Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo, often called Congo-Brazzaville, is a French-speaking country in Central Africa. It should not be confused with its much larger neighbour, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, across the river. Most people live in the south, between the capital Brazzaville on the Congo River and the port city of Pointe-Noire on the Atlantic. The north is mostly rainforest, rivers and swamps, with very few roads.
The country suits travellers who want wildlife and rainforest more than resorts. Its big draw is the chance to see western lowland gorillas and forest elephants in remote national parks such as Odzala-Kokoua and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Tourist services are limited and trips need planning, usually through a lodge or park operator. Avoid the border area with the Central African Republic in the far north. Crime is the main risk elsewhere, so check current advice before you go.
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Money & payments
The CFA franc used here is the Central African franc. It has a fixed rate to the euro. It is not the same as the West African CFA franc, and the two are not accepted in each other's countries.
- Cash: everyday life runs on cash. Markets, taxis, small restaurants and shops all expect it. Carry small notes, because change is often short.
- Cards: only a few large hotels, supermarkets and airline offices take them, mostly in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Do not plan to pay by card elsewhere.
- ATMs: found in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, and in some larger towns. They can run out of cash or reject foreign cards, so bring euros as a backup.
- Declaring cash: you must declare large amounts of cash when you arrive. Keep receipts when you exchange money.
- Costs: Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire are expensive, especially for hotels. Park trips to see gorillas are sold as all-inclusive packages and cost far more than independent travel.
Tours & Activities
Republic of the Congo — Map
Tipping
Tipping is not a strong custom, but it is appreciated in places used by visitors.
- Restaurants: in upscale places, leave about 5–10 % if service is not included. In simple local eateries, no tip is expected.
- Taxis: agree the fare before you get in. No tip is expected.
- Hotels: give a small amount to porters and room staff.
- Guides and trackers: in national parks, a tip for guides, trackers and camp staff is expected. Ask the lodge for its usual rate.
5–10 % in upscale restaurants; not expected in local eateries
guides, trackers and camp staff in national parks
small amount for porters and room staff
small change
Electricity
The country uses Type C and E plugs at 230 V / 50 Hz, like most of continental Europe. Power cuts are common, so carry a power bank.
Language
French is the official language, used in government, business, signs and hotels. English is rarely spoken, even in the capital, so a few words of French help a lot.
Lingala and Kituba (also called Munukutuba) are the two national languages. Lingala is common in Brazzaville and the north, and Kituba in the south, including Pointe-Noire. A simple greeting in Lingala is always welcome.
Staying connected
- SIM cards: MTN and Airtel are the main mobile networks. You need your passport to buy and register a SIM card. Buy it at an operator shop in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire.
- Coverage: mobile data works well in the cities and along the main roads. In the northern parks there is often no signal, and lodges may have only slow satellite internet.
- Mobile money: MTN MoMo and Airtel Money are widely used by locals to pay for goods and send money.
Safety & emergencies
Most visits pass without problems, but you need to take care. Crime is the main risk, so stay alert. Do not travel within 50 km of the border with the Central African Republic in the Likouala region.
- Crime: pickpocketing and bag snatching happen in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, especially in markets and busy areas. Armed robbery also occurs. Avoid walking after dark and do not carry valuables.
- Outer districts of Brazzaville: armed gangs operate in some outlying neighbourhoods in the north and south of the city. Stay in central areas at night.
- Pool region: this region south-west of Brazzaville saw armed conflict until a ceasefire in 2017. There has been no fighting since, but local unrest is still reported. Stay alert and check current advice before you travel through it.
- Documents: police may ask for ID. Always carry a colour copy of your passport with your visa and entry stamp.
- Photography: it is illegal to photograph government buildings, military sites, ports, railway stations, airports and border areas. You can be detained and have your camera taken. Ask people before you photograph them.
- Demonstrations: protests happen from time to time and can turn violent. Stay away from crowds.
- Roads: checkpoints are frequent. Avoid driving outside towns at night.
Health
- Yellow fever: you must show a yellow fever certificate to enter the country. Carry the original card with your passport.
- Polio: proof of polio vaccination is also required. Check with a travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you leave.
- Malaria: present throughout the country, all year. Take antimalarial tablets and use insect repellent and a mosquito net.
- Other risks: dengue, schistosomiasis and mpox occur. Do not swim in rivers or lakes.
- Ebola screening: you may face health checks at the border because of Ebola outbreaks in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Water: tap water is not safe to drink. Use bottled or treated water.
- Medical care: facilities are limited, especially outside Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Serious cases need an air evacuation, which is very expensive. Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
- Pharmacies: available in the cities, but bring enough of your own medicines, clearly labelled, with a copy of the prescription.
Visas & entry
- Visa: most visitors, including those from the UK, the EU and the USA, need a visa before they travel. Apply through a Republic of the Congo embassy. There is no general visa on arrival. Citizens of the other Central African CEMAC countries can enter without a visa.
- Documents: embassies usually ask for a hotel booking or an invitation letter, plus the yellow fever certificate.
- Passport: make sure your passport has at least 6 months of validity left when you arrive.
- Kinshasa: crossing the river to Kinshasa means entering another country. You need a visa for the Democratic Republic of the Congo too, and a multiple-entry Republic of the Congo visa if you plan to come back.
- Cash: declare large sums of money on arrival.
Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.
Etiquette
- Greetings: greet people before any question or request. Shake hands with everyone when you arrive and leave. Use "Bonjour" and a polite form of address.
- Dress: people dress neatly in towns, and many take pride in fashion. Brazzaville is famous for the sapeurs, men who wear elegant designer suits. Avoid beachwear away from the beach.
- Photography: always ask before you photograph people. Never photograph officials, soldiers, police or government buildings.
- Checkpoints: stay calm and polite at police checkpoints. Show your documents through a closed window if you feel unsafe.
- Bargaining: normal in markets and with taxi drivers. Keep it friendly.
- Visiting villages: in rural areas, ask to see the village chief first, especially near national parks. A small gift or contribution is often expected.
- LGBT travellers: same-sex relationships are legal, but discrimination is common. Be discreet in public.
Holidays & opening hours
On public holidays, government offices, banks and many shops close. Markets and small shops often stay open. Most people are Christian, so Easter and Christmas are major holidays.
Many shops and offices close for a long break in the middle of the day. Supermarkets in the cities stay open longer. Many businesses close on Sunday, or open only in the morning.
Getting around
- By air: domestic flights link Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire several times a day. This is the fastest way between the two cities. Trips to Odzala-Kokoua usually include a charter flight organised by the lodge.
- By train: a passenger train runs between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire on the Congo-Océan Railway. It is slow and often unreliable, and the line crosses the Pool region.
- By bus: private coach companies run between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, and north to Owando and Ouesso, on paved main roads. Choose a larger company and travel by day.
- By boat: ferries cross the Congo River between Brazzaville and Kinshasa. They stop in the afternoon, can close without warning, and a visa for the Democratic Republic of the Congo is required.
- In cities: green taxis in Brazzaville and blue-and-white taxis in Pointe-Noire are cheap. There are no meters, so agree the fare first. Minibuses run fixed routes but are very crowded.
- With a driver: hiring a car with a local driver is the easiest way to reach sights outside the cities.
Driving
Few visitors drive themselves. Most hire a car with a driver.
- Road conditions: the main roads from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire and north to Ouesso are paved. Other roads can be very poor, especially in the wet season from November to May. Use a 4x4 outside the main routes.
- After dark: do not drive outside towns at night. Roads are unlit, and there is a risk of robbery.
- Checkpoints: police checkpoints are frequent. Keep your passport, licence and car papers ready. Show them through a closed window.
- Equipment: there is no roadside assistance. Carry a spare tyre, water, food and a first-aid kit on long trips.
- Fuel: stations are attended and usually take cash only. Petrol is sold as "Super" and diesel as "Gasoil". Fill up in larger towns, because fuel can run short in rural areas.
- Electric vehicles: there is no public charging network.
Food & drink
Congolese food is based on cassava, plantain, fish and palm oil. Breakfast is often a coffee or tea with bread or sweet fried dough balls (beignets). Lunch is the main meal. Dinner is often grilled fish or meat, eaten late.
The most typical dish is saka-saka, cassava leaves cooked for a long time with palm oil and often with smoked fish. It comes with chikwangue or foufou, a dense cassava bread or paste. Chicken moambe is cooked in a rich palm-nut sauce. Maboké is fish or meat steamed in large leaves with chilli. Along the rivers and the coast, grilled fish (poisson braisé) is sold everywhere with plantain and hot pepper sauce.
Local lagers such as Primus and Ngok' are the common drinks, and palm wine is sold in villages. Fresh ginger juice is a popular non-alcoholic drink. Locals eat at nganda, simple outdoor bars and eateries, and at street grills, especially in the evening.
Where to explore
Brazzaville and the south
- Brazzaville: the capital, on the Congo River opposite Kinshasa. Sainte-Anne-du-Congo Basilica has a green-tiled roof and was built in the 1940s. The white marble Mémorial Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza holds the remains of the explorer who founded the city. In the Poto-Poto district, the Poto-Poto painting school has trained African artists since the 1950s, and you can buy their work. The river rapids are a short trip from the centre.
- Lésio-Louna: a reserve north of Brazzaville, where orphaned western lowland gorillas were returned to the wild. Visits include a boat trip on the river to see them. The road north leaves Brazzaville through the Pool region, so check current advice.
- Loufoulakari Falls: a large waterfall south-west of Brazzaville. It lies in the Pool region, so check current advice before you go.
The Atlantic coast
- Pointe-Noire: the economic capital and main port, with beaches, the long Côte Sauvage shore and busy markets. It is the base for trips along the coast of Kouilou.
- Loango: north of Pointe-Noire, this was a main departure point of the Atlantic slave trade. A memorial on the beach marks the embarkation site. The Diosso Museum, in the former royal palace of the Loango Kingdom, tells the story and starts the Slave Route trail. The red Diosso gorges are nearby.
- Conkouati-Douli National Park: a coastal park of lagoons, forest and beaches north of Loango. It is known for its chimpanzee sanctuary, and sea turtles nest on its beaches.
The northern forests
- Odzala-Kokoua National Park: one of Africa's oldest parks, with western lowland gorillas, forest elephants and more than 440 bird species. Gorilla tracking is organised by the park's lodges.
- Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park: a vast area of untouched rainforest, part of the Sangha Trinational UNESCO World Heritage site. You can watch gorillas and elephants at forest clearings. Its northern edge borders the Central African Republic, a zone to avoid.
- Lake Télé: a remote round lake in huge swamp forests, with a large gorilla population. Local legends say a dinosaur-like creature lives here. It can only be reached on a long, organised expedition.
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