THE COUNTRY
The Kingdom of Kongo ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries.
European exploration of the Congo Basin in the 1870s brought the Congo territory under Belgian control.
The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960. The country’s name was changed to Zaire in 1971 and to Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997.
- Kinshasa;
- Lola Ya Bonobo;
- Kahuzi Biega National Park;
- Nyiragongo Volcano;
- Virunga National Park;
- Lake Kivu
- Private Jets, Helicopters and Airliners
- Finest Onboard Catering
- Ground Transport and Yachts
- Luxury Villa & House Rentals
- Local Guide & 24/7 Assistance
- Customized Global Services
TO BE KNOWN
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The State's CapitalKinshasa
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Time ZoneUTC +1
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Telephone Code243
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Total Area2 344 858 Km2
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Population108 407 721 (2022 est.)
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Main LanguagesFrench, Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
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CurrencyCongolese francs (CDF)
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GDP Per CapitaUSD 1100
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Airports198
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Heliports1
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator -wet season (April - October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)
More than 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic)
Eat with your right hand and avoid holding bowls or utensils with the left. When eating from a shared bowl only, use the part of the bowl directly in front of you. It is very impolite to start eating before the oldest man has been served and has started eating.
Poulet à la moambe — a savory chicken dish made by combining chicken, spices, and palm butter to create a stew-like consistency
Very poor, large, natural resource-rich sub-Saharan country; possesses the world’s second largest rainforest; increasing Chinese extractive sector trade; massive decrease in government investments; increasing current account deficit and public debts
Location
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
