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Travelling to Kongo-Kinshasa: what to know before you go

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, often shortened to DR Congo or DRC, is the second-largest country in Africa, covering much of the Congo Basin rainforest as well as volcanoes and great lakes in the east. It is home to mountain and eastern lowland gorillas, bonobos and okapis, and Kinshasa is the heart of Congolese rumba. Tourism is limited and conditions vary greatly by region, so check your government's current travel advice before you plan a trip.

Where to go

• Virunga National Park. Africa's oldest national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the border with Rwanda and Uganda.
• Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Mountain rainforest near Bukavu and Lake Kivu, protecting eastern lowland gorillas, also called Grauer's gorillas, the largest gorilla subspecies.
• Kinshasa. One of the largest cities in Africa, on the south bank of the Congo River opposite Brazzaville.
• Lola ya Bonobo. A sanctuary on the outskirts of Kinshasa that cares for orphaned bonobos, the great ape found only in the DR Congo, and returns some to the wild.

Best time to visit

Because the country straddles the equator, seasons differ from north to south. In Kinshasa and the south, the main dry season runs roughly from June to September, the most comfortable time to travel.

Staying online in Kongo-Kinshasa

Mobile coverage is available in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma and other cities, with 4G in parts of the larger cities, but speeds vary. In the rainforest, national parks and rural areas coverage is patchy or absent, and power can be intermittent. Wi-Fi is mostly limited to hotels, offices and some cafés in cities. Download offline maps and translation packs, carry a power bank, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.