The Congo, also known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DRC, is one of Africa’s largest and most diverse countries. With its enormous natural resources and incredible landscapes, it has the potential to be one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, but decades of political instability, corruption and conflict have prevented much of that potential from being realized.
The country’s enormous size and limited infrastructure can also make traveling between regions surprisingly difficult. Some remote areas can take days to reach by boat, while domestic flights can be extremely expensive. Because of this, visiting eastern and western Congo can almost feel like taking two separate trips.
My trip focused on eastern Congo, where I visited Goma and Bukavu along with Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks. When I return, I’d like to explore the western side of the country, beginning in Kinshasa and traveling along the Congo River to experience more of the communities, landscapes and cultures found throughout this enormous country.
Explore Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is certainly one of the most unique places on the planet. Its complex ecosystems and rare wildlife make Virunga unlike almost anywhere else in Africa. The park’s terrain ranges from tropical forests to snow-covered mountains, while its volcanic landscapes include some of the most active volcanoes in Africa. Virunga is also one of the few remaining places where mountain gorillas can be found in the wild.
Explore Goma
Located along the shores of Lake Kivu, Goma has one of the most spectacular settings of any city in the Congo. Its history, however, has been shaped by volcanic eruptions and periods of armed conflict that have repeatedly affected the city and surrounding region. During my visit, the international presence was impossible to miss, with United Nations bases and patrols found throughout the city.
Explore Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Kahuzi-Biega is one of the largest national parks in the country and is best known for protecting the endangered eastern lowland gorilla, a subspecies found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park protects an enormous range of habitats, from mountains and volcanic landscapes to lowland rainforest and wetlands, supporting an incredible diversity of plants and wildlife.
