Congo, a mythical name that appeals to the imagination and forever known as the heart of darkness, after the novel by Joseph Conrad. A country that has already known many gory pages and often appears negatively in the media. A land that seems impenetrable, with deep rainforests, mighty rivers with wild rapids and mysterious animals that only occur in Congo such as the okapi and the bonobo, but also the infamous tiger fish, the largest of which are only found in the Congo River. In the jungle you will find gorillas, elephants and leopards and in the east, in addition to snow-capped mountains, green hills and volcanoes, you will also find the largest lava lake in the world.
A country with a deep history, hundreds of tribes and languages, a fascinating culture, colorful figures such as the sapeurs and a rich music scene led by artists such as Fally Ipupa and Koffi Olomide with ndombolo and rumba as the most famous genres. A country that is home to countless creatives who can create the most beautiful works of art and handmade furniture and who also produce top football players, just think of Lukaku. A country where you can have a chat with anyone and within two minutes you have found your new best friend, from the street vendor to the taxi driver or a chance meeting with a minister or general.
The country is not only home to beautiful deep forests and countless animals, but also to megacities such as Goma, Lubumbashi and Kinshasa, the latter of which has an estimated population of anywhere from 14 million to 17 million, depending on the source you consult and the city is on track to become one of the most populous cities in the world by 2050.
There are remnants of the Belgian colonization all over the country, of which a number of buildings are still in perfect condition. For example, in Kinshasa we find a number of beautiful monasteries and churches, and in Kisantu we also find a perfectly preserved cathedral built in orange brick and surrounded by many beautiful old colonial buildings. It is also home to the beautiful National Botanical Garden, which is one of the most beautiful places in Bas-Congo and Kinshasa.
Near Kisangani we find Yangambi, an impressive research center built by the Belgians and located in perfect condition among the greenery of the brousse. Another well-hidden secret is Stanley’s boat which is in the harbor of Kinshasa and which very few people know about. Congo is home to many nature reserves and national parks, of which the Virunga Park, led by Prince de Merode, with the Nyiragongo Volcano and the mountain gorillas is the most famous park in Congo. A lot less known, but no less beautiful is the Garamba Park in the far northeast, where we find lions and leopards on the savannah in addition to elephants and giraffes. Besides Virunga Park, it is the only national park with somewhat touristic infrastructure and lodges.
Congo Voyages offers tours and group tours in Congo-Kinshasa, Congo-Brazzaville and the Central African Republic. Because we live in Congo ourselves and have a lot of experience in setting up numerous trips such as expeditions, as well as with logistical support for companies, we are your ideal partner for a trip to Congo. We are the only travel agency that offers tours in Congo, whose management is actually located in Congo. Do not be fooled by copycats that offer similar programs and then do not or only partially fulfill their promises. And if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
We work with local guides, some of whom are affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism. We also train a number of young enthusiastic people, who mainly come from the artist world, such as photographers, models and people from the event sector (who have a lot of experience in setting things up).
Take a look at our website. We offer trips starting from 1 person, but we also work with group trips. We have some excellent programs in Bas-Congo and Kinshasa, also offer bonobo excursions, programs in Katanga, but also in Eastern Congo such as Virunga Park and Garamba Park and also deep in the heart of the country such as Salonga. We are also happy to make tailor-made trips if desired, such as a sailing on the Congo River or longer trips.
If you have any questions, feel free to send us an email and we will answer you questions with pleasure.
