numbers relating to Guinea). The underlying reason for my question was that if someone with a limited budget wants to visit a very expensive place, they may be looking for something that could be found elsewhere at lower cost.7
Ethiopian Airlines has usually the best fares to fly from Europe to the CAR.Regarding the visa question, the CAR is represented by France in some countries where there isn't a CAR embassy. Therefore, if you live in a country where there isn't a CAR embassy, it could be a good idea to ask in the French embassy (if there's one) if they provide visas for the CAR.
8
Ethiopian Airwias don't seem to traffic Bangui any more.. The best I found now is to fly with Royal Air Moroc from Casablanca.9
Ethiopian Airwias don't seem to traffic Bangui any more..Yes, it seems they don't fly direct to Bangui (at least, they don't make it on the random days in November that I looked for). I don't know when they ended the route. I think I recall to see flights for that route this summer... Sorry for the outdated info.
The best I found now is to fly with Royal Air Moroc from Casablanca.
There aren't many more options. Air France out of Paris is usually expensive and only once a week. I don't know what are the fares of Kenya airways (changing planes in Nairobi). Take a look at their fares out of London. You could take a look at their fares out of Amsterdam too but, if you depart from Amsterdam, you'll probably need to stay overnight in Nairobi on the way out.
Asky has flights to Bangui from some African airports but you would need to add the cost of getting from Europe to one of those (and probably the cost a visa for the transit country too)... making it unlikely to be overall cheaper than a low cost flight to Casablanca and RAM from Casablanca to Bangui (although RAM from Casablanca to Bangui isn't a bargain).
Other flight options to Bangui within Africa are also unlikely to allow you to find a cheaper way to reach the CAR if you include the cost of getting to the African airport from where they depart and the cost of a visa for the transit country (if necessary).
It's a pity Afriqiyah isn't flying to Bangui anymore as they were a good option for cheap flights.
10
Depending how much time you have, it will probably be more of an adventure if you travel there overland. I cycled east from Yaounde and crossed the border at Gamboula in the south west, then continued cycling eastwards to Bangui before taking a dug-out across to Zongo in the DRC. This was in Feb 2011. CAR is probably one of the poorest countries I have ever been to. The only tourist industry, if you can call it that, is linked to some of the National Parks like Dzanga Sangha, but going there will be very expensive. You can read what I wrote HEREThanks, Peter
11
A couple of months ago I booked a ticket from Rome to Bangui on Ethiopian. They then suspended their Bangui flights and re-routed us to Douala in Cameroon; they then added a connection flight to Bangui, on A-Sky (at their expense, of course); A-Sky belongs to Ethiopian anyway. The Rome - Bangui + N'Djamena - Rome ticket cost about EUR 660, tax included. So you might check an Ethiopian flight to Douala and a connection flight from there (even though the DLA BGF flight looks anything but cheap). Alternatively, I have just checked a Paris - Bangui flight on Kenya Airways, EUR 820 tax included (return).12
Ethiopian has suspended connecting travel from Douala to Bangui. You'll have to connect on Asky which is (I think) a Togolese airline.The easiest connection is the weekly Wednesday departure direct from Paris on Air France. That leg alone is nearly always at least $1,000. You can also fly Kenya Airways from Paris via Nairobi.
As mentioned above, most French embassies will issue you a short-term visa for the CAR in countries where they don't have representation.
I don't recommend coming in overland. Yes you can paddle across from Zongo, but there's no easy way to get to Zongo and, while there's technically a port of entry when you come across the river, you will get some serious questions at best by the authorities. The route from Douala is reasonably decent, but it will take you several days at best and there have been some recent bandit attacks at the border.
Short answer, if you really want to get here with the least hassle possible, take the Air France flight. It will cost you, but you'll be much more comfortable. Unless you have an existing network of support here, it's not a place you want to start getting creative as far as transport. Quite difficult even for the most seasoned travelers. Good luck.
14
You'll have to connect on Asky which is (I think) a Togolese airline.Yes, Asky is a Togolese airline. It's partly owned by Ethiopian Airlines though. Take a look here for more info.
I should also add, Brussels Airlines can get you to Douala and you can connect to Bangui via TAAG (Angolan) airways.
There are several airlines flying from Douala to Bangui but I think neither of them flies daily. Anyway, I think the option flight Brussels-Douala+flight Douala-Bangui is unlikely to be the cheapest one (although you'll have to verify it) and could create a lot of hassle if flights don't go as expected. You'll have to make an overnight stay in Douala so you'll probably need a visa for Cameroon. And you'll have two separate tickets so if one of your flights is cancelled you'll have to look (and pay) for alternatives on the spot which it's expensive. Flights from Brussels to Douala aren't a bargain...
