The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC and formerly Zaire) has a history that’s difficult to take in. From the mismanagement of Belgium’s King Leopold, to the corrupt leader Mobutu Sese Seko, to the battlegrounds of Africa’s horrific “world war,” the country has experienced long periods of instability. But the second largest African nation is staging a comeback and by most accounts, is headed in the right direction. There are regularly travel advisories for DRC, but during times of stability, there is a magic wilderness to explore here. The country is covered in UNESCO designated Virunga National Park among others famously visit for Congo gorilla trek & Nyiragongo hiking tours.
The capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as one of the 11 provinces, is Kinshasa. It’s chaotic and buzzing with energy and really huge – with over ten million residents. Established by Henry Stanley in the late 19th century as a trading post it’s now likened to an African New York City. Enjoy a boat ride on the Congo or a BBQ picnic on its shores. The Marche des voleurs, or the city market, is colourful and intense and loads of fun. There is a great street art culture here and if you sit in one of the small cafes off the 30 Juin Boulevard, the artists will come up and show you their pieces for sale. It’s a great way to talk to locals and relax.
Falls of Zongo; this is also a great place to go to if you are a nature lover. Here, you will surely love the splendid view of the Zongo Falls and admire the beauty of the nature that surrounds it. You can also stay the night here as you can camp here in a tent or you can rent a bungalow for a night’s stay.
Bombo – Lumene Game Park; this is a wonderful place to spend some quality time with our loved ones. You can spend a quiet and peaceful time in the many small gazebos located here. Or you can take a short nature walk along its trails and rest on a quaint bamboo bench if your legs get tired from all the walking.
Bukavu; this is a city in Congo that you can also visit. Here, you will be given a scenic view of Kivu Lake. From here, you can visit the gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Virunga National Park; this got listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a protected piece of land. What you will see here are a diversity of Congo’s native floras and faunas. Among the most popular animals to see here are its mountain gorillas as well as its hippopotamuses.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park; this is also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here, you will see some extinct volcanoes that are always a sight to behold, and these extinct volcanoes are the Kahuzi and the Biega volcanoes. Furthermore, they also have gorillas that are well protected from poachers as well as a plethora of other animals and plants.
Garamba National Park; when you visit the Garamba National Park (also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), you will be awed by the vast Savannah it has as well as its majestic grasslands and woodlands. These are filled with all kinds of animals like the giraffes, hippopotamuses, and elephants. You will also see here the unique white rhinoceros as well as the black rhinoceros.
Salonga National Park; this is a tropical rain forest national park and is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as well. In this immense rain forest, you will see the antics of the dwarf chimpanzee and be amazed of the Congo peacock. This is also made more famous because of the African slender – snouted crocodile or what is also called a false crocodile.
Okapi Wildlife Reserve; also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, this reserve is popular for the variety of birds and primates that it has. It also gives anybody who visits this place a true sense of what the beauty of nature is about as they gaze at the waterfalls. Be amazed at the wonderful scenery Ituri and Epulu Rivers offer.
Nyiragongo Volcano; another beautiful tourist destination, this volcano is a must-see in Congo. Here, you will marvel at the sight of the lava lake. But remember, this magnificent sight posts danger to the people living near it.
