WARNING: Birao is an extremely dangerous city. If you must go, hire an armed guard and ensure you're well-protected.

Birao is a remote and out of the way place in the very north of the Central African Republic. It is close to the Chad and Sudan border so there is some trade going on but mostly the place suffers from lack of government attention and money.

Get in

The airstrip is no longer usable, but 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Birao - just where the laterite soil turns into sand - there is a big airstrip, so connection with the capital Bangui is a matter of hours. However, fuel for the airplanes is rare (often months on end not available) and very costly (€3.60 per liter).