Long wracked by political strife, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (previously known as Zaire) is slowly beginning to stabilise and welcome tourists across its borders again. It’s an intense country to travel, but those intrepid souls who dare to explore it will be richly rewarded with pristine tropical landscapes, magnificent wildlife and a memorable cultural experience. Congo’s highlights include its exceptional game reserves, five of which are World Heritage Sites. Arguably the premier tourist drawcard is the guided treks that offer travellers the chance to experience primates in their natural habitat - including gorillas, chimpanzees and endemic bonobos.
One of Africa’s Great Lakes, Kivu is the sixth-largest lake in Africa and one of the deepest lakes in the world, covering a vast surface area of roughly 2,700 square kilometres and reaching to almost 500 metres at its maximum depth. Three vibrant resort towns located on its shores – Kibuye, Gisenyi and Cyangugu –provide an array of enticing restaurants. The steep hills that surround it are webbed with a network of scenic hiking trails leading through lush forests and past cascading waterfalls. Water sports enthusiasts will have a field day at Lake Kivu, and bird watchers are likely to be equally thrilled by the lake’s variety of diverse avian species.
Situated along the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Virunga National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and features a biodiverse protected area inhabited by a plethora of weird and wonderful wildlife. It is home to at least a quarter of the world’s endangered mountain gorilla and also the unique Okapi 'zebra-giraffe'. The park stretches over 7500 square kilometres of unspoilt terrain characterised by dense forest, savanna, wetlands, lava fields, deep valleys, volcanoes, and the glaciated peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. Popular activities include: mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee habituation and trekking experiences, guided nature walks through tropical rainforest, and hiking the Nyiragongo volcano to view the world’s largest lava lake.
