Congo: Democratic Republic and Republic

The Congos at a Glance

Capital City:
Brazzaville (ROC) and Kinshasa (DRC)

Currency:
Central African CFA franc (XAF) in ROC and Franc congolais (CDF) in DRC

Language:
French, Kongo, Kituba, Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba

International Telephone Code:
+242 (ROC) and +243 (DRC)

ISBN-10: 1841622338

ISBN-13: 9781841622330

Stay Informed by E-mail

Want to be notified when a new edition comes out? You can sign up to receive news of the latest Bradt publications, special offers and competitions by email. Click here to subscribe.

Send Us Your Comments

If you own this book and would like to tell us what you think, or if you have feedback or new information for the author, please let us know using the form below. You can also send general queries about this book, but if your comment/query does not relate to this title please use our general contact form instead.

Your Name:
Email Address:
Your Message:
Check this box if you would like to receive news about our latest publications via email.
Can't read the words? Click the button on the right to reload.

Table of Contents

(1) Acknowledgements

(2) Introduction

PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION

(3) Chapter 1 Background Information

(4) Chapter 2 Practical Information

PART TWO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

(5) Chapter 3 Background information

(6) Chapter 4 Practical information

(7) Chapter 5 Kinshasa

(8) Chapter 6 Around Kinshasa and Bas-Congo

(9) Chapter 7 Central Democratic Republic of Congo

(10) Chapter 8 Katanga

(11) Chapter 9 Kisangani, Maiko and the North

(12) Chapter 10 The East

PART THREE REPUBLIC OF CONGO

(13) Chapter 11 Background Information

(14) Chapter 12 Practical Information

(15) Chapter 13 Brazzaville

(16) Chapter 14 Around Brazzaville

(17) Chapter 15 The West: Pointe Noire and Dolisie

(18) Chapter 16 The North

(19) Appendix 1 Wildlife Guide

(20) Appendix 2 Language

(21) Appendix 3 Further Information

(22) Appendix 4 Glossary of names and acronyms

(23) Index

About the Author

Sean Rorison is a Canadian writer who has travelled extensively around the world — especially in Africa. He has run an award-winning travel-writing website for the past seven years.

FOREWORD John Blashford-Snell

In 1974, having long admired Henry Morton Stanley, I joined colleagues from the Scientific Exploration Society to commemorate the centenary of his epic Trans-African Expedition, that sought the true source of the Nile and pursued Livingstone’s theory that the Lualaba was in fact the source of the historic river.  However, Stanley found that the Lualaba was in fact an important waterway in its own right and in the process also discovered the Congo. 
 
One hundred years later our international team of 165 scientists, servicemen and specialists, including numerous Zairois, set out to navigate the river from the source to the Atlantic – a journey of 4,300km.  Our mission was to carry out scientific and medical research, investigate River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) which affects millions of Africans, and to study the wildlife. By far the biggest challenge was finding a means of navigating the fearsome rapids – at some points they were 7m in height! 
 
Along the way we saw incredible animals including the rare okapi, the massive mountain gorilla and the little known pygmy chimpanzee.  In the deep jungles we found courageous missionaries who had endured the slaughter that swept in the wake of the fleeing colonists, and like Stanley we met the dainty pygmies of the Ituri forest.  There were scenes of impressive beauty and many folk showed us great kindness.  However, we also saw much suffering and poverty which our humble efforts could do little to overcome.
 
It took us four months to reach the ocean. The journey had left us all full of admiration for Stanley’s incredible achievement. 
 
Alas, today, conflict continues in the Congo and corruption is rife, but for the brave-hearted there is still much to discover and endless possibilities for giving help to those who have suffered for so long in this vast country.

Other Titles by this Author

Angola Angola is no destination for beginners: only seven years have passed since it emerged from three decades of armed struggle and there are few tourist facilities. But for the adventurous, this country offers unspoilt beaches, excellent fishing and surfing, tropical forests and magnificent bird life. The first-ever English guidebook to Angola, this is essential reading for business travellers and pioneering adventurers alike. » more details

Search Inside

A limited preview of this book is shown below (if you can't see the pages, click here to open the preview in a new page).

Related Titles

Browse titles in related categories | Africa

Angola Angola is no destination for beginners: only seven years have passed since it emerged from three decades of armed struggle and there are few tourist facilities. But for the adventurous, this country offers unspoilt beaches, excellent fishing and surfing, tropical forests and magnificent bird life. The first-ever English guidebook to Angola, this is essential reading for business travellers and pioneering adventurers alike. » more details

Cameroon The first dedicated English travel guide to this little-known, but fascinating and diverse, West African country. A wealth of background information, from history and geography to local cultures and the environment. » more details

Northern Tanzania: The Bradt Safari Guide with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar The second edition of this tightly focused guide includes updated information on the best accommodation in every price bracket, and the best of the safaris. There's specific coverage of the wildlife and natural history of the region, making it the indispensable companion to a safari in northern Tanzania's renowned national parks. Mt Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar are also covered. » more details

Tanzania with Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia Whether you need advice on removing ticks, or tips on photographing wildebeest, the sixth edition of this comprehensive guide has the latest information. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. One fifth of Africa's large mammal population lives here. Now fully updated, this guide covers practical information for both independent travel and all-inclusive safaris. » more details

Zambia Zambia is one of the best destinations in Africa for walking safaris, river safaris, hot springs and waterfalls, yet it is little explored by travellers. The fourth edition of Zambia covers the prime attractions, including all national parks, from the lower Zambezi and Kafue to the famous Luangwa Park, host to several unique species and the top place for leopard-spotting. » more details

Rwanda Fifteen years on from the tragic genocide of 1994, Rwanda is rapidly emerging as one of Africa’s most exciting ecotourism destinations, boasting three diverse national parks and famed for its mountain gorillas. This updated fourth edition of the only English-language guidebook to Rwanda lists the newest hotels, tours, activities, tour operators and all other travel practicalities. » more details

Uganda Whether visitors want to climb to the snows of the fabled Mountains of the Moon, track mountain gorillas and chimps, raft the headwaters of the mighty Nile, or marvel at the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, this sixth edition of Philip Briggs' much-praised guide is the most comprehensive resource available to Uganda. » more details

Sudan Following the end of Sudan's civil war, the country's south is newly accessible to adventurous travellers. Bradt's Sudan continues to be the only guidebook dedicated to this emerging destination. This new edition covers the southern towns of Juba, Malakal, Wau and Rumbek, and provides information on recently de-mined driving routes. It also details the increasing hotel and restaurant options in Khartoum, and Sudan's developing wildlife tourism industry. » more details