Discover the Heart of Africa: Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts About Central Africa You Need to Know

1. Central African River Pride

While pirates may sail the seven seas in search of booty, it seems the Central African Republic managed to unearth a treasure all its own: a river named solely after them! As the one and only country with this honor, the Oubangui River flows through their capital, Bangui.
Source => thenewhumanitarian.org

2. Kanem-Bornu Tag Team

Whoever said "stronger together" must have been talking about the Kanem and the Bornu Empires, the ultimate tag-team champions of Central Africa: From around the 8th to the late 19th century, the Kanem Empire ruled parts of Chad, Nigeria, Libya, and Cameroon, while the Bornu Empire wrestled for control over northeastern Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Niger, and Cameroon, with both empires building their wealth and power through vast trade networks, including a trans-Saharan route that dealt in everything from horses to slaves.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Discover how the Central African Republic is like a real-life game of "Risk" with its diverse tribes and landscapes! Find out how they "Kara" lot about diversity and the irony of its resource-rich land. 🌍💎

=> Fun Facts about Central-African-Republic

3. Rwenzori's Party Crashing Peaks

If the Alps, the Rockies, and the Himalayas held a mountain mixer, the Rwenzori range would be the party crasher no one saw coming: This Central African mountain range is home to some head-spinning heights, including Mount Stanley (the tallest peaks in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo), Margherita Peak, Alexandra Peak, and Savoia Peak – all soaring over 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) high. In addition to turning the scale, the range sports glaciers and enjoys a spot in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list as part of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Congo Basin Salad

If the Congo Basin were a salad, it'd be chock-full of jungle greens and wildlife croutons: Central Africa, spanning six countries, is home to over 10,000 tropical plant species, 30% of which are unique to the area, and abounding with wildlife like gorillas, elephants, and buffalo. Inhabited by humans for over 50,000 years, this verdant wonderland sustains more than 75 million people, including the Ba'Aka people, who hold a wealth of knowledge about the forest, its creatures, and natural medicines.
Source => worldwildlife.org

5. Wriggly Protein Snacks

Who needs protein shakes when you've got wriggly snacks?: In Zimbabwe, specifically in the Matabeleland South and North provinces, the mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina) is a popular and affordable protein-packed food choice that also helps boost the income of many Gwanda District households, although it faces challenges such as overharvesting and a lack of policy regulations.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

6. Nature's Slip 'n Slide

If the Amazon Rainforest is Mother Nature's water park, then the Congo River must be her natural Slip 'n Slide: The Congo River boasts a whopping 1,500,000 cubic feet of water discharge per second, making it the second most voluminous river in the world, and houses the planet's second largest rainforest. This ecological playground is bursting with biodiversity, hosting over 1,000 fish species and earning the title of the African country with the highest number of mammal and bird species.
Source => rainforests.mongabay.com

7. Coffee Bean Comeback

While central African coffee beans tried to espresso themselves in the crowded and judgmental world of specialty brews, they made a triumphant turnaround that left coffee snobs latte for the party: In just over a decade, countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo defied the odds by transforming their coffee production from mediocre to marvelous, with determined farmers, helpful organizations, and top-notch training helping the region earn a special place in the hearts and cups of coffee connoisseurs worldwide.
Source => coffeereview.com

8. Aksum's Stamp on the World

Hold on to your hats, ancient history buffs: there's an African empire that was literally putting its stamp on the world, long before the Post Office hit its stride! Welcome to Aksum, which once spread across modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, and was flexing its architectural muscles with magnificent stelae, obelisks, tombs, and palaces between the third and seventh centuries. What's more, this happening hotspot wasn't just about the bling: it's one of only three ancient African states with written records and minted coins, competing with Egypt and Meroë in the all-important game of global communication.
Source => metmuseum.org