Rwanda

RWANDA is a geographically small country situated in Central Africa along the Great Rift Valley. There are 4 bordering countries: Burundi to the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) to the west, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and Uganda to the north and northeast. Rwanda also borders Lake Kivu. The capital and most-populated city is Kigali. Other cities include Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Kibungo, Kibuye, and Ruhengeri. There was a very deadly conflict in 1994 between the Tutsi and the Hutu groups. Fortunately, the country and its citizens are now peaceful overall. The currency is the Rwandan Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is RWF.

Gabon

GABON is a country along the equator in West Central Africa, below the Bight of Biafra. There are 3 bordering countries: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Republic of the Congo. The capital is Libreville. The currency is the Central African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XAF.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, formerly known as Zaire, is the 2nd largest African country. It was formerly the 3rd largest until South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011, decreasing the size of Sudan. it is located in Central Africa. There are 9 bordering countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Tanzania borders the DR Congo only if you consider that the border runs through Lake Tanganyika — not on land. The capital is Kinshasa. The currency is the Congolese Franc, and the ISO 4217 currency code is CDF.

Chad

Click here to enlarge the map in a new window. This map is available in a wall-poster size courtesy of Eric Olason at Maps.com.

CHAD is a country in Central Africa. There are 6 bordering countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. Located southeast of Lake Chad and near Cameroon, the capital and most-populated city is N'Djamena. Other cities and communities include Am Timan, Abéché, Aozou, Bol, Ati, Bongor, Doba, Fada, Faya-Largeau, Kélo, Koro Toro, Laï, Massenya, Mongo, Moundou, Pala, Sarh, and Zouar. According to Ethnologue (↗), over 130 languages are used for spoken and written communication throughout the country. French and Standard Arabic are official languages, while the Chadian Arabic dialect is considered a non-official language of common usage. Other major languages with more than 100,000 communicators include Daza (Dazaga), Adamawa Fulfulde, Bagirmi Fulfulde, Bargo (also known as Mabak or Ouaddai), Gor, Hausa, Kanembu, Central Kanuri, Marba, Masana, Mundang, Musey, Naba, Ngambay, Toubouri (Tupuri), and Zaghawa (Zorhaua). The currency is the Central African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XAF.

Central African Republic

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Aptly located in the center of Africa, the CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (French: La République Centrafricaine, or Centrafrique) achieved independence from France in 1960. There are 6 bordering countries: Cameroon located to the west, Chad to the north, Republic of the Congo to the southwest, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, South Sudan to the east, and Sudan to the northeast. The C.A.R. experiences a tropical climate in which winters are dry and hot, while summers are wet and mild or hot. Northeastern regions are typically arid, contrasting the humid tropical rainforests in the southwest. The currency is the Central African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XAF. Some of the country’s exports for global trade ↗ include diamonds, gold (small amount), petroleum (small amount), timber, and various crops. Speaking of crops, principal crops grown in the Central African Republic include bananas, cassava (manioc), coffee, corn (maize), cotton, diamonds, millet, tobacco, and yams.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  According to Encyclopædia Britannica, the C.A.R.’s population in the year 2020 is about 4,830,000 and is ranked 123rd among populations of the whole world’s countries, dependencies, and territories. Major cities of the Central African Republic include the national capital, Bangui, as well as Bambari, Bangassou, Berbérati, Bimo, Bossangoa, Bouar, Bozoum, Bria, Carnot, Kaga Bandoro, Mbaïki, and Nola. Visiting the C.A.R. is not recommended and strongly discouraged due to unfortunate conflicts and violence. Since traveling in the C.A.R. is risky and downright dangerous, it would be better to explore the country virtually and not in person. There are wonderful photographs and details about megalithic stone monuments near Bouar, national parks and reserves (listed below), and various waterfalls (also listed below). Designated due to natural importance, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the C.A.R. are the Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris National Park and Sangha Trinational Park.

The Central African Republic’s official language is French, while Sangho (Sango) is a Ngbandi-based Creole language and is known as a national language. As of 2023, over 80 ethnic indigenous languages are used for communication in the Central African Republic. Examples of these languages are Aka (Yaka), Ali, Arabic, Banda dialects, Birri, Bodo, Bofi, Bokoto, Buraka, Chadian Arabic, Dagba, Dendi, Fulah, Fulfulde Bagirmi, Furu, Ganzi, Gbanu, Gbanziri, Gbaya, Gbaya-Bozoum, Gbayi, Geme, Gula, Gundi, Kaba, Kaba Na, Kako, Kara, Kare, Kpagua, Kpatili, Laka, Langbashe, Lingala, Lutos, Manza, Mbangi, Mbati, Mbay, Mbum, Monzombo, Mpiemo, Ngam, Ngando, Ngbaka (Ngbaka Ma’bo, Ngbaka Manza, etc.), Ngombe, Nzakara, Pana, Pande, Runga, Sango, Sango Riverain, Sara Kaba, Suma, Togbo-Vara Banda, Ukhwejo, Vale, Yakoma, Yulu, and Zande. The C.A.R. is comprised of over 80 ethnic groups, some of which correspond with their namesake languages listed above. Ethnic groups include the Baya (33% of the total population), Banda (25%), Mandjia (13%), Sara (10%), Mboum (7%), M’Baka (4%), Yakoma (4%), Ba’Aka pygmy people, and Ngbandi. About 65% of Central African citizens are believers in Christianity, followed by animist and ethnic beliefs (19%), Islam (14%), and Bahá’í (0.23%).

● ● ● ● ●  Land and Water Features  ● ● ● ● ●  The nation’s highest point is Mont Ngaoui which stands at an elevation of 4,659 feet and 1,420 meters on the border with Cameroon — northwest of the city of Bouar. The majority topography of the C.A.R. is not mountains but rather rolling plateaus with an average altitude of 600 meters and 2,000 feet. Vast savanna land and rainforests are typical landscapes of the C.A.R. Some rivers drain south to the mighty Congo river, while others flow north toward Lake Chad. Some of the dozens of rivers and tributaries winding throughout the country include the Bahr Aouk, Bamingui, Bomu (Mbomou), Chinko, Goro, Kadéï, Kameur, Kotto, Lobaye, Mambéré, Mbari, Ouaka, Ouandjia, Oubangui, Ouham, and Uele. Boali, Elephant Rapids, Mbeko, Mbi, Ngolo, and Touboutou are notable and picturesque waterfalls. Northern Central African Republic contains an assortment of national parks and reserves — many of them having hyphenated names — including Aouk-Aoukale, Bamingui-Bangoran, Gribingui-Bamingui, Konkourou-Bamingui, Nana Barya, Ouandja-Vakaga, Saint-Floris, Vassako-Bolo, and Yata-Ngaya. Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve both sit south of the city of Nola in the extreme southern tip of the country, while Zémongo National Park preserves land in the east near South Sudan.

This post was updated with more information in January 2024. GeoFact of the Day’s map of the Central African Republic was designed in August 2020.

Burundi

Home to about 12 million residents (year 2023 estimate), BURUNDI is a central African country located along the East African Rift zone. There are 3 bordering countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Rwanda to the north, and Tanzania to the east and south. Burundi is north and east of the long and skinny Lake Tanganyika. The currency is the Burundi Franc, and the ISO 4217 currency code is BIF. Burundi’s climate is equatorial and typically includes two wet and two dry seasons, while temperature ranges are stratified depending on altitude. Major food sources and crops include bananas, cassava (manioc), coffee, cotton, maize (corn), sorghum, sweet potatoes, and tea. Some of the country’s exports for global trade ↗ include blankets and textiles, kaolin, limestone, niobium, platinum, rare earth oxides, and vanadium.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  According to Encyclopædia Britannica, Burundi’s population in the year 2020 is about 12,499,000 and is ranked 76th among populations of the whole world’s countries, dependencies, and territories. At the northeast edge of Lake Tanganyika, Bujumbura is the economic capital and largest city with a population near 500,000 in 2023. Starting in January 2019, the national capital was switched over to Gitega with all or most government functions planning to transition to the central Burundi city. The population of Gitega in 2012 was almost 23,000 then grew to over 162,000 in 2023. Other major Burundian cities with over 100,000 residents include Bugendana, Busoni, Giteranyi, Muyinga, Ngozi, Nyanza-Lac, and Rumonge.

Notable places and sites of interest all across the country include the Burundi French Institute (Institut Français Burundi) in Bujumbura, Chutes de la Karera waterfalls near Gihofi, Geological Museum in Bujumbura, Jardin Public (Public Garden) in Bujumbura, National Museum of Gitega, and Saga Beach near Bujumbura. Places of cultural and natural importance listed on the Tentative List of UNESCO in the year 2007 include Gasumo, a southern source of the Nile; Karera Falls and the Nyakazu Fault; Rwihinda, lake of birds; the Royal Residence of Burundi (Gishora Drumming Palace); and the sacred natural landscapes of Muramvya, Mpotsa, and Nkiko-Mugamba.

Kirundi (Rundi) and French are official languages used for communication; Swahili is another major language. Partly due to a relatively small geographic size, Burundi has relatively few languages compared to several African countries — including Cameroon, Chad, D.R. Congo, Nigeria, and Tanzania — that have over 100. Religions in Burundi include Christianity (especially the Roman Catholic and Anglican Communion denominations), ethnic religions, Islam, Hinduism, and Bahá’í. People and ethnic groups include the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa (Pygmy).

● ● ● ● ●  Land and Water Features  ● ● ● ● ●  The general landscape consists of grassy highlands with mountains towering almost 9,000 feet. Burundi’s highest point is Mount Heha, standing with an elevation of 8,760 feet and 2,670 meters and situated west of Ruko in western Burundi. Other prominent mountains throughout Burundi include Kikizi, Umusozi Twinyoni, Camabari, Mikiko, Nyaruyaga, Karavyi, Gitwe, Rubaribari, Karama, Shaga, Manga, Mutwe, Taba, Nyakibugwe, Musumba, Mugongo, Nyankware, and Rutemba. The major national parks throughout Burundi are Kibira, Rusizi, and Ruvubu.

Burundi features a vast network of rivers and tributaries throughout the whole country. Borderland rivers include Kagera, Kanyaru, Lugusi, Maragarazi, Ruhwa, Rumpungwe (Rumpungu), Rusizi, and Ruvubu. Inland rivers include Kabulantwa, Mpanda, Mubarazi, Mulembwe, Murarangaro, Muyovozi, Ndurumu, Nyamuswaga, Rukoziri, Ruvubu (borderland and inland), and Ruvyironza. The White Nile river’s southernmost source is found in southern Burundi; the other known southernmost source is located in Rwanda. Straddling the Burundian border from the towns of Gatumba (north) and down to Nyanza-Lac (south), Lake Tanganyika is the world’s second-deepest lake. Northeast of the community of Bugabira, Lac Cohoha and Lac Rweru are the two major lakes along the border with Rwanda in northern Burundi — between the towns of Bururi (west) and Bigugo (east).

This post was updated with more information in March 2024. GeoFact of the Day’s map of Burundi was designed in June 2020.