Climate of Central African Republic

Climate of Central African Republic

Where is the country of Central African Republic located? The Central African Republic is – the name says it all – located in the central part of Africa. The country, also called Central Africa, has no direct connection to the sea and is located at an altitude of 335 to 1420 meters above sea level. The Central African Republic has a tropical savanna climate (type Aw according to the Köppen climate classification), which in the far north changes into a warm steppe climate (type BSh).

Temperatures

The Central African Republic has to deal with tropical temperatures all year round, which in most places are between 28 and 35 degrees during the day. In the north of the Central African Republic, the mercury rises slightly further, for example, the northeastern city of Birao has maximum temperatures in March and April averaging around 38 degrees Celsius. For a tropical environment, the nighttime temperatures can be called fairly moderate, which is caused by the high altitude of most places. The average minimum temperatures are between 18 and 22 degrees. In the northern desert areas, the mercury can drop to around 13 to 16 degrees between November and February.

Rainy season

The Central African Republic has a distinct rainy season, which – depending on the location – starts between March and May and continues through October. August is the wettest month for almost the entire country. In large parts of the Central African Republic, this month is good for 250 to 300 millimeters of rain within one month. In recent decades, the desert-like area has been advancing from the north. Desertification reduces the amount of land suitable for agriculture and livestock.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month
January 32℃ 18℃ 7 2
February 34℃ 19℃ 7 5
March 33℃ 21℃ 6 9
April 32℃ 22℃ 7 11
May 31℃ 21℃ 6 15
June 30℃ 20℃ 6 12
July 29℃ 20℃ 4 13
August 29℃ 20℃ 4 16
September 29℃ 20℃ 5 16
October 29℃ 20℃ 6 18
November 30℃ 19℃ 7 10
December 31℃ 18℃ 7 4

Best time to visit the Central African Republic

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to the Central African Republic? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Central African Republic is not a popular tourist destination. Poverty and an unstable unsafe situation mean that the number of people flying to the Central African Republic for a holiday can probably be counted on one hand. The majority of travelers to this country in central Africa do so as aid workers or as business travelers. The weather and climate will therefore be less important than other factors. However, based on the weather conditions, we will give advice here regarding the best time to travel to the Central African Republic.

Best months

The Central African Republic is located in the tropical zone between the equator and the Sahara. This creates a tropical savanna climate in most of the country. In the north there is an area with a warm steppe climate and in the southern regions there are areas with a tropical monsoon climate. Temperatures are tropical throughout the country. In the north, maximum temperatures can reach 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. A major similarity throughout the Central African Republic is that there is a dry season and a rainy season. The exact periods and intensity of rainfall differ within the country. Based on this, one period can be designated as the best time to travel for the entire Central African Republic: from December to February. These winter months are among the driest months of the year. In the northern part, March can still be called dry, while in the south the amounts of precipitation are already starting to increase. This is where the capital Bangui is located.

The rainy season

Depending on where you are in the Central African Republic, the rainy season starts in March, April or May. This wet period lasts until October in the north and November in the south. The month of August is the wettest month. It then rains almost daily and in the mornings there is widespread fog and mist. Flooding can occur during the heaviest periods of rainfall.

Central African Republic