Congo

The Republic of Congo is known for lush, humid jungles, wild national parks, and animals ranging from hooting chimpanzees to thunderous forest elephants. Add vibrant local culture, Atlantic-facing beaches, and laid-back cities, and you’ve got the recipe for an extraordinary, adventurous destination.

Laid-back capital Brazzaville is known for Les Rapides, a dramatic outlook on to the Congo River’s fast-flowing rapids, and views from La Corniche. A green-roofed, modernist masterpiece of a cathedral, Basilique Sainte-Anne stands proudly above the crowd. A significant expat population in second city Pointe-Noire mean that there’s plenty of international dining options here, and even lively nightlife in wealthier areas. The Congo is home to half the world’s entire population of lowland gorillas, who live in the country’s three large national parks. Parc National d’Odzala is one of the oldest national parks on the continent, and the completely uninhabited Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki is home to over 300 bird species and endangered mammals including chimpanzees, forest elephants and gorillas. The country’s newest national park, Parc National Conkouati-Douli was declared as such in 1999 and covers an incredibly diverse range of terrain, including steamy rainforest, arid savannah, humid mangrove swamps and quiet beaches. It’s home to animals including mandrills and dolphins.