A country · 40 places · 11 regions
Democratic Republic of the Congo, all of it.
40 curated places across 11 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.
The 4 biggest regions — Kinshasa, Kongo Central, South Kivu and Haut-Katanga Province — read below as chapters, with 7 more waiting past them.
Chapter I · Kinshasa · 10 places
Kinshasa
The world's only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos, set in forest on the edge of Kinshasa. It rehabilitates rescued apes and works to return them to protected areas in the wild.
via Wikimedia CommonsChapter II · Kongo Central · 6 places
Kongo Central
A 65-meter waterfall on the Inkisi River surrounded by rainforest, popular as a weekend escape from Kinshasa a few hours' drive away. Viewpoints and a riverside lodge overlook the falls, and short forest trails lead down to the spray-soaked base.
✦ November to May, when the river carries the most water · $$
Chapter III · South Kivu · 5 places
South Kivu
A vast area of primary tropical forest dominated by two spectacular extinct volcanoes, Kahuzi and Biega, the park has a diverse and abundant fauna. One of the last groups of eastern lowland (graueri) gorillas (consisting of only some 250 individuals) lives at between 2,100 and 2,400 m above sea-level.
via Wikimedia CommonsChapter IV · Haut-Katanga Province · 3 places
Haut-Katanga Province
One of Africa's largest and least-visited parks spans the Kibara plateau, miombo woodland, and the lake-studded Kamalondo Depression. Zebras, savanna elephants, and endemic fish survive here, and conservation teams are slowly reopening the park to intrepid travelers.
✦ May to September, the southern dry season
Regions of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Every place in Democratic Republic of the Congo
40 places, one country.
Kinshasa
Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September, the dry season · $$
Goma
North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September or December to February, in drier periods · $$
Zongo Falls
Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ November to May, when the river carries the most water · $$
Virunga National Park
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June–October · $$
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June–October · $$
Mount Nyiragongo
North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September, for the most stable trekking conditions
Boyoma Falls
Tshopo Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ December to February, the region's relatively drier window
Upemba National Park
Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ May to September, the southern dry season
Kundelungu National Park
Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ May to October, when plateau tracks are dry
Lola ya Bonobo
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September · $
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Congo
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June–September
National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June–September · $
Marché Central de Kinshasa
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June–September · $
Maiko National Park
Tshopo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to August
Livingstone Falls
Pool Department, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Bukavu
South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Idjwi
South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Mount Nyamuragira
North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Lubumbashi
Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ May to September
Kisantu Botanical Garden
Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Matadi
Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Wagenia Fishermen
Tshopo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September
Mangroves National Park
Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo
✦ June to September