For those who are interested in the French colonial architecture of the 60’s-70s of the last century, it is a real pleasure to travel around this country and visit Bangui. Hardly anything has changed since that time. There are now only more vehicles (hardly any outside the city), houses have iron corrugated iron – useful for the bad weather and only for the person who has a job there is now the mobile phone, the prestige object par excellence. Everywhere there is accessibility.
Bangui is quiet compared to other capitals. The roads are very bad and many buildings look like a construction site. The people are very friendly. The city seems to be years behind, but make no mistake.
It was a big surprise to discover Bangui Plage in this town. This ‘hotspot of Bangui’ is located in the middle of the city on the banks of the Oubangui, a large river that flows from the unknown east to the south to the Congo River. A very nice restaurant, cocktails a la Brazil and a small beach.
It was rainy season, too bad, because in the dry season there are countless sandbanks that make Bangui Plage even more attractive. A nice atmosphere on the river, for the real holiday feeling. The restaurant was populated by French marines who had a break. Good meals with a French finesse and a true choice of wines.
From this hotspot of the Central African Republic I reach for the great adventure of the coming days; my trip to Ngoto and then Sangha national park in the Congo basin.
Next week more about my adventures in Congo!
