Tourism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Very few people know about travel in this part of the world, but Democratic Republic of the Congo offers tourists many unique opportunities to see wildlife, indigenous cultures, and geological wonders not found easily or anywhere else in Africa.

In the capital city Kinshasa. Limited tourism opportunities exist. In downtown Kinshasa an Ivory market exists where other than the obvious, Congolese art, tribal masks, and other beautiful goods can be procured. Outside of Kinshasa is a Bonobo monkey preserve called 'Lola Ya Bonobo' found at http://www.friendsofbonobos.org. In Kinshasa visits to the river or the city golf course or downtown restaurants can be nice.

In the DRC, you can trek to see both mountain and lowland gorillas in wild, meet pygmies still practising their traditional way of life in the forests, spot bonobos and okapi—two rare species not found anywhere else on earth, and climb to the summits of active volcanoes and see a boiling lava lake in the crater of the Nyiragongo . The DRC has appeared frequently news the past few years because of unrest in the eastern part of the country, but thankfully the region has come to enjoy peace over the past year, and tourists from overseas have been coming in growing numbers to enjoy its attractions.

As turmoil has been common in the Eastern regions of DRC, it is suggested to purchase travel insurance when booking your trip. This will reimburse most of your travel costs in the event that the zone is not stable during the dates of your trip. Primate trips are much more affordable in DRC than in neighboring Rwanda or Uganda.

Tourist Attractions

• Virunga National Park
• Mount Nyiragongo
• Congo River
• Bonobo

See also

Virunga National Park Tourism Website