FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Travel warnings are always going to be a problem for anyone working in conservation-based tourism programmes in Africa, as we depend on tourism to fund our work. The well-meaning warnings of governments worldwide are often exaggerated to cover any eventuality. Sadly the Central African Republic is no exception to this.

The travel warnings for this country are serious, and for the most part relevant. The country to the north and east of the capital of Bangui is problematic and the subject of considerable controversy and should be avoided.

However, the south and west of the country are different and there have never been any incidents of crime or violence against foreigners in these areas, even during the height of the CAR's troubles.

Dzanga-Sangha is in the extreme south west of the country, isolated from the rest of the CAR by poor roads and huge distances. The distance from Dzanga Sangha to the trouble hotspots is around 2800km to the east and 2500km to the north, so any chance of any trouble reaching the south east is very slim. 

Recent visitors to Sangha Lodge include members of the American Embassy staff including the ambassador, the German ambassador, the French ambassador, many members of different UN agencies and NGO’s including UNICEF, the UN forces, UNESCO, ICRC, and MSF. So while government websites blanket the country with a single travel warning, they allow their own staff to travel to this area in the south west, which is safe.

All of our trips are planned with charter flights from Bangui in and out of Bayanga in Dzanga-Sangha, this makes the journey even less of a challenge than in the past when visiting by road from Bangui was common. 

We hope this helps you understand more about the region, and do hope that you can visit us here. Conservation in this area cannot survive without tourism and the area has so much to offer. This really is the last frontier and is more than worth taking the time to visit.

Generally, there is no bad time to visit Sangha Lodge, but it depends on what you are looking for in terms of wildlife and experiences. Elephants and gorillas are easy to see all year round, but birding is best in the wet season, especially from August to October, while bongos are best in the dry season, especially in late March and April.

No. It is located 5km from the park along the Sangha River, within its own 72,000ha concession. It is actually a hunting concession and while we pay the annual fees for the hunting rights, we do not hunt and never will, rather developing sustainable tourism in an area which is now under our protection and conservation.

Individual travel is expensive and the fewer persons travelling the higher the logistics and costs to a remote destination like Sangha Lodge. That said, we do have individual traveller rates and you are always more than welcome to join us. Ideally, we welcome small groups of between eight and 10 people, although we can accommodate up to 14 people at the lodge. Children are welcome, but those under 16 years old cannot participate in gorilla tracking.

We are a full-service lodge offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Breakfasts are continental in style and lunches are either picnic or packed for your activities or at the lodge, depending on what you are doing each day. In the evenings we serve cocktails at 18h30 followed by dinner, which is a blend of western and African cuisine. Coffee is available throughout the day, as is bottled water. We have a well-stocked bar, but drinks are not included and are for your own account.

We make every effort to source locally and support local business, but supply is a constant challenge in such a remote part of Africa, so most goods are brought in by plane. Similarly, flights into the region are limited and so come at high cost and risk to the lodge. As tourism in this region develops, we hope to see costs come down. Please also bear in mind that what you spend on your time with us at Sangha Lodge also contributes directly to our conservation efforts, including pangolin research and rehabilitation and to our local communities.

Depending on your itinerary, we provide meet and greet, immigrations and customs support at Mpoko International Airport in Bangui, our capital. Should your package not include this, it can be arranged and quoted for on request. If you need accommodation in Bangui either at the start or end of your stay with us, or both, we recommend that you book directly with Hotel Ledger in Bangui.

For your internal flights in the CAR It is best to limit your luggage weight to 23kgs per person and it is recommended that you travel with a soft bag.

While some countries do not require visas for the Central African Republic, some airlines will not let you fly without one. We therefore recommend obtaining a visa prior to arrival if your country has a CAR embassy, Alternatively, we will assist with documentation that allows for visa on arrival.

A yellow fever vaccination is required, and it is recommended that you consult your medical practitioner and local travel clinic regarding recommended additional vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis.

There are no banks in Bayanga or in proximity to the village or the lodge. So, you need to bring cash with you in Euros. US Dollars are not accepted at all and cannot be exchanged. Depending on your itinerary, most costs should have been paid upfront, thus you will only require money to settle any outstanding items such as the bar bill, for tips and curio purchases in the village. If you are not on a set itinerary, then please bring adequate funds for activities and other expenses.

Flexibility in terms of our activities is not a problem. We would book you on to the set package and give you some indication of the additional costs and how many Euros you may want to bring for alternate or additional activities.

Extending your stay for additional nights depends on availability and logistics, especially where alternative flights are concerned, and may incur significant cost.

Yes. Sangha Lodge does have internet connectivity via satellite, but it is limited access and somewhat slow in certain areas of the lodge. There is no cellphone signal at the lodge nor anywhere other than a small area in Bayanga village.

Sango/Sangho is the official and primary creole language spoken in the Central African Republic although French is also widely spoken.