The Boali Falls plunge almost vertically for about 50 meters and fan out across approximately 250 meters in width—an impressive curtain of water in the rainy season (roughly April–October), much narrower in the dry season. From Bangui, the site is accessible via the RN1 in under two hours; most official and travel sources put the distance at about 95–100 kilometers.
Boali is the historic heart of the CAR’s hydropower. A look at the timeline:
1955: Boali 1 is inaugurated; the plant had been supplying Bangui since 1954. A 63 kV high-voltage line (81 km) links the plant with the capital.
1976: Boali 2 comes online (run-of-river; built with Yugoslav support; rehabilitation in 1990). An 83 km line, designed for 110 kV and operated at 63 kV, also runs to Bangui. Both lines are tied in at “Poste B” in Bangui.
1991: Boali 3 is built as a regulating dam for seasonal flow management; plans foresaw 2×5 MW turbines at the foot of the dam.
The town of Boali is the seat of a sub-prefecture in Ombella-M’Poko Prefecture. As early as 1926, the Société des cotons du Congo set up a ginning factory here; it later operated under ICOT/ICCA—now closed. The town’s energy history and proximity to the falls explain why Boali has played a strategic role in the country for decades.
Getting there: From Bangui via the RN1 northwest; common estimates are ≈ 95–100 km (driving time 1–2 hours depending on road and security conditions).
Best time to visit: Rainy season for maximum flow; dry season for easier access and clear photo angles among the rock niches.
On site: Viewpoints lie above and below the falls; beware of spray and slippery footing, especially at high water.
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