Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is located in the heart of Africa (Central Africa) over an area of around 342,000 square kilometres.

This city is also by far the largest city in the country, followed by the cities of Pointe-Noire and Loubomo. Around 98 percent of the population of the Congo belong to the Bantu ethnic groups. The remaining two percent of the population are of European or Pygmy descent. The national languages of the country include Kikongo and Lingala. In addition, French is the official language of the Republic of the Congo. About half of the population are followers of traditional African nature religions, and the other half are Christians. There are also a few Muslims and followers of sects.

Highlights of the Republic of the Congo

The capital Brazzaville is considered the political, economic and also cultural centre of the Republic of the Congo. For this reason, visitors can discover numerous attractions in the city. These include, for example, the Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur from 1894, the National Museum or the Temple Mosque. Another notable place in the country is the port city of Pointe-Noire. Every evening a market takes place in this city, and the lively city centre also offers numerous bars and restaurants.

In the northwest of the country lies the Odzala National Park. In this 1,260-square-kilometre park, which is home to a tropical rainforest landscape, numerous animal species live, such as forest elephants, lions, leopards, bongos, chimpanzees and giant forest hogs. However, this national park gained worldwide fame thanks to the lowland gorillas living there.

Location and climate of the Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is located in Central Africa next to the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and the Angolan exclave of Cabinda. In addition, the Republic of the Congo borders the Atlantic Ocean with a 170-kilometre-long coastline.

The Republic of the Congo has a tropical climate, with two rainy seasons and one dry season. The first rainy season lasts from around January to May, and the second, which lasts from October to December, is significantly shorter. In the coastal region, there is usually the least rainfall. The dry season, on the other hand, lasts from June to October. During these months, the country is also best to travel, as during the rainy seasons many of the roads are often flooded due to the rain and cannot be driven on.

Entry and arrival

The Republic of the Congo can be reached from Paris Airport by direct flight, as a plane regularly flies from this airport to Brazzaville. However, there is no possibility of reaching this airport by direct flight from Germany. The international airport in Brazzaville is just a few kilometres from the city centre, so after landing, a quick transfer by local taxis is possible.

For entry into the Republic of the Congo, German tourists require a passport and a valid visa. Travellers must always apply for the visa before departure at the responsible embassy in Berlin. In addition, all incoming travellers require proof of vaccination against yellow fever. Only travellers under one year of age do not need to provide this proof of vaccination. All other travellers are also advised to carry this proof of vaccination with them throughout their stay, as checks are still possible in the country.