As the most important metallogenic type of endogenetic rare earth deposits, the carbonatite type rare earth deposits in central and southern Africa have superior geological metallogenic conditions and prospecting potential. Combined with the spatio- temporal distribution characteristics of igneous carbonatite, this paper discussed and summarized the regional metallogenic regularity, resource potential and exploration progress of carbonatite- type rare earth deposits in central and southern Africa. Carbonatite type rare earth deposits were divided into four metallogenic belts: Pilanesberg—Phalaborwa belt, which the metallogenic epoch were mainly concentrated in the Paleoproterozoic- Mesoproterozoic; Namaqualand- Bushmanland- Warmbad belt, which the metallogenic epoch were 40~80 Ma; west margin of Namibia- Angola belt, which the metallogenic epoch were mainly concentrated in the 550~750 Ma and 125~135 Ma; East African REE metallogenic belt could be further subdivided into three metallogenic sub- belts: Zambezi sub- belt, with metallogenic epoch divided into three phases: 660~690 Ma, 520~550 Ma, and 110~135 Ma; Tanzania- Democratic Republic of the Congo- Burundi- Rwanda- Uganda (the western branch of the East African Rift system) sub- belt, where mineralization mainly occurred in three phases: 900~1000 Ma, 500~700 Ma and 100~120 Ma. The Tanzania- Kenya- Uganda (eastern branch of the East African Rift) Sub- belt, with mineralization concentrated in two phases: 110~120 Ma and 5~25 Ma. The spatio- temporal distribution of each metallogenic belts, the metallogenic geological background of typical deposits, the characteristics of the deposits, and the metallogenic conditions were systematically summarized, and the resource potential of the metallogenic belt and the exploration progress in recent years were sorted and dissected. Although China has made some progress in rare earth exploration and development in central and southern Africa, its involvement began relatively late. To secure resource advantages, it is imperative to accelerate exploration and development activities in the region.