Democratic Republic of Congo: Travelling

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Kinshasa - N'Djili Intl, DR of Congo (FIH)	27 km / 16.5 miles	40 minutes - USD 40	Available	N/a	Available

Major airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Kinshasa, the capital, does not have many sights of historic interest, but for visitors interested in the past should not miss the prehistoric and ethnological museums at Kinshasa University, an ensemble of light, rectangular, well laid-out buildings standing on a hillside. The tomb of the former president Laurent Kabila, in Kinshasa, is also a tourist attraction. Archaeological monument can be found in the Ituri rainforest.

Cultural

The most important museums are the National Museum and the Academy of Fine Arts, both in Kinshasa. The DRC is also famous for its music.

Nature

The DRC has several wildlife reserves, like the Virunga national park, the Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary, the Zongo falls and the Nyiragongo volcano. Covering an area of 12,000 km² (4633 sq miles), the Virunga national park comprises an immense plain bounded by two jagged mountain ranges that serve as a natural enclosure for the animals which roam in liberty in this huge natural reserve. Game includes numerous lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, hippos and colourful aquatic birds. In this park, near Goma, it is possible to climb the still active volcanoes of Nyamuragira, 3,055m (10,022ft), and Nyiragongo, 3,470m (11,385ft).
In the south, the Upemba National Park straddles the River Lualaba, northeast of Bugama, and includes several lakes inhabited by hippos, crocodiles and numerous aquatic birds. Here too are fishermen, cattle farmers and peasants, as well as a number of mining communities.

Religious

The most important religious landmark it the Kisantu Catholic Cathedral.

Thermal

Natural hot springs can be found in certain national parks (like the Virunga one), however there are no SPA centres.

Beach

The DRC has a small part of its territory that accesses to the Atlantic ocean. This is the Tchegera crescent-shaped island in Lake Kivu and offers several beaches for swimming.

Winter Sports

The climate of the Democratic Republic of Congo is not suitable for winter sports.

Outdoor Activities

Trekking is common in the DRC's national parks, which is also rich in wildlife (like gorillas, bonobos, elephants, etc.). In most of the country's lakes it is possible to go on fishing excursions.

Shopping

Cities and larger towns have both modern shopping centers and traditional marketplaces (like the Marché Gambela, Kinshasa's biggest market). Traditional products include paintings, ebony carvings and bracelets, copper masks, ivory pendants. Prices can be bargained in informal shops.

Tourism Organisations

Tourisme RD Congo

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter DRC (except for vaccine against yellow fever, which is required for arriving travelers from all countries if travelers is younger than 9 months of age). Nevertheless, WHO and foreign ministries of various countries recommend the following vaccines before entering the country: Hepatitis A, Polio, Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, and Rabies.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

CDC - Health Information for Travelers to DRC

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

U.S. Department of State - DRC Travel Information
Government of Canada - DRC Travel Advice
OSAC - DRC Crime and Safety Report

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Kinshasa (GMT+1)
It is %T:%M %A In Lubumbashi (GMT+2)

Summer Time Period

None