Central Africa

Guide for dating in Central Africa helps you to meet the best girls. This dating guide gives you tips how to date Central African women. You will learn rules where and how to flirt with local Central African girls. We advise how to move from casual dating to the relationship and find the real love. We also tell the best dating sites in Central Africa. In this article below you will find more information where to meet and date girls in Central Africa, Africa.

Hot girls of Kinshasa at the Coco Jambo Bar

Girls in Central Africa:

Looks of girls: 3.5 - 4.5 / 5

Attitude of girls: 3 - 4.5 / 5

Loyalty of girls: 3 - 4 / 5

Education level of girls: 3 - 4.5 / 5

Dating in Central Africa:

Chance of arranging dates: 2.5 - 3.5 / 5

Casual dating culture: 1.5 - 3 / 5

Online dating popularity: 2 - 2.5 / 5

Sex in Central Africa:

Women's sexual activity: 2 - 3.5 / 5

One-night stands: 2 - 3 / 5

More about Central Africa:

Nightlife in general: 3. - 4.5 / 5

Locals' English level: 1 - 3 / 5

Budget per day: US$100 - $350

Accommodation: US$30 - $250

Dating

Central Africa is a region of the African continent comprising Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The predominant religions of Central Africa are Christianity and traditional faiths. Islam is also practiced in some areas in Chad and the Central African Republic. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest and most populous country in the region with a population of about 85 million people. The combined population for the Central Africa region is almost 170 million. French is the major language in all the countries apart from Equatorial Guinea where Spanish is the main language and Angola which is Portuguese.

As a region made up of different countries, the girls from each country have a different set of traits. In most parts of the region, the girls are very outgoing and cheerful and they are very welcoming to visitors especially tourists, who they consider to be rich enough to help them escape poverty in the country. Most girls speak French and so it would be good for you to learn a few words to help you interact with these girls. The girls are interesting and they like to know about other cultures so they will enjoy your company if you talk to them about places they have never been to.

Dating Culture

In Equatorial Guinea, there is no defined period of dating. A couple is often chosen and agreed upon by parents of both sides. It is accepted that the most important life goal of every girl is giving birth to a large number of children for procreation.

In Congo, if a man is not ready to be married to his girlfriend but still wants to show her and her parents respect he can arrange what is known as “la presentation“. The presentation is a ceremony that consists of a man presenting himself to the family of the woman he is dating and bringing the family gifts as a way to ask the woman’s parents for permission to date their daughter, but the ceremony is not a wedding.

The most important thing to remember if you’re thinking of dating or hooking up with a local in Cameroon is that sex education in this country is, in a word, lacking. Especially for women, there is a great deal of shame and embarrassment associated with hormones and sexuality; the mindset surrounding general sexuality can be described as repressive on a good day. Much of Cameroon is also quite conservative where relationships are concerned.

Sugar Dating

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Online Dating

Dating in Central Africa can be a bit tricky due to not knowing if you have a solid connection, so your best bet is to sign up for a dating site before you venture to the night club or bar, so you can meet a few locals ahead of time. AdultFriendFinder.com lets you meet local members in Central Africa and get to know them on a personal basis before you meet in person. Take advantage of site features like live chat and member to member webcams so you can begin flirting before arranging a face-to-face meeting.

Webcam Dating

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Women

Women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have not attained a position of full equality with men, with their struggle continuing to this day. Although past regimes paid lip service to the important role of women in society, and although women enjoy some legal rights (e.g., the right to own property and the right to participate in the economic and political sectors), custom and legal constraints still limit their opportunities.

In traditional Angolan society, women perform much of the agricultural labor. Marriage generally involves familial, political, and economic interests as well as personal considerations and gains. The household is the most important unit of production and is usually composed of several generations. The women grow and prepare most of the food for the household and perform all other domestic work. Because of their major role in food production, women share relatively equal status with men, who spend much of their time hunting or tending cattle.

Traditionally, a family is the most important value for Equatorial Guinean women. They are rarely concentered on achieving career highs and the main aim of every woman is the birth of children. Many people create families before the age of 18. For all domestic work, the woman is responsible, while the man controls the process.

Central African Girls (age 18 - 29)

Most Central girls are quite beautiful. They are not fair-skinned but that doesn't reduce her beauty. They have big eyes, brown hair, thick lips, and sexy boobs. A few girls are thin and tall while others have beautiful round figures. These girls also love to take care of their skin and body. Central African girls are lovely but the first date can be expensive. There is a common misconception that Africans are gold diggers. But you need to know some of these girls will not get interested in your money because they have enough. These girls seek to be loved and admired.'

It is also at this stage that the girls are undergoing a physical transformation that will see them develop from girls to women. Their secondary and peripheral sexual features such as breasts, hips and bums grow bigger as they prepare for the childbearing. Since the girls are getting into employment, they can afford fashionable clothes, jewelry and makeup which makes them more attractive.

A group of young girls at the Bamboo lounge in Cameroon

Central African Women (age 30 - 45)

The mature women of Central Africa give a very tough competition to their younger counterparts

Many Central African women work a lot physically and this is why they have beautiful, strong and fit bodies. Women have to carry bowls with fruits and vegetables on their heads, water for long distances, grind flour and wash things by hands. These women are also hard-working, ambitious and patient. What they lack in terms of basic and formal education they make up with their sheer determination to succeed, drive, and dedication.

Central African Ladies (age 45+)

The girls in this country are very friendly. This quality of theirs is enhanced by the fact that most of them can speak French fluently. You would also discover that a lot of them are very knowledgeable about events and issues around the world. As is typical with any place in the world, these women tend to vary when it comes to their personalities. The women in most Central African countries are, in most cases, amiable and welcoming. Some of them are timid and strictly subscribe to their cultural beliefs, especially those found in remote or rural areas. There are several strictly cultural as well as strictly religious women as well in the country, though.

Foreign Girls (tourists, expats, students, etc.)

Most of the foreign girls found in Central Africa are tourists. From the beautiful beaches of Angola to the national parks in Congo and DR Congo, from the islands of Equatorial Guinea to the museums in different countries, the region attracts millions of tourists every year. In addition to the tourists, some Central African countries such as Angola and DR Congo have many mineral deposits. These attract many foreign girls who come in as expatriates.

Sex

Religion plays a central life in the lives of many Central Africans. As a result of this, fewer girls engaging in sex before marriage. This has however changed recently with the proliferation of western culture into the lives of Central Africans.

Sex Culture

As mentioned above, religion, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, is the dominant church in the region. Its dominance is felt in many areas of life including the sex culture. Many locals are not comfortable to openly engage or talk about sex. This does not mean that there is no sex culture in the country. Many escapades continue to take place in the cover of darkness.

One-Night Stands

More and more Central Africans are becoming more averse to one-night stands. With more women hitting menopause without a man or children, they will go to any lengths to find somebody to keep them warm, even for one night.

Best Places to Meet Single Girls

Central Africa is arguably one of the richest regions in the world when it comes to natural beauty and diversity of wildlife. The history of the region is, like most on the African continent, tarnished by the colonization by Europeans, the remnants of which can still be seen in some of the main cities. The region does however have its charms that come in various shapes and sizes ranging from rare butterflies to gorillas and elephants. There is nowhere on earth that is more suitable for safaris and lovers of wildlife however even with such natural assets such as these the countries' tourism cannot thrive due to political problems.

Bars, Pubs and Nightclubs

Bamboo Lounge: Attractively screened with bamboo, this is an upbeat bar in Limbe, Cameroun hosting DJ nights and live music nights. It serves beers, whiskeys and spirits plus barbecued meat and fish dishes.

Bambou Lounge: There’s a party every evening at Bambou Lounge. With many of Yaoundé’s best DJs on the roster, this bar always delivers, with top urban sets, shisha and a rowdy crowd. You can book reservations for Bambou Lounge’s themed parties on its website and it’s a top spot for Cameroon’s hottest musicians.

Montecristo Kinshasa: This chilled-out lounge-style place in DR Congo has a garden setting and a range of shishas to choose from. It's one of the few places in town that's popular with locals but doesn't have ear-splitting music.

Kivu Club: This large club is the main hang-out for Goma’s expatriate partygoers. The empty swimming pool, red lighting and flat-screen TVs help make the whole place feel like a cross between a dilapidated hotel and a bar from a Mad Max film.

Aviator Pub & Café: The Aviator is a stylish new pub in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea with all dark green walls and some outside seating. There are sports screens, very popular karaoke on Thursdays and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. There's food to soak up the beer:

Rolex Discoteca: The place to be seen in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, this place rocks over the weekend with its dark interior, loud music, mirrors and lasers. It's not cheap, though, with its high entrance price and drinks around CFA5000 each. It's next to the Aparthotel Plaza.

Site Touristique Les Rapides: This popular riverside hangout is the best place to view the rapids on the Congo River, a little downriver from central Brazzaville. The low-key bar here has tables with great views and cheap food to boot.

Yes Club: Located in the Brazzaville city center, this restaurant is yet another place to cool off and enjoy amazing Korean cuisine while listening to and partaking in great karaoke music. The karaoke stage is accessible to anyone who wants to practice or show off their musical skills. The atmosphere and design of this restaurant evoke a sense of cozy modernity, and everything is Korean-inspired.

Lokua Restaurant & Bar: It's all about the whiskey and roots music at this impeccably dressed bar in Libreville, Gabon. There's a live band several times a week with a Louis Armstrong–esque lead singer. A limited bar menu has club sandwiches, while the restaurant has a wider menu and a good wine list.

Le Villa: This is a large place in Port-Gentil, Gabon with a bar, dance floor and various lounges. It's all very exclusive and drinks are expensive. It holds parties for special occasions such as Hallowe'en and Valentine's Day when there's a DJ.

Switch Supper Club: The Switch Supper Club in Luanda, Angola is also the ideal place to hold amazing, unique and personalized events. The options are numerous, but rest assured the time will be very well spent! See the different options for birthday parties, bachelor parties and group dinners at our Banquets Kit.

Party at the Bamboo lounge in Cameroon

Shopping Malls

Some of the malls in Central Africa include:

Belas Shopping Mall, Luanda Angola

Douala Grand Mall, Cameroon

Le Premier Shopping Mall, Kinshasa, DR Congo

Brazzaville Mall, Republic of Congo

Galeries Hollando, Libreville, Gabon

Oyala Shopping Center, Oyala, Equatorial Guinea

Douala Grand Mall

Outdoors

Parc National d'Odzala: One of the oldest national parks in Africa, the Parc National d’Odzala is Congo's calling card, a massive slice of the Guinea-Congolian rainforest that's also one of the earth's last strongholds for lowland gorillas and forest elephants. Odzala also offers one of Congo's few luxurious travel experiences for those who can afford it, with three excellent camps currently operating within its vast expanse.

Catedrál de Santa Isabel: On the west side of the Plaza de España in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, this gracious, apricot-hued building is the most beautiful in the country. The architect, Llairadó Luis Segarra, had some input from Antonio Gaudí. Construction began in 1887 and it was consecrated in 1916. The style is Gothic Revival and it is flanked by two 40m-high towers and has three naves. It has recently been restored.

Loango National Park: Coastline and estuary, savannah and rainforest make for a diverse array of animals and birds in this superb park in Gabon. There's always something to see: elephants on the beach from January to April, crocodiles making nests in November and new grass sprouting in June that brings the sitatungas.

The National Museum of Slavery in Luanda: Angola, keeps the memories of the torture endured by thousands of slaves before they were shipped to North America and South America countries by European slave traders to work in coffee, sugar cane, cotton and indigo plantations without any remuneration.

Palais Royal: The must-see attraction is the sultan's palace in Foumban, Cameroon, home to the 19th sultan of the Bamoun dynasty. It has a fascinating, well-organized museum providing great historical insight into the region. At the time of writing, the treasures were being transferred to a startling new building symbolically shaped as a serpent and a spider; the palace itself will remain open to visitors.

Parc National des Virunga: DRC's magnificent calling card is Virunga, Africa's oldest national park and home to mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and the incredible, active Nyiragongo volcano (climbed on a thrilling two-day expedition). Having been the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary Virunga in 2014, the park grew fast in popularity until May 2018 when the kidnapping of two British nationals led to it indefinitely suspending all tourism operations.

Chutes de Boali: These waterfalls tumble 50m (164ft), which is just a whisker more than Niagara can manage. Although no more than a trickle when it is dry, they are dramatic during the rainy season. A small entry fee applies. The water is controlled by a huge Chinese-built dam upriver, but they usually release some water on Sunday for the tourists.

Universities and Colleges

Some of the universities and colleges found in the region include:

The University of Bangui, Central African Republic

The Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde Cameroon

Université Omar Bongo, Libreville Gabon

University of N'Djamena Chad

National University of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo

Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda Angola

Université de Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Relationship

While the countries in Central Africa share some of the history and traditions, other aspects of life, including relationships, differ from one country to another. In Cameroon, relationships last a long time; four to six years is not uncommon and involves the two families. It takes a long time because the families have to get to know each other's tribe and background. The western influence in Equatorial Guinea is both as a result of years of colonialism and changing global trends. Even with the emerging influence of modernism, many locals get into relationships with the hope that it will lead to marriage. While a person is likely to get into several relationships in their life before they settle, many locals treat every relationship seriously.

Holiday Romance

Holidays are time that we all look forward to. World-systems create a tedious repetitive cycle that guides our adult life. Once someone gets a job, their life becomes a routine of moving from home to work every weekday morning and getting back home every evening. The weekends are used to do any pending house chores and for some, do side hustle. This trend becomes stricter once children come along.

Spending the holidays in Central Africa is the perfect opportunity for you to hook up with local Central African girls or even foreign girls who are also on holiday. While many people get into holiday romance planning to hook up just for the duration of the holiday, some of these hookups blossom into long-term dates which in turn may result in marriage. The various interesting places mentioned above will give you enough distractions and spice up your holiday romance.

Tips for Successful Relationship

We all want to have healthy relationships, but most of us were never really taught about what that means. The key is being communicative and proactive.

As the months and years roll on, we tend to slink into our proverbial sweatpants and get lazy in our relationship. We lose our patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, understanding, and the general effort we once made toward our mate. Think back to the first year of your relationship and write down all the things you used to do for your partner then start doing them again.

Over time, we assume that our partner knows us so well that we don't need to ask for what we want. What happens when we make this assumption? Expectations are set, and just as quickly, they get deflated. Those unmet expectations can leave us questioning the viability of our partnership and connection. Keep in mind that "asking for what you want" extends to everything from emotional to sexual wants.

Create a weekly ritual to check in with each other. This can be short or long, but it begins by asking each other what worked and didn't work about the previous week and what can be done to improve things this coming week. Additionally, use this opportunity to get on the same page with your schedules, plan a date night, and talk about what you would like to see happen in the coming days, weeks, and months in your relationship.

Unless you have committed to an asexual partnership, sex and touch such as kissing, holding hands, and cuddling are vital components of a romantic relationship. How much sex a couple has is, of course, up to the particular pair of individuals, so you must discuss your ideas about it to manage any desire discrepancy.

Life and work distractions can become paramount in our minds, and that leaves little time or energy for our partner. Barring any emergencies or deadlines, we should be fully present when we are with our mate. We truly hear what they are saying (instead of pretending to listen), we leave our distractions behind, and we don't pick them up again until the sun comes up and we walk out the door.

When conflicts inevitably come up, remember to approach them thoughtfully and with a lot of kindness toward your partner and yourself. If you see the stress beginning to escalate during a conversation about a conflict, one or both of you can call a break so that cooler heads can prevail.

In most disagreements, we communicate from the obvious emotions such as anger, annoyance, and the like. Leading from this place can create confusion and defensiveness, and it can ultimately distract from the real issue. Start communicating from the bottom layer which is the feelings that are driving your reactions, such as disappointment, rejection, loneliness, or disrespect.

Conversations quickly turn to arguments when we're invested in hearing our partner admit that we were right or when we are intent on changing their opinion. Choose to approach a conversation as an opportunity to understand your significant other's perspective as opposed to waiting for them to concede. From this perspective, you will have an interesting dialogue and prevent a blowout or lingering frustration.

It's well understood that apologizing is a good thing, but it only makes a real impact when you mean it. Saying things like "I'm sorry you feel that way," "I'm sorry you see it that way," or "I'm sorry if I upset you" are a waste of time and breath. Even if you don't agree that your action was wrong, you will never successfully argue a feeling.

Any issues you avoid, or truths you don’t want to acknowledge, will likely undermine your relationship. It’s better to face the truth squarely in the face right now and address it, rather than let it sabotage your relationship in the long run. Be intentional and figure out the truth about your relationship. Think through all aspects of it—your feelings and thoughts, the other person’s feelings and thoughts, as well as their external context.

Love

Every human being is born with the ability to show love not only to the people one is born with such as family but with someone else whom we meet along the way. It is this ability that makes human beings start families as compared to other animals which mostly procreate without any feelings attached. A human being will sire another human and will continue to recognize and treat them as their child however old the child grows. This is in contrast to other animals that only bring their children up to the point where they can take care of themselves.

It is mysterious how we meet someone from an entirely different background or even nationality and our mutual feelings grow to a point where we always want to be with them. Apart from some cultures that allow relatives to marry one another, we will always get married to someone who was at one time a stranger. While two animals will meet and procreate and soon drift away, two human beings in love will continue to have those feelings towards each other for a long time even if they were to go their separate ways.

How to Make Sure She Is the One

While everyone is looking for different traits in their life partners, there are some essential traits you should seek, from empathy to consistency. These traits help you both to understand and love each other.

A healthy, stable relationship focuses on giving rather than taking. Seeing your significant other happy should make you just as happy, and she should treat you in the same way. Your joy should be her joy, too—it can be as simple as asking about your day or looking after you when you are sick. As time passes, the excitement at the beginning of the relationship will pass, but you should both be just as focused on giving each other happiness.

If you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you must find that person intellectually challenging. Looks are fleeting but personality is forever—your conversations together should be interesting, insightful and full of depth. Your partner should be able to challenge your opinions, opening up your mind to new ideas and concepts.

An ideal wife is someone who will do good things, not just because other men's wives do them too, but because they are the right things to do. She surpasses other women, not because she competes with them, but because she competes with herself and tries to improve every day a little bit more.

Before marrying a woman, you must be sure that she will always support you in any situation, especially in the presence of other people. If she is very considerate, then you won’t have to worry that she somehow will disgrace you. For example, a tactless woman may make a toxic comment to your relatives or may comment on your shortcomings in front of the guests. It doesn’t mean that she should always agree with you. She just has to know how to gently tell you about your problems.

There is a big difference between a wish and the ability to have children. If your girlfriend shows that she likes children and maybe even persuaded you to have a pet, then you know that her mother's instincts are active. For your children, this means that if you marry her, they will have a nice mother and a happy and healthy family. Look at her reaction when you start talking about children, she may feel afraid, but never disgusted.

In addition to supporting and encouraging you to pursue your own goals and dreams, she will have her own as well. A mature woman has a vision for her future and chases after it with voracity. A mature woman will be someone you can take on the world with. She will be your partner in crime, a teammate in your relationship, and life.

Marriage

Different countries in Central Africa have a different legal minimum age for marriage. Under the Family Code 1998, in Central African Republic, the minimum age of marriage is 18 years. However, individuals can marry under the age of 18 with parental consent or if a state prosecutor dispenses with the age requirement based on serious grounds.

In Angola, only individuals over 18 years of age are allowed to get married. A man who has completed 16 years, and a woman who has completed 15 years of age, may marry when, considering their particular circumstances and the minor’s interests, and matrimony is the best solution. The authorization to which the above item refers will be granted by Parents, Guardians or by the individual(s) who have charge of the minor. The Court on the advice of the Family Court can issue this authorization when the refusal of authorization is shown to be unjustified.

In Chad, polygyny is known among both the southern peoples such as the Sara and the northern Islamic groups. Bride-wealth payment is also common among most Chadian groups. In 2015, the Parliament of Chad approved an ordinance signed by President Idriss Deby to increase the age of marriage from 15 to 18 years old. However, conflicts with other laws mean the minimum age of marriage younger than 18. According to Article 277 of the Criminal code, customary law marriages of girls above 13 years are legal.

In the past, single women in the Democratic Republic of Congo belonged to their fathers, and, upon marriage, their ownership would be transferred to the husband. The man's father would give gifts such as knives, food, or slaves to the new wife's father, in exchange for his loss of precious labor and kinship. In rural areas, it is common for men to have many wives. Village chiefs or headmen usually have more than one wife. The goal is to have many children who survive until adulthood, providing the household with enough hands to complete the many chores necessary for survival. At times, however, the women married to one man compete amongst each other for kitchens, food, affection, and children.

In most of the Central African countries, the following documents are required:

A handwritten request addressed to the mayor

Extract of the birth certificate of the bride and groom

Attestation on the honor of celibacy of the bride and groom

A form on polygamy for the future spouse if already married

Witnesses of the bride and groom

Copy of the identity document of the witnesses

Medical certificate of the bride and groom

Wedding

Central Africa has many different wedding traditions – and they vary between tribes. And traditional weddings are often followed by a religious one.

According to the Gabonese tradition, each wedding must go through a celebration in great pomp. First of all, the man, accompanied by his parents, must consult those of the girl before asking her hand. After family consultation and the acceptance of the parents, the date of the engagement is fixed by the family of the man. Informed by her future husband, the woman, in turn, informs her family that the date is fixed. The fiancés do not yet appear throughout the negotiations. In case of agreement, this is where the fiancé is presented to the in-laws. The woman appears only after convocation. Then, visitors are invited to a feast before returning home with the bride. Finally, before leaving, the man’s family offers a dowry, or “Nsua,” to the woman’s family to compensate for the daughter’s departure, and a small ceremony of ritual blessing of the couple is organized by the aunts of the married.

In Equatorial Guinea, Catholics make up 88% of the population. Many weddings that occur in the country are catholic weddings. When two people marry, a three-day wedding celebration of dancing and feasting marks the woman’s acceptance into her husband’s clan. This celebration is preceded by negotiations between the two families on the bride price (paid to the bride’s family), which can be extremely high. Because of the expense, young people often enter into a common-law relationship and begin having children before they are married. Any children born before the wedding technically belongs to the woman’s father, but the groom can take the children when he pays the bride price and formally marries the woman. In the rare case of divorce, the bride price must be returned to the husband, who retains the children, while the woman returns to her family.

It can take up to four big events to complete a wedding in Cameroon. The traditional, civil and church ceremonies are preceded by a ‘knock door’, which is a visit to the family of the bride to ask for permission to marry their daughter. After a bride price has been agreed at the traditional wedding, several women are brought in with their heads covered. The groom pays a fine every time he picks the wrong woman until he finds his wife. The best part about traditional weddings is the engagement between the families and friends of the bride and groom. There is fun in the form of bargains, entertainment and money-spraying, all designed to keep the place noisy. A gwedeng, or clown, is present at every traditional wedding organized by the Kom people. He leads the occasion with jokes, rites and clever stunts.

For most, their wedding day is the happiest day of their lives and they brim with happiness. Not the Congolese. Marriage is considered a very serious affair. Therefore, from the ceremony through the reception, the bride and groom are not allowed to smile. If they do, it would mean that they weren't taking their marriage seriously enough.

Family Life

In Angola, many households have been disrupted by the war; a considerable number of people have seen relatives die, and communities have been destroyed by the ongoing fighting. People may have relatives in different fighting camps and often live very far from each other, and many Angolans are looking for lost relatives. Especially in rural areas, the extended family remains important: An income may be shared with one or more unemployed relatives; immigrants look for housing, land, and basic assistance from their relatives; and several generations and nuclear families may form a single household. In towns, the importance of the extended family is diminishing.

In the rural areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is common for men to have many wives. Village chiefs or headmen usually have more than one wife. The goal is to have many children who survive until adulthood, providing the household with enough hands to complete the many chores necessary for survival. At times, however, the women married to one man compete amongst each other for kitchens, food, affection, and children.

In the Central African Republic, The basic unit consists of the biological father and mother, their children, and other close kin for varying periods. The parents' siblings also take part in the rearing of the children and their resident cousins. Children in rural areas are sent away to serve adult kin, sometimes to receive a formal education in a larger village or town.

Regions

Central Africa regions

Angola
Former Portuguese colony which went through a brutal civil war. Now largely safe, it has been surprisingly slow to appear on the tourist radar.

Cameroon
Sometimes referred to as Africa in Miniature, the terrain includes rain forest, desert plains, mountains and high plateau.

Central African Republic
Dense jungle in the south and semi arid in the Sahelian north, this very unstable country is very much off the radar for visitors.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Huge, blessed with incredible natural wealth and beauty, culturally diverse, and is extremely unstable and dangerous.

Equatorial Guinea
Perhaps one of the continent's most corrupt countries, where massive oil wealth is confiscated by a thuggish government, it is not a terribly safe place to travel, but it has great beaches, laid-back beach bars, and locals speak Spanish.

Gabon
Has escaped the strife afflicting other Central African states; rich in oil and mineral reserves and a high biodiversity.

Republic of the Congo
Huge tracts of forest with a small population mean great potential for eco-tourism, but the country has not fully recovered from a terrible war in the 1990s.

São Tomé and Príncipe
Tiny islands in the Gulf of Guinea.

South Sudan
The world's newest country, it split off from warring neighbor Sudan in July 2011.

Cities

Bangui — capital of the Central African Republic
Cabinda — Angolan exclave with large oil wealth and an active independence movement
Brazzaville — capital of the Republic of the Congo; contiguous with its much larger neighbour across the Congo river, Kinshasa
Goma — gateway town to wonderful volcano trekking and gorilla park in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa— capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Libreville - capital of Gabon and a major oil commerce centre
Luanda — the capital of Angola which has been through a huge renaissance in past decade
Malabo — capital of Equatorial Guinea, offshore on the island of Bioko
Yaoundé — the capital of Cameroon