As summer hits its stride and the sun-soaked days grow longer, days by the pool sound more and more enticing. While it's unlikely that your visions of a relaxing vacation includes a jaunt up a volc...

The Congo celebrates the usual holidays – New Year’s Day, Labor Day and Christmas – plus local events commemorating heroes and significant dates in history. Commemoration of the Martyrs of Independ...

The Congo is close to the Equator, making it susceptible to rains and thunderstorms. Annual precipitation may reach over 80 inches in some regions. The Congo’s climate is generally tropical, with m...

For thousands of years, the land forming the contemporary Democratic Republic of the Congo was home to hundreds of hunter gatherer tribes. The thick, tropical forests and constant rain kept the pop...

To enter the Congo, you will need a valid passport, proof of yellow fever vaccination and a visa. It is the traveler’s responsibility to obtain a visa from a Congo embassy and make prior arrangemen...

Language French is the official language of the Congo, but Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba, and Lingala are also widely spoken. Currency The Congolese franc or franc Congolais (CDF) is the currency of t...

N’djili Airport Also known as Kinshasa International Airport, this is the main entry point to the Congo. It is the largest of the four international airports in the country, and was named after the...

Congo Taxis and Car Rental Kinshasa is served by taxis, which offer single journey prices or they can also be rented for the entire day. Safety is an issue and there have been reports of mugging. B...

Locally-made products such as paintings, ebony carvings and bracelets make the best souvenirs from the Congo. Cities and larger towns have contemporary shopping centers and traditional marketplaces...

When eating in the Congo, be sure to try moambe, the national dish. Its name comes from the number of ingredients, which is eight – cassava leaves, hot pepper sauce, bananas, rice, peanuts, fish, c...