The history of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire) is difficult to comprehend.
Leopold of Belgium’s mismanagement, Mobutu Sese Seko’s corruption, and the battlefields of Africa’s dreadful “world war” have all contributed to protracted periods of instability in the country.
However, the second largest country in Africa is reportedly making progress in the correct direction and is currently attempting to recover.
DRC is frequently accompanied by travel advisories; however, in periods of stability, one can venture into a mystical wilderness. The nation is comprised of national parks designated by UNESCO.
Volcanic activity, raging rivers, and the usual array of fauna associated with Africa are all present. The DRC is both the literal and figurative center of Africa; however, caution is advised.
Let us examine the Top 10 Best Places to Visit in the Democratic Republic of Congo
1. Kinshasa
Kinshasa serves as the provincial seat and metropolis of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which consists of eleven provinces. It is tumultuous, bustling with life, and enormous, containing more than ten million inhabitants.
Founded as a trading post by Henry Stanley in the late 19th century, the location is now compared to New York City in Africa. Sail through the Congo or enjoy a barbecue picnic along its shores.
The Marche des voleurs, also known as the city market, is vibrant, lively, and incredibly entertaining. If you sit in one of the tiny cafes off of 30 Juin Boulevard, the artists will approach you and display their works for sale; this area is teeming with street art. It is a wonderful method to relax and converse with locals.
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2. Lola Ya Bonobo
A sanctuary for orphaned bonobos, Lola Ya Bonobo is among the most visited destinations in the Kinshasa region.
Bonobos are subject to hunting for bush meat, and in cases where a mother is slain, her young are frequently abducted and traded as pets on the black market.
As many as feasible are rehabilitated at the sanctuary so that they may continue to live in safety.
Bonobos, one of the four great primates, have lived in relative isolation since the turn of the 20th century.
Visitors may enter the sanctuary, which encompasses thirty hectares of forest, and observe the various feeding stations utilized by the staff to monitor the apes. Volunteers are also accepted at the sanctuary.
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3. Kahuzi Biega National Park
This magnificent national park, given its name after the 2,700-meter Mt. Biega and the 3,000-meter Mt. Kahuzi, is situated in the South Kivu Province and extends from the Congo River basin to Bukavu.
Formerly extinct volcanoes, Kahuzi and Biega now provide an extraordinary hiking opportunity. Established in 1970 with the primary objective of safeguarding the Eastern Lowland Gorillas, it received UNESCO World Heritage Site status less than a decade later.
Poaching of gorillas has been an issue for decades, but the park administration is currently funding an ongoing education campaign. Although the gorillas remain endangered at present, their living conditions and quality of life continue to improve annually.
The park is teeming with extraordinary biological diversity, including elephants, chimpanzees, genets, antelopes, and servals.
4. Nyiragongo Volcano
The DRC’s Goma skyline is predominantly occupied by Nyiragongo. Last erupting in 2011, this astounding volcano towering over 3,000 meters, it ravaged up to 15% of the neighboring terrain and displaced more than 120,000 individuals.
Nyiragongo, which has experienced 34 eruptions over the past 130 years, is situated at the juncture where the African tectonic plate divides.
A remarkable feature of the terrain surrounding Goma is a vast expanse of black solidified lava that resembles an above-ground coal mine. The crater contains an active lava lake that is occasionally accessible for exploration.
After a successful recovery from the previous explosion, the area is teeming with new stores and markets.
5. Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park, situated on the Ugandan and Rwandan borders, has been officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Being the earliest national park in the country, it also boasts the greatest biological diversity. In the Rwenzori Mountains, one can encounter volcanic plains, savannas, forests, valleys, active volcanoes, swamps, and even glacier peaks.
The park is home to approximately 25 percent of endangered mountain gorillas, and only Virunga is home to three of the four great ape species.
The park is also home to the Okapi, an endangered species that resembles a cross between a zebra and a giraffe. Numerous uncommon and exotic birds, lions, elephants, and hippos are all visible.
The park comprises three discrete regions, each deserving of an excursion: the Mikeno volcano area, the Rwenzori Mountains, and the Lake Edward area.
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6. Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu, situated along the DRC-Rwilani border, ranks as the sixth most expansive lake in the African continent.
Lake Kivu, one of a succession of freshwater lakes in the area, provides delightful scenic excursions among the villages that line its shores.
While making your way from Cyangugu to Gisenyi, the road’s undulating terrain presents you with awe-inspiring panoramas.
The road is flanked by eucalyptus and banana trees, and as you pass, the locals will wave and halt. The expansive town of Gisenyi was formerly a colonial beach resort and, as such, is home to some charming old residences and excellent spots to enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets.
7. Garamba National Park
This national park is comprised entirely of savannahs and grasslands. Furthermore, elephants, giraffes, hippos, black rhinoceros, and white rhinos populate these enclosures.
Garamba National Park is an incredible sanctuary for numerous endangered species and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The fact that so many distinct species of large mammals coexist in the park is extremely uncommon and makes a visit there an absolute necessity.
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8. Salonga National Park
Salonga is the greatest tropical rainforest in both the DRC and Africa. Several endangered species inhabit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, such as the Congo peacock, pygmy chimpanzees, forest elephants, and slender-snouted crocodile.
To reach the park, which is quite isolated, one must embark on a canoe ride.
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The scale of this crucial ecosystem is such that it significantly influences the regulation of the national climate.
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9. Okapi Wildlife Reserve
The UNESCO World Heritage Reserve is distinguished by its extensive assemblage of primates and rare avian species.
Trekking opportunities to even more magnificent cascades are abundant within the reserve. Embedded between the Epulu and Ituri rivers is an awe-inspiring landscape.
The reserve is also inhabited by the pygmy nomad communities of the Mbuti and Efe hunters. It is an excellent location to observe the endangered Okapi, which comprise approximately one-sixth of the species’ population.
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10. Maiko
In a nation comprised of national parks and remote locations, Maiko is the most inaccessible national park in the DRC.
Additionally, it is the only park in the country where all three endemic species are found: the Okapi, the Congo peafowl, and the Grauer gorilla. Bongos, elephants, chimpanzees, and leopards should also not be overlooked.
Despite its lack of recognition and visitor traffic, the forest serves as a substantial carbon sink, and safeguarding its future is of international significance in the fight against climate change. The 1960s migration of the Simba Mai Mai people, who sought a form of political asylum within Maiko, continues to this day.
In the present day, the government is undertaking measures to safeguard the forest by resettling the estimated 700 inhabitants.