Current Time in CAT (Central Africa Time)
About CAT
Used in central and southern Africa. Countries observing CAT include Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (eastern), Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This zone does not observe daylight saving time.
UTC Offset: +02:00
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: Africa/Blantyre
Central Africa Time (CAT): The Heartbeat of Southern and Central Africa
Central Africa Time (CAT) is a standard time zone observed by eleven countries in central and southern Africa. With a fixed UTC offset of +02:00, CAT is one of the few African time zones that does not observe daylight saving time, providing year-round consistency for the region's 200+ million inhabitants.
What is Central Africa Time?
Central Africa Time, abbreviated as CAT, is a time zone that is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+02:00). It is used by countries in central and southern Africa that lie roughly between longitudes 15°E and 35°E. Unlike many time zones in Europe and North America, CAT does not observe daylight saving time (DST). This means the offset remains constant throughout the year, simplifying scheduling and business operations.
Geographic Coverage and IANA Zones
CAT is the standard time for the following countries and their major cities:
- Malawi (Lilongwe, Blantyre) – IANA zone: Africa/Blantyre
- Burundi (Bujumbura) – IANA zone: Africa/Bujumbura
- Botswana (Gaborone) – IANA zone: Africa/Gaborone
- Zimbabwe (Harare) – IANA zone: Africa/Harare
- South Sudan (Juba) – IANA zone: Africa/Juba
- Sudan (Khartoum) – IANA zone: Africa/Khartoum
- Rwanda (Kigali) – IANA zone: Africa/Kigali
- Democratic Republic of Congo (Lubumbashi, eastern part) – IANA zone: Africa/Lubumbashi
- Zambia (Lusaka) – IANA zone: Africa/Lusaka
- Mozambique (Maputo) – IANA zone: Africa/Maputo
- Namibia (Windhoek) – IANA zone: Africa/Windhoek
Note that the Democratic Republic of Congo spans two time zones: the western part (including Kinshasa) uses West Africa Time (UTC+01:00), while the eastern part (including Lubumbashi) uses CAT. Similarly, Sudan and South Sudan both use CAT, but South Sudan is entirely within the zone.
Neighbouring Time Zones
CAT is bordered by several other African time zones:
- West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+01:00) to the west: Countries like Nigeria, Angola, and western DRC are one hour behind CAT.
- East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+03:00) to the east: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia are one hour ahead of CAT.
- South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00) to the south: South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini share the same offset as CAT, but SAST is considered a separate time zone name. However, in practice, CAT and SAST are identical in offset.
- Central European Time (CET, UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00): During European winter, CAT is one hour ahead of CET; during European summer, CAT matches CEST.
Because CAT does not observe DST, the time difference with zones that do change seasonally. For example, during the European summer, London (BST, UTC+01:00) is one hour behind CAT, while during winter, London (GMT, UTC+00:00) is two hours behind.
Practical Business Hours Guidance
For business coordination with CAT countries, consider the following typical working hours (Monday to Friday, local time):
- General business hours: 08:00 to 17:00 CAT, with a lunch break around 13:00 to 14:00.
- Overlap with Europe: Central European Time (CET, UTC+01:00) is one hour behind CAT. So when it is 09:00 in Berlin, it is 10:00 in Harare. Good overlap exists from 09:00 to 17:00 CET (10:00 to 18:00 CAT).
- Overlap with East Africa: East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+03:00) is one hour ahead. Nairobi at 10:00 is 09:00 in Lusaka. Overlap is strong during morning and early afternoon.
- Overlap with the United States: Eastern Time (ET, UTC-05:00 in winter, UTC-04:00 in summer) is 6 to 7 hours behind CAT. For example, when it is 09:00 in New York (EST), it is 15:00 in Gaborone. Afternoon calls from the US work well, but morning calls require late afternoon in Africa.
Best times for international conference calls involving CAT and multiple zones: 14:00 to 16:00 CAT (which is 08:00 to 10:00 ET, 13:00 to 15:00 CET, and 15:00 to 17:00 EAT).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Central Africa Time observe daylight saving time?
No, Central Africa Time does not observe daylight saving time. The offset remains UTC+02:00 year-round.
What is the time difference between Central Africa Time and South Africa Standard Time?
There is no difference. Both Central Africa Time (CAT) and South Africa Standard Time (SAST) are UTC+02:00. They are effectively the same time, though they are named differently for historical and regional reasons.
Which major cities use Central Africa Time?
Major cities include Harare (Zimbabwe), Lusaka (Zambia), Maputo (Mozambique), Lilongwe (Malawi), Gaborone (Botswana), Kigali (Rwanda), Bujumbura (Burundi), Juba (South Sudan), Khartoum (Sudan), Windhoek (Namibia), and Lubumbashi (DRC).
Is Central Africa Time the same as East Africa Time?
No. East Africa Time (EAT) is UTC+03:00, which is one hour ahead of CAT. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda use EAT.
Why does the Democratic Republic of Congo have two time zones?
The Democratic Republic of Congo spans a large longitudinal range. The western part (including Kinshasa) uses West Africa Time (UTC+01:00), while the eastern part (including Lubumbashi) uses Central Africa Time (UTC+02:00). This division follows the country's geography and administrative boundaries.
What is the best time to call someone in Central Africa Time from New York?
New York is 6 to 7 hours behind CAT depending on daylight saving. For a good overlap, call between 14:00 and 16:00 CAT, which is 08:00 to 10:00 ET in winter (EST) or 07:00 to 09:00 ET in summer (EDT).