Overview

Earlier known to the world as Zaire, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a Central African country and the 3^rd largest country in the continent. This landlocked region is bordered by an array of countries including Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Central African Republic, and the Congo Republic.

Democratic Republic of Congo is named after the long Congo River, with most of its course traversing this country. The huge bend in this river, called the curette, is one of the most densely forested areas of Congo, stretching over half of the country. Other parts of this country are covered with volcanic mountains, with Mt. Ruwenzori reaching almost 17,000 feet above sea level.

Activities & Attractions

Congo is home to a wide variety of wildlife. There are many national parks and reserves. The Virunga National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site that features live volcanoes and lava plains. The terrain in this site ranges from swamps to snowfields. While trekking across this park, you can come across mountain gorillas, buffalos and elephants, which would surpass all your previous experiences of African Safaris. You can also spot hippos at the banks of the Rutshuru River.

Volcano climbing is one of the many exotic pursuits that allure vacationers to this country, especially Mount Nyiragongo. You can walk around the edge of the volcano and catch a glimpse of the crater. If you trek to this place during the night, you can see the lava bubbling at the heart of the volcano.

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park, the once-UNESCO World Heritage site, contains a tropical forest, complete with two extinct volcanoes. Dian Fossey who wrote the book Gorillas in the Mist carried out her research on the rare mountain apes in this park.

Lodging

When you tour Congo, you can stopover in places such as Hotel Cosmopolite in Lubumbashi. Kinshasa offers several hotel choices, with prices ranging from $80 to $300, and a bed and breakfast inn, the Guest House ma Campagne, which would cost about $75 per night. La Crechee is another cheap accommodation option in this city, which is a part hotel/part camping site.

Transportation

One of the interesting ways to explore the Democratic Republic of Congo is by boat or barge. Most vacationers travel down the main rivers at a deliberately slow pace, allowing themselves to drink in the rich vegetation and the wildlife of Congo. However, if you run on a tight schedule, the boats and barges are not for you. This mode of travel is best for the leisurely traveler.

A railway network runs through a small area of the country. Buses also operate in Congo, so you can avail yourself of their services. Car hiring services are available, which are run by reliable companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hiring a car is the safest way to explore Congo on roads.