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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the largest and least visited countries in Africa. It is one of the ultimate travel destinations for intrepid travelers. Unfortunately, the country has long been plagued with poverty, civil war, unrest, lack of basic infrastructure, and instability. Despite these very real challenges it is perhaps one of the most rewarding countries in the world for those who do manage to go there.
If one would like to travel to Congo, it is best to consider an organized tour with a professional tour company used to operating in this part of the world. If one would like to visit elsewhere in Central Africa, Gabon is one of the relatively stable countries and boasts great tropical rainforests.
The Democratic Republic Of Congo - The Ultimate Intrepid Traveler's Destination
One example of an epic tour in Congo is offered by Congo Travel and Tours. They offer a range of incredible tours through the country including an 18-day expedition into the country's pygmy villages, along the Congo River, and deep into the jungles.
They also offer an optional extension to see the wild bonobos.
- Cost: From $7,899.00
- Duration: 18 Days (Approx.)
It should be noted that the DRC (Congo) lacks even very basic infrastructure in places and travelers need to adjust their expectations accordingly.
There can easily be delays and rain may make the roads impassable. Be mentally flexible and prepared. After one leaves the capital there are few or no real modern showers during the tours (and the weather is hot, tropical, humid, and sweaty).
Be mentally prepared for a part of the world where electricity and internet are largely unavailable, and toilet facilities are mostly non-existent (the tour brings its own sanitation station).
The Starting 8-Day Pygmy Tour In Congo
Congo Travel and Tours offers tours and cultural immersion with the famous pygmies of Congo. They arrange village states with them around the Congolese city of Kisangani for 8 days.
Note that the tour can stretch to 10 or 12 days depending on the weather and flight conditions.
The peoples typically thought of as pygmies are the hunter-gatherers and foragers of the Congo Basin and are made up of the Bambenga, Bambuti, and Batwa.
The average height of the men is less than five feet.
On this tour, travelers will visit villages, tribes, jungles, and see scores of exotic flora and fauna. The tour begins in Kinshasa at the airport and the next day flies out to Mbandaka city on the Congo River.
There, visitors will see a way of life that's barely changed for thousands of years. Hop into a 4x4 and head off to a village where the pygmies and the village chief will be waiting to greet the party with traditional dances.
In some villages one will be visiting, travelers like those in these groups are the only people from the outside world these people ever get to see.
The tour also explores the jungle and includes a 5-hour canoe trip in the forests and tours into the biodiverse tropical jungles.
Exploring the jungles is done with a combination of hiking, 4x4 Jeeps, and canoeing.
Optional 8-Day Bonobo Extension In Congo
Take the extension option and add another eight days to the expedition and tour the famous bonobos of the Congo basin.
Some may confuse bonobos with chimpanzees, but they are actually quite different (and bonobos are famous for their matriarchal social structures and mating practices — unlike chimpanzees with their alpha males).
Bonobos are found in the Congo Basin of the DRC and live in forests eating fruit.
Due to the instability of Congo, there has been relatively little field work done on observing bonobos in the wild (as well as their timidity).
- Population: Between 29,500 and 50,000 individuals
- Listed: Endangered On The IUCN Red List
The itinerary for the bonobo tours is indicative only and everyone needs to be flexible.
The tour visits multiple places deep in the Congo jungle in search of bonobos and sometimes requires hiking tens of kilometers into the forest.
The tours include all transport, food, permits, entrance fees, taxes, accommodation, and more. They will arrange the visa after booking the tour (the DRC visa is complicated).
While in that part of the world, go gorilla trekking in Uganda and see the elusive and unique mountain gorillas.
Uganda is known as the "Peril of Africa" and is one of the most stunning destinations in Africa.