If you found my blog post about DR Congo, it’s because you are planning to spend an adventurous vacation there or just out of curiosity. DR Congo, also known as Mboka ya Bakoko, meaning land of the ancestors, is a hidden gem with many undiscovered places to visit.
Unfortunately, Africa’s second-largest country, is not a typical tourist destination.
It’s overshadowed by negative headlines about political unrest and uprisings. This fact distracts from getting to know all the beauty of this underrated country. I myself having parts of my roots there have been hesitant to visit DR Congo.
Not fooled by the bad reputation in the media, I wanted to see DR Congo with my own eyes. In August 2019, I decided to make my first trip there. What I experienced during my one-month stay was beyond magical. Not only did I feel safe, but I also had an experience like never before.
Read on as I have listed 12 facts about DR Congo that will blow your mind.
Table of Contents
The Congo River
After the Nile, the Congo is the second-longest river on the African continent, with a length of 4,677 km (2,900 miles). In addition to its long-distance, it is the deepest river in the world, crossing the equator twice, at 220 meters. The capitals of DR Congo and the Republic of Congo lie on opposite sides.
The second-largest country
Although DR Congo is the second largest country on the African continent after Algeria at 2,344,860 km², they don’t differ too much in size as Algeria is only 2% larger. DR Congo has nine neighboring countries, namely Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. As of June 2022, the population of DR Congo was 94,786,670, according to Worldometer, which analyzes the latest United Nations data. Only about 46% of the population lives in urban areas.
The Tropical Animals
Bonobo Apes
Bonobo apes are actual Congolese citizens, as they are found nowhere else except in DR Congo. They were first sighted in a small town near the Congo River called Bolobo, hence the name Bonobo. Along with chimpanzees, they are the closest animals to humans. These apes are dominated by the females who keep the group together. For stress relief and community cohesion, they use sex, which they practice seven times more often than other mammal species. Coitus can also be used to move up within the group, whether with same-sex or heterosexual partners. The bonobo apes can live up to 50 years. Unfortunately, bonobo apes are in danger as they are frequently killed and eaten by some Congolese tribes. They are also sold and kept as pets.
If you want to see the bonobo apes, please visit www.bonobos.org for more information. They have established a sanctuary in the Ekolo ya Bonobo Community Reserve in Congo. They can be among their kind and are cared for by the area’s locals.
Mountain Gorillas
In the protected forests of Virunga National Park, an estimated 380 remaining mountain gorillas have found peace. With the remaining mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, the total number of mountain gorillas worldwide is 1004.
Like bonobos, these social animals live in groups, except that they are led by a dominant alpha male called the silverback. If the area allows, groups can include up to 30 mountain gorillas, which then include several silverbacks. Female mountain gorillas give birth every 4 years from the age of 10. However, most young mountain gorillas die before they reach their first year of life, which is why the mountain gorilla population grows only slowly.
Mountain gorillas are among the most endangered mammals in the world. Therefore, the Senkwekwe Center in Virunga has made it its mission to protect these mountain gorillas from poachers. The world’s only facility for orphaned mountain gorillas specializes in creating a place for these traumatized mammals who have been separated from their families. These excellent experts care for the orphaned gorillas daily so they can return to their natural habitat when ready.
Book the mountain gorillas trekking on the Virunga National Park website to witness the beautiful mountain gorillas up close.
Oldest African National Park
Virunga National Park, with an area of 7835 km² in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park primarily to protect mountain gorillas. It consists of the tri-border area of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Here you can enjoy amazing lodges, hike Africa’s most active volcano Nyiragongo, also known as the gateway to the belly of the earth, and observe the famous tropical animals in the dense forest. The usual travel time for the national park is the dry season, which lasts from March to September. If you do not mind hiking through the forest during the rainy season to avoid mass tourism, the best time to visit is October to December.
Virunga National Park is by far the most adventurous place to visit in DR Congo. Some of the programs are limited, so check before booking treks.
The best and easiest way to reach Virunga National Park is to fly to DR Congo and land at Goma airport. As it is known that flights are usually delayed, it is advisable to book accommodation in Goma in advance. You can reach the park in 2 hours and 30 minutes by car.
Virunga National Park takes the safety of its visitors very seriously and has ensured that security personnel is available. This allows tourists to enjoy all activities without worry.
The Congo Rainforest
The Congo Basin is located in the heart of Africa and includes six countries: DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Central Africa. With an area of about 300 million hectares, it is the second largest rainforest after the Amazon rainforests.
Slowing global warming is one of the most important tasks of the rainforest, as its trees release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, which is the main cause of global warming. 8% of the carbon sequestered in forests worldwide is in the Congo Basin, which is equivalent to about 39 billion tons of carbon dioxide. This proves that most of the world’s climate stability lies in the Congo Basin.
Pygmy Tribe
The Congo rainforest is home to the world’s most petite people, the Pigmy. The most famous tribes of Pigmy are the Ba’Aka, BaKa, BaMbuti, Efe, to name a few. They live by hunting and have an incredible knowledge of the rainforest that has allowed them to survive for thousands of years. Their diet is 60% to 80% bushmeat as a source of protein, as well as seafood.
Food & Beer
Congolese are inveterate beer drinkers and lovers. When ordering a beer in a bar or restaurant across the country, be sure to mention that you only want one beer, or you’ll quickly find yourself sitting in front of two beers. Here are the beers you must try when you visit DR Congo. Skol, Beaufort, Turbo King, Castel Beer, and the most famous Primus are the beers of choice for most locals.
The street food in DR Kongo is terrific, offering a variety of savory and sweet dishes. Mikate (fritters), Kamundele (grilled beef skewers), Ntaba (grilled goat meat) or Poulet Mayo (chicken in mayo dressing) are just some of the dishes that fully reflect DR Congo. Most often, these street foods are accompanied by chikwangue or kwanga (kasawa root pounded into a paste and wrapped in banana leaves) or makemba (plantains).
If you are willing to try more traditional Congolese dishes such as pondu (kasava leaves), fumbwa (wild spinach), or fufu (kasava flour), there are many local restaurants where you can do so.
In larger cities such as Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Bukavu, you can easily find international cuisine at higher prices.
Music and Dance
The Congolese rumba, popularized by musicians such as Le Grand Kalle, Franco Luambo Makiadi, Koffi Olomide, Zaiko Langa Langa, and the late Papa Wemba, to name a few, was part of the first movements of the Congolese rumba.
When you hear the melodies of Congolese rumba, you cannot sit still as they move every cell of your body to dance. New Congolese artists like Fally Ipupa, Singuila, and Maitre Gims are paving the way for their older colleagues. The musical genre is heard not only in Congo but throughout Africa and worldwide. Congolese rumba is so influential that in December 2021, it was included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
The Ndombolo dance originated in DR Congo and has been regularly performed by musicians such as Koffi Olomide, Wenge Musica, and many others. The Ndombolo is also known and danced in other African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
Rich resources
With the Congo River containing an enormous amount of water, DR Congo has the potential to supply most African countries with electricity, as it has the most hydroelectric power. Unfortunately, only 2.5% of the hydropower potential of about 100,000 MW has been developed so far.
In addition, DR Congo has great global importance because of its rich mineral deposits. Almost all coveted raw materials can be found in Congolese soil, including gold, copper, coltan, diamonds, cobalt, and many more. Therefore, DR Congo is considered one of the wealthiest countries in Africa. Unfortunately, this also brought with it years of conflict and exploitation that continue to this day.
Languages
The four national languages in DR Congo are Kishuaheli, Kikongo, Thsiluba, and Lingala, but various tribes speak over 200 dialects. Colonial rule by the Belgians brought the French language to the country, making Kinshasa, DR Congo, the second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. When traveling through the country, it is essential to know that Lingala is generally spoken in the northwest, Swahili in the east, Kituba in the southwest, and Tshiluba in the southeast.
Religions
Before the Europeans spread Christianity in the country, the Congolese were animists who believed in an all-powerful and all-knowing God, Nzambi. Today, about 50% of the Congolese population are Christians, 90% of whom are Roman Catholics.
During the Belgian Congo period, a new religious leader named Simon Kimbanagu founded Africa’s most prominent independent church. From it emerged a new Christian movement named after its leader. Members of the Kimbanguist Church believe that he is the incarnation of the Holy Spirit.
Only 2% of the population is Muslim, with the majority living in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo. The remaining Congolese, who do not practice any of these religions, believe in their traditional practices.
Weather
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