DR Congo

“Our anthropologist guide led us into a jungle clearing to meet a delegation from a local pygmy tribe – who were as fascinated by our ways as we were by theirs.”

  • Elephant calling in the jungle of Democratic Republic of Congo
  • People on their boats fishing in the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Gorilla lounging on a bamboo plant, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Colourful tree tops in the Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Chimpanzee eating bamboo in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Discover DR Congo

We’re not going to gloss over the fact that the Democratic Republic of Congo – formerly Zaire, now commonly called the DR Congo – has faced some of the same difficulties that befell many post-colonial African nations. But then again, if you’re thinking of an African adventure travel experience, we assume you’re not the type of person who equates adventure with two weeks on a sun-lounger sipping piña coladas and reading an airport novel.

The DR Congo is exactly the kind of untamed environment where Brown + Hudson shines. We know people who can get you smoothly to the far corners of the country, avoiding the headaches faced by most travellers to the region. Moreover, we know that the rewards for coming here far outweigh anything that might give you pause. The DR Congo is extraordinarily unusual and extraordinarily stunning in equal measure. 

Starting in the East, Virunga National Park is home to two of the most active volcanoes on the planet, Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira, whose fertile slopes are subject to periodic eruptions that send molten lava spilling down over nearby villages. We can arrange for experienced volcanologists to explain the surreal landscape before you.

In the park you’ll find Africa’s only glaciers atop the Rwenzori Mountains, or “Mountains of the Moon,” along with the largest population of mountain gorillas on the continent. We can provide exclusive access to these awe-inspiring animals, as well as to lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, travelling by helicopter and then on foot with a leading zoologist. This is one of the few remaining places where you can see these primates – and they can see you – in their natural habitat.

Elsewhere, you can immerse yourself in the most spectacular rainforest environment outside the Amazon – small wonder that this region is known as “the lungs of Africa.” And any ornithologists in your party will conclude that they’ve arrived in paradise: the DR Congo has the largest recorded number of unique bird species in Africa. 

To reach the remotest areas we’d suggest a trip down a portion of the Congo River; at more than 2,600 miles, it has plenty of portions to choose from. Travelling by private chartered speedboat and carrying the gear for tented camp, you’ll enjoy incredible encounters with everyday village life along the river – and then we’ll arrange a return by plane to the capital, Kinshasa. 

So forget your friends’ Heart of Darkness jokes. Come and experience the DR Congo, – the real Congo, not the other one nearby – and then you can write your own novella.

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To discuss what interests you about this or any other destination, call us: +44 203 358 0110

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