Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (or DRC for short) reveals an unexpected side to Africa with lush jungles providing a last bastion of refuge for huge elephants, endangered mountain gorillas and chattering troops of treetop chimpanzees. Three relatively pristine national parks, all UNESCO listed, put Congo at the cutting edge of Africa’s eco-tourist industry. However, this equatorial stronghold of sub-Saharan Africa has some surprises up its sleeve. Despite being largely landlocked, it has some surprisingly beautiful beaches on its short Atlantic coast. Blessed with high rainfall, this tropical country sustains the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon. It covers much of the Congo Basin as it flows west to the Atlantic Ocean. Go kayaking on Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second largest freshwater lake, marvel at the mineral wealth of the Rift Valley and shop with awareness that poaching still puts many species perilously close to the endangered list. Shaped by its mainly French Colonial past, the people of the DRC have retained an ethnic diversity that permeates through the customs, music and beliefs.