Travel in The Congo – Hotels, The Congo Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide

The Congo: A Trip Of Adventure And Excitement

View into the mountain range of the Virunga Volcanoes, a line of 8 volcanoes in the area of the border-triangle between Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo. The lake in the right part of the picture is Lake Ruhonda. The area of these mountains (from right: Muhabura, Mganhinga and Sabyinyo)is the habitat of the last remaining population of the Mountain Gorilla (gorilla gorilla beringei).

The Congo, in Africa, is the third largest country by area. The are gets its name “Congo”, meaning hunter, from the Bakongo tribe who reside in the Congo River Basin. The Congo is located in the heart of the west-central area of the sub-Saharan Africa. There are over 240 different languages spoken in the Congo, but only four are nationally recognized; Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba and Swahili.

The Congo contains many rainforest areas and five of the national parks are considered World Heritage Sites; the Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and Virunga National Parks and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. All five of these locations are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage in Danger, meaning they contain species of animals that are threatened.

The Bombo-Lumene Game Reserve is located about one-hundred and thirty miles from Kikwit in the Bandunda Province. The land consists of forest-savanna areas dominated by grasslands and is home to many indigenous animal species. The area is south of the main Kinshasa-Kenge road and there are several areas in the reserve being used for villages and a large portion is used for pastoral purposes. In 1958, a Belgain architect staying in the area built a stone chalet called the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation. The chalet is open to the public and invites guests to experience the wonder and amazement of the Bombo-Lumene Game Reserve in comfort.

The Garamba National Park in Zaire is a place one must go to watch the mountain Gorillas and white rhinoceros. There are only 720 mountain gorillas left in the wild, so the threat of extinction is very real. In the park, there are guided tours by jeep where tourists can enjoy getting up close to these gentle giants.

Volcanoes National Park, is also known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, located in Rwanda. The park is home to six volcanoes and mountain gorillas. It offers guided tours of some of the most beautiful forests in Africa. Tourist will trek with a team through shady bamboo forests that have spectacular views in every direction. The gorillas are enormous in size, but remarkably peaceful and tolerant of human presence.

Parc National des Volcans tours are protected by the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks. Tourists can visit the lively village of Musanze, which is located at the beginning of the park entrance. Musanze has long been the base point for gorilla trekking and offers a stunning back drop set against the Karsimbi, Bisoke, Mikeno, Sabyinyo, Mgahinga and Muhabura volcanoes.

At the base of Mount Sabyinyo is the Kinigi Guest House, which is open for visitors who want to stay within the park grounds. The hotel offers cottages that can accommodate anywhere from two to eight people. The hotel also has a gift shop, restaurant and bar situated on the grounds. There is also the Hotel Muhabura in Musanze, which offers comfortable rooms for one or more people. Either of these hotels offers guests wonderful service and hospitality.

The Nyungwe National Park is situated in the hills of southwestern Rwanda. Nyungwe is celebrated for its rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are over 200 tree species, 100 orchid species, and 500 chimpanzee. The ones of particular interest are the L'Hoest,monkey, silver monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon and red-tailed monkey. The park is also home to over 275 bird species, which makes this area a particular favorite among bird watchers.

Brazzaville is the capital of the Republic of the Congo and is situated along the Congo River. There are many buildings of notable status that tourists will enjoy when visiting the city. The St. Ann Basilica was built in 1949, and well known for its green tiled roof. The building is also known as a national landmark in the city.

The Congo offers some of the worlds largest rainforests and has a climate that is as diverse as the landscape. The best time to visit is between June and September, when temperatures are most favorable. The average daily temperature is around 75øF and in the 60's at night, making it so tourists are able to enjoy this vast country and appreciate its many offerings.