The following list highlights some of the best places to visiting in Democratic Republic of the Congo. So if you are in Democratic Republic of the Congo, I recommend visiting the following:
- Virunga National Park, Albertine Rift Valley, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Lago Kivu, Albertine Rift Valley, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Tanganica Lake, Great Rift Valley, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Lake Edward, Great Rift Valley, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Garamba National Park, Haut Uele, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Salonga National Park, Kasaï, Mai-Ndombe and Tshuapa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Upemba National Park, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Pool Malebo, Kinsasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Zongo Falls, Kinsasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Lola ya Bonobo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mount Nyiragongo, Great Rift Valley, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Congo River, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ma Vallee, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Bela Falls, Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Loufoulakari Falls, Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mount Stanley (Margherita Peak), Nord-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1. Virunga National Park, Albertine Rift Valley
Virunga is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. It is Africa’s oldest national park and the largest rainforest reserve. Virunga National Park works to combat threats to the country’s ecosystem and declining biodiversity.
2. Lago Kivu, Albertine Rift Valley
Lake Kivu boasts one of the largest lakes in Africa. Lake Kivu discovered methane and carbon dioxide due to the interaction of water and volcanoes. It is also famous for being one of the dumping grounds for many of the victims of the Rwandan genocide.
3. Tanganica Lake, Great Rift Valley
It is not only an attraction that allows different activities, but also an important source of food for the region, since it produces up to 200,000 tons of fish per year. It is considered one of the most biodiverse lakes in the world, with more than 1,500 identified species living there. Lake Tanganyika’s water has a pleasant temperature of around 26°C. Its tropical climate and most of its beaches and islets are perfect for snorkelling, scuba diving and snorkelling.
4. Kahuzi-Biega National Park, South Kivu
The main refuge of the largest primate in existence: the impressive eastern lowland gorilla, named after two dormant volcanoes in the Mitumba Mountains. Above all, it is remarkable for the immense diversity of life it supports within its boundaries. This is a nature lover’s paradise, home to three ecosystems; high mountains, low mountains and wetlands.
5. Lake Edward, Great Rift Valley
The lake was discovered in the western world by the explorer Henry Morton Stanley and was named Lake Edward after the Prince of Wales at the time. It is a large lake located in Central Africa and among them, it is the smallest of the six African Great Lakes.
6. Garamba National Park, Haut Uele
It is home to large herds of elephants and hundreds of animals, some as rare as the Congolese giraffe and others as endangered as the northern white rhino. Visiting is an adventure, but it’s entirely possible. Entry is from Kisangani in the southwest or the Ugandan border in the east, always on unpaved roads. The new park offices are in the village of Nagero and the only surviving motel is nearby. Since then, tours of the park have been organised, always accompanied by a military escort.
7. Salonga National Park, Kasaï, Mai-Ndombe and Tshuapa
Animals in the park include bonobos, Salonga monkeys, Tshuapa red colobus, Congo Peafowl, forest elephants, and African crocodiles. Most of the park is accessible only by river. There are virtually no sightings due to lack of infrastructure and access routes, although there is an airport at Mundja Post, Anga and Monkoto.
8. Upemba National Park, Katanga
It is home to some 1,800 different species, some of which were discovered in late 2003. There are also several villages within the park. Although most of the park is classified as an Integrated Nature Reserve, certain areas are open to visitors and, as with others, you will need a good 4×4 to get there. I recommend buying a permit and making a reservation at the ICCN liaison office or through a travel agent.
9. Pool Malebo, Kinsasa
It is a natural lake located on the bed of the Congo River. It is about 35 km long and 23 km wide and has several islands in the centre. Malebo Pool is the beginning of the navigable part of the Congo River, just below the river, which descends into a series of rapids known as Livingstone Falls.
10. Zongo Falls, Kinsasa
You will have the opportunity to see the 65 metre high waterfall, hear the water roaring over the cliff into the river, I assure you it will be unforgettable. You can camp or rent a bungalow and explore the area for a couple of nights. Enjoy hiking and taking a refreshing swim under the falls.
11. Lola ya Bonobo, Kinshasa
This sanctuary provides care for orphaned bonobos in a unique place in the world. Here the bonobos are cared for and live in a semi-wild environment until they are released back into the wild. The bonobos at the sanctuary spend years in rehabilitation, cared for by their human foster mothers and Lola’s caretaker.
12. Mount Nyiragongo, Great Rift Valley
Nyiragongo ranks high on the world’s list of the world’s largest and most dangerous volcanoes. The main crater is about two kilometres wide and usually contains a lava lake. It is located in the famous and touristy Virunga National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
13. Congo River, Orientale Province
The abundance of this water is immense, not only because of the number of different fish species, but also because at least 80% of them are endemic (they do not exist anywhere else in the world). The path to the Atlantic Ocean, drawing on the water a strip of land several tens of kilometres long after crossing plains and mangroves, is quite spectacular.
14. Ma Vallee, Kinshasa
Ma Vallee is a nature park with ecological attractions for the whole family, with spaces to enjoy nature and eat in peace and quiet. Located about an hour’s drive away, it is a great place for outdoor hiking. Swimming is not allowed due to the depth and the presence of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms in the water. Fishing, zip-lining, high altitude acrobatics courses and archery are also possible.
15. Bela Falls, Brazzaville
Bella Falls is a quick way to recharge your batteries and get in touch with nature. At over 150 metres high, the waterfall offers beautiful views of the Congo River and is a beautiful example of nature at its best. Bella Falls is located in a small rainforest in the Congo, the sound of the water can be heard from far away, but the atmosphere is very calm and peaceful.
16. Loufoulakari Falls, Brazzaville
They are located 80 km southwest of Brazzaville. This waterfall is relatively easy to reach through a tangle of untouched virgin forest and offers an enchanting panorama of the surrounding forests.
17. Mount Stanley (Margherita Peak), Nord-Kivu
Mount Rwenzori. At over 5,000 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and the third highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The summit and some of the surrounding peaks are high enough to support the glacier. Mount Stanley is named after the journalist and explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley. It is part of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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