Democratic Republic of Congo

A destination for adventurous travellers, the Democratic Republic of Congo is known for its beautiful rainforest landscapes, plenty of opportunities for wildlife-spotting, and dramatic natural features such as steaming volcanoes and cascading waterfalls.

Capital Kinshasa is a sprawling megacity which sits proudly on the Congo River, facing the Republic of Congo’s capital Brazzaville on the banks of the other side. Its chaotic, noisy streets are home to the stunning Musée National de Kinshasa, an ethnographic museum which houses around 45,000 items, and to snake farm Serpents du Congo. An hour and a half outside the city’s bounds, you’ll find the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary, which cares for endangered, orphaned bonobos. Head to Parc National Des Virunga for spectacular views of Nyiragongo, an active volcano which sends plumes of smoke into the sky in the daytime, and emits bright light once the sun goes down. Intrepid travellers can hike up to the volcano’s crater and peer down on the lake of bubbling lava below. At the Parc National de Kahuzi-Biéga, you can track lowland gorillas and visit a chimpanzee orphanage. Head to Goma for a more international-feeling town, bestowed by workers from the significant numbers of NGOs and UN missions headquartered here.