The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a vast Central African country that has immense natural resources but is still haunted by political violence. It is home to the large Congo River, diverse rainforests with gorillas, okapis and pygmy chimpanzees, as well as volcanoes and lakes of the Rift Valley in the east of the country. Its capital Kinshasa is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world.
Vast but troubled Democratic Republic of the Congo is known for its violent past as the Heart of Darkness. However, the country has a great potential for adventure and nature tourism as soon as it becomes more stable and safe. Located in both sides of the Equator in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a large country with a vast central basin crossed by the Congo River. Formerly known as Belgian Congo, Congo or Zaire, the country is also called Congo-Kinshasa, in distinction to the neighboring Republic of Congo, known as Congo-Brazzaville. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a multi-ethnic state with over 200 ethnic groups and 242 local languages. Although plagued by violence and corruption, this large African country hosts a great cultural and natural diversity.
DRC Destinations. D.R. Congo hosts a great cultural diversity that is witnessed in the burgeoning capital city Kinshasa, located along the great Congo River. It is an important center of Congolese culture and economy, and has many nightlife options as well. Virunga National Park near the city of Goma in the east of the country contains high mountains, volcanoes, jungles, savannas and the famous Mountain Gorillas that once made Goma the touristic capital of the country. Apart from gorilla tracking, climbing the adjacent Nyiragongo volcano is the main activity in Goma. Among the many other cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the town of Kisanto with its beautiful botanic garden.
The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo are home to many rare and endemic species that can be found only here. The spectacular wildlife in D.R. Congo includes Chimpanzees, Mountain Gorillas, Okapis, Hippos and White Rhinos. Five of the national parks in Democratic Republic of Congo are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, the recent warfare and economic strife has done much harm to these unique areas. The World Heritage -listed Garamba National Park is a large area with savannas and forest areas, hosting Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos and the extremely rare White Rhinos. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Northeast of DRC protects parts of the famous Ituri Forest with its many threatened animal species. It also hosts beautiful waterfalls and indigenous pygmy hunters, and has organized activities and camping possibilities.
How to get there. The main way to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is by air. There are four international airports in DRC, of which the main one is in the capital Kinshasa. You can also fly to the east of the country from Uganda. There are flights to Kinshasa from a few European and many African cities. You can also travel to the D. R. of Congo by boat from the neighboring Republic of Congo.
Vast but troubled Democratic Republic of the Congo is known for its violent past as the Heart of Darkness. However, the country has a great potential for adventure and nature tourism as soon as it becomes more stable and safe. Located in both sides of the Equator in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a large country with a vast central basin crossed by the Congo River. Formerly known as Belgian Congo, Congo or Zaire, the country is also called Congo-Kinshasa, in distinction to the neighboring Republic of Congo, known as Congo-Brazzaville. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a multi-ethnic state with over 200 ethnic groups and 242 local languages. Although plagued by violence and corruption, this large African country hosts a great cultural and natural diversity.
Attractions in D.R. Congo: rainforests, burgeoning cities, wildlife and the Congo River
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a vast country with a myriad of traditional cultures and the biggest biodiversity in Africa. It is also the home of one of the greatest rivers in the world, the Congo. The Congo river is navigable to large river barges from Kinshasa to Kisangani, and many of the tributary rivers are navigable, too. Congolese popular music has become popular across Africa, with soukous being the most popular dance music.DRC Destinations. D.R. Congo hosts a great cultural diversity that is witnessed in the burgeoning capital city Kinshasa, located along the great Congo River. It is an important center of Congolese culture and economy, and has many nightlife options as well. Virunga National Park near the city of Goma in the east of the country contains high mountains, volcanoes, jungles, savannas and the famous Mountain Gorillas that once made Goma the touristic capital of the country. Apart from gorilla tracking, climbing the adjacent Nyiragongo volcano is the main activity in Goma. Among the many other cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the town of Kisanto with its beautiful botanic garden.
The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo are home to many rare and endemic species that can be found only here. The spectacular wildlife in D.R. Congo includes Chimpanzees, Mountain Gorillas, Okapis, Hippos and White Rhinos. Five of the national parks in Democratic Republic of Congo are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, the recent warfare and economic strife has done much harm to these unique areas. The World Heritage -listed Garamba National Park is a large area with savannas and forest areas, hosting Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos and the extremely rare White Rhinos. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Northeast of DRC protects parts of the famous Ituri Forest with its many threatened animal species. It also hosts beautiful waterfalls and indigenous pygmy hunters, and has organized activities and camping possibilities.
Democratic Republic of Congo travel information and practical tips
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a humid tropical climate with great geographic variations. The weather in Congo River basin is very hot and humid, whereas the highland areas in the south are cooler and drier, the narrow coastal area is hot and dry, and the eastern mountains are cooler and wetter. There is a rainy season from April to October in areas north of the Equator, or from November to March in south of the Equator, as well as a dry season from December to February in the North and from April to October in the South.How to get there. The main way to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is by air. There are four international airports in DRC, of which the main one is in the capital Kinshasa. You can also fly to the east of the country from Uganda. There are flights to Kinshasa from a few European and many African cities. You can also travel to the D. R. of Congo by boat from the neighboring Republic of Congo.
Photo: Nick Hobgood, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There are several daily ferries between Brazzaville and Kinshasa. You can also enter the country by bus from Uganda, or by train from Zambia or Tanzania.
Local transportation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a vast country with poor road and rail connections, so flying is the best (and often only) way to get around. There are many local airlines, all of which have poor safety records. Trains can be used in some parts of DRC, but there is no comprehensive rail network. The city of Lubumbashi in the south of the country has the best railroad connections to elsewhere in Africa. Road travel is possible in some parts of the D.R. Congo by trucks, but not with private vehicles, as most of the local roads are in very poor shape. A great option to road or rail travel is by boat along the mighty Congo River, the real highway of the country. There is a regular ferry between Kinshasa and Kisangani that is also used by locals as a big floating market. It is not fast or safe, but nevertheless a great way to see the country.
Limited services. There are few hotels in D. R. Congo, mainly located in cities of Kinshasa, Goma and Kisangani. Kinshasa has a good number of international hotels and restaurants, whereas most of the country has very few facilities available for visitors. English is not widely spoken, and some knowledge of French is needed.
Safety issues. Due to the ongoing political violence and widespread lawlessness, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not a safe travel destination. Some regions of the country, particularly in the east and north, are controlled by rebel forces. The regions of Ituri and North Kivu are particularly dangerous, but extreme caution needs to be taken everywhere in the country. Fighting still occurs occasionally also in big cities, and travel to DRC remains a very hazardous choice. Follow the news for updates in the political situation and consult your doctor for the necessary medication. Road travel is dangerous because of widespread banditry, and bribes are sometimes expected from foreigners in army checkpoints. Robberies are common in cities also, so it is better to leave your valuables at home.
The sad history of D.R. Congo
The area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was inhabited by the nomadic Pygmy people since 2000 BC. They were followed by the Bantu people. Europeans explored the area from the 1870s onwards. In 1885, King Leopold II of Belgium acquired the area as his personal property, named Congo Free State. His administration brutally exploited the country and its inhabitants. The country officially became a Belgian colony called Belgian Congo in 1908.DRC gained independence in 1960, but was plagued by political violence from the start. Colonel Joseph Mobutu seized power in the country in 1965 and soon changed the name of the country into Zaire and his own name into Mobutu Sese Seko. He ruled the country as a dictator for 32 years, until he was finally overthrown by rebel forces and the country was renamed to Democratic Republic of the Congo. A civil war broke out in 1998, and although a peace agreement was signed in 2002, occasional fighting has continued especially in the east of the country.
