Book your Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) safari with Zambezi Home / Countries / Democratic Republic of Congo Democratic Republic of Congo With tropical rainforests, glacial mountains and open savannahs, the Democratic Republic of Congo is a secretive wilderness sheltering a number of rare and endemic species including the sex loving bonobo and some spectacular scenery, although political unrest makes it a difficult place to visit. The exuberance of nature is seen in the forest bais which play host to the great numbers of forest elephant and lowland gorillas which populate the rainforests. Part of the large and fertile Congo Basin and the second largest tropical rainforest in the world, the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to many fantastic species of mammal, birds and plants that are scarce or non-existent elsewhere in Africa. It is considered to house the most ecologically diverse region on the planet, and is known world-wide for its links to the great apes and other important primates, as well as the classically “deep and dark” African jungles of legend and myth.

Beautiful and protective of her secrets, the DRC still guards many mysteries by a mixture of physically challenging access and a discouraging political situation – it is thought that many, many species of flora and fauna are yet to be discovered in her borders. Where The third largest country in Africa by area, the DRC has a large amount of neighbouring countries; the Central African Republic, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Angola, the Republic of Congo and Tanzania across the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It has a short 40 kilometre stretch of Southern Atlantic Ocean coast to the west of the country, and the capital, Kinshasha, is on the western banks of the Congo River. As a result of its position on the equator, the DRC experiences high rainfall and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms on earth! The rainforests are second in size only to the Amazon, as is the Congo River. The forests cover most of the low lying central basin of the river. Plateaus merge into savannah in the south and southwest, mountainous terrain in the west and dense grasslands in the north. Just in case this isn’t enough variety, high glaciated mountains line the extreme eastern region.

What With some incredibly rare species, as well as plenty of endemic ones, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the naturalist’s dream. Both species of chimpanzee can be found here, as well as mountain gorillas, okapi and rhino. This is the only place in the world that the bonobo chimpanzee can be seen in the wild (they’re also sometimes called Pygmy Chimpanzees). The okapi is an animal endemic to this region of Africa, and it looks like a zebra, although it is most closely related to the giraffe. Other animals that are also native to this region include the buffalo, forest elephant, manatee, amongst many others. These can all be found in the forests. There are a lot of birds in the area and bird enthusiasts will know of the DRC’s great reputation. Birds include the black-collared lovebird, blue-headed dove and handsome francolin. Due to Congo’s problems, many people are put off visiting the country and we perfectly understand this; safety is paramount. A possible alternative to bird safaris in the Congo is Northern Zambia’s Nchila Reserve, where a mouthwatering 30 species of Congo Basin endemic birds can be found.

Chimfunshi is also in Zambia, a chimpanzee sanctuary – the primates here have been rescued from poachers in the DRC and are not wild, but it’s worth a mention for the important conservation work they’re doing. Mahale Mountains or Gabon are good alternatives for primate safaris and gorilla tracking. Conflicts are often based on the enormous mineral reserves exposed by the Rift Valley, and are at least partly responsible for years and years of squabbling over the rights to the wealth. Colonial powers, internal factions and even other African governments have all been involved in exporting its natural resources with little regard to conservation – unfortunately the biggest downside to the amazing country that is the DRC. When The Democratic Republic of Congo can be visited at any time of the year as it enjoys a constant equatorial climate. The average day temperature is 24°C and the night is around 16-21°C. The dry season is between June and August, and the maximum rain falls between March-May and September-November. Why visit the DRC? This is the only place in the world to see the rare bonobo chimpanzee.

86% of the worlds remaining eastern lowland gorillas are found in the Kahusi-Biega National Park and a high percentage of the the world’s remaining mountain gorilla are found in three of the national parks, including Virunga National Park on the eastern border with Uganda. Numbers of remaining gorillas cannot be totally confirmed at present although there are some very brave conservationists attempting to protect the remaining few. How There are daily flights from Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines, and thrice weekly flights with South African Airways and Kenyan Airways. Air France and Air Brussels have regular flights. It is possible to get a ferry from Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo and a bus from Uganda. Select currency: There are currently no available safaris in this country. Ask an expert We've helped first-timers and seasoned travellers in Africa since 1995. We can help you take advantage of mainstream options. Better still we'll show you how and where to step off well beaten paths for the more interesting journeys. Drop a note right here... DRC — Lake Tanganyika Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo ( French : République démocratique du Congo) is a state located in Central Africa .

It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 71 million, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the eighteenth most populous nation in the world, and the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially Francophone country . The Democratic Republic of the Congo is often referred to as Congo. However, in order to distinguish it from the neighbouring Republic of the Congo to the west, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is sometimes referred to as DR Congo, DRC, or RDC (from its French abbreviation), or is called Congo-Kinshasa after the capital of Kinshasa (in contrast to Congo-Brazzaville for its neighbour). It also borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda , Rwanda , and Burundi in the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; the Atlantic Ocean to the west; and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the east. The country has access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (25 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly 9 km wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea .

The Second Congo War , beginning in 1998, devastated the country, involved seven foreign armies and is sometimes referred to as the "African World War". Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continues in the east of the country. In eastern Congo, the prevalence of rape and other sexual violence is described as the worst in the world.The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II , killing 5.4 million people since 1998. The vast majority died from malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in chronological order, the Congo Free State , Belgian Congo , Congo-Léopoldville , Congo-Kinshasa, and Zaire (Zaïre in French). Though it is located in the Central African UN subregion , the nation is also economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Environmental and geographic challenges The Democratic Republic of Congo is situated at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa and is bounded by (clockwise from the southwest) Angola , the South Atlantic Ocean, the Republic of Congo , the Central African Republic , South Sudan , Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi , Tanzania across Lake Tanganyika , and Zambia . The country lies between latitudes 6°N and 14°S , and longitudes 12° and 32°E . It straddles the Equator , with one-third to the North and two-thirds to the South. The size of Congo, 2,345,408 square kilometres (905,567 sq mi), is slightly greater than the combined areas of Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. As a result of its equatorial location, the Congo experiences high precipitation and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms in the world. The annual rainfall can total upwards of 80 inches (2,000 mm) in some places, and the area sustains the Congo Rainforest, the second largest rain forest in the world (after that of the Amazon ).

This massive expanse of lush jungle covers most of the vast, low-lying central basin of the river, which slopes toward the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This area is surrounded by plateaus merging into savannas in the south and southwest, by mountainous terraces in the west, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo River in the north. High, glaciated mountains are found in the extreme eastern region. The tropical climate has also produced the Congo River system which dominates the region topographically along with the rainforest it flows through, though they are not mutually exclusive. The name for the Congo state is derived in part from the river. The river basin (meaning the Congo River and all of its myriad tributaries) occupies nearly the entire country and an area of nearly 1,000,000 km2 (390,000 sq mi). The river and its tributaries (major offshoots include the Kasai , Sangha , Ubangi , Aruwimi , and Lulonga ) form the backbone of Congolese economics and transportation. They have a dramatic impact on the daily lives of the people.

The sources of the Congo are in the highlands and mountains of the East African Rift , as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru . The river flows generally west from Kisangani just below Boyoma Falls , then gradually bends southwest, passing by Mbandaka , joining with the Ubangi River , and running into the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). Kinshasa and Brazzaville are on opposite sides of the river at the Pool. Then the river narrows and falls through a number of cataracts in deep canyons (collectively known as the Livingstone Falls ), and then running past Boma into the Atlantic Ocean. The river also has the second-largest flow and the second-largest watershed of any river in the world (trailing the Amazon in both respects). The river and a 45 km wide strip of land on its north bank provide the country's only outlet to the Atlantic. The previously mentioned Great Rift Valley , in particular the Eastern Rift, plays a key role in shaping the Congo's geography. Not only is the northeastern section of the country much more mountainous, but due to the rift's tectonic activities, this area also experiences volcanic activity, occasionally with loss of life.

The geologic activity in this area also created the famous African Great Lakes , three of which lie on the Congo's eastern frontier: Lake Albert (known previously as Lake Mobutu), Lake Edward , and Lake Tanganyika . The Rift Valley has exposed an enormous amount of mineral wealth throughout the south and east of the Congo, making it accessible to mining. Cobalt, copper, cadmium, industrial and gem-quality diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, and coal are all found in plentiful supply, especially in the Congo's southeastern Katanga region. On 17 January 2002 Mount Nyiragongo erupted in Congo, with the lava running out at 40 mph (64 km/h) and 50 yards (46 m) wide. One of the three streams of extremely fluid lava flowed through the nearby city of Goma , killing 45 and leaving 120,000 homeless. Four hundred thousand people were evacuated from the city during the eruption. The lava poisoned the water of Lake Kivu , killing fish.

Only two planes left the local airport because of the possibility of the explosion of stored petrol. The lava passed the airport but ruined the runway, entrapping several airplanes. Six months after the 2002 eruption, nearby Mount Nyamulagira also erupted. Mount Nyamulagira also erupted in 2006 and again in January 2010. Both of these active volcanos are located within the boundaries of Virunga National Park . PRODAP National Coordination Unit PRODAP is one of the components of the Lake Tanganyika Regional Integrated Development and Management Programme (LTRIDMP), which includes priority interventions identified in the Strategic Action Programme and the Framework Fisheries Management Plan for the lake. The LTRIDMP is based on the needs expressed by the riparian communities and is consistent with the objectives of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers of the four riparian countries. Supporting partners for the LTRIDMP include the African Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility, the Nordic Development Fund, FAO, the World Conservation Union and the United Nations Environment Programme.

UNDP/GEF Project Management Unit (PMU) Uvira is situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Kivu Province. Socio-economic development in the region has been greatly disrupted due to prolonged and tragic ethnic conflicts. High densities of people have concentrated in the Uvira region during conflict periods. In 2008, the region counted 452,360 inhabitants, with an average density of 110 people per km2. Poverty is rampant, and many people have sought to maximise short-term benefits of natural resource use as a survival strategy. Hillsides in the region are very steep, and with increasing human population densities they have become heavily deforested with extensive soil erosion as a result. Major flash floods have carved steep channels through the Uvira catchment area, and sedimentation has had significant negative effects on aquatic biodiversity. The UNDP/GEF Project on Lake Tanganyika works together with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) to take a holistic approach to water resource management in the Uvira catchment area, embracing wide stakeholder participation.

PMU DRC in action The DRC Component of the UNDP/GEF Project on Lake Tanganyika focuses on strengthening government and local institutions with capacity to improve catchment management, and offering tools to farming communities in the region in order to adopt sustainable and restorative forestry and woodlot practices. The project furthermore promotes the uptake of fuel-efficient stoves and alternative energy sources. The Project Management Unit (PMU) was established in Uvira in September 2010, and substantial progress has been made since then. Three sub-catchments were selected and characterised with support from the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Campaigns were conducted to raise local awareness about deforestation and forest management issues in relation to local livelihoods and conservation of biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika. Training was conducted on best agricultural and agroforestry practices and soil management techniques, as well as on bushfire prevention approaches. So far, over 25,000 agroforestry trees have been planted on selected sites, covering nearly 200 ha. In addition 32 ha of trees were planted in old forest management areas.

The second planting season was officially opened on 17 September 2011, and met with great enthusiasm from the local community. To ensure sustainability, the PMU is developing sub-catchment management plans and monitoring systems together with the government institute Centre de Recherche Hydrobiologique. Document Actions 4G Africa – Imagine Africa, Connected! » Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 29 May 2013 Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République démocratique du Congo), sometimes referred to as DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa or the DRC, is a country located in central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 75 million,[1] the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the nineteenth most populous nation in the world, the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially Francophone country.

It borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi in the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; the Republic of the Congo, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the east.[1] The country has access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (25 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly 9 km wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. It has the second-highest total Christian population in Africa. The Second Congo War, beginning in 1998, devastated the country and is sometimes referred to as the “African world war” because it involved nine African nations and twenty armed groups. Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continued in the east of the country in 2007. There, the prevalence of rape and other sexual violence is described as the worst in the world. The war is the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people since 1998.

More than 90% were not killed in combat. They died from diseases that were both preventable and treatable (malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition) aggravated by displaced populations living in unsanitary and over-crowded conditions that lacked access to shelter, water, food and medicine. Forty seven percent of those deaths were children under five.[7] Until today the ongoing conflicts excerbates the exhaustion of the country’s great agricultural potential. This is one reason for a high mortality rate and prevalence of malnutrition. Conflict for control of the mineral wealth is behind some of the most violent atrocities. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in chronological order, the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Republic of the Congo, and Zaire (Zaïre in French). Though it is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is also economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Congo is situated at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa and is bounded by (clockwise from the southwest) Angola, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania across Lake Tanganyika, and Zambia. The country lies between latitudes 6°N and 14°S, and longitudes 12° and 32°E. It straddles the Equator, with one-third to the North and two-thirds to the South. The size of Congo, 2,345,408 square kilometres (905,567 sq mi), is slightly greater than the combined areas of Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. As a result of its equatorial location, the Congo experiences high precipitation and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms in the world. The annual rainfall can total upwards of 2,000 millimetres (80 in) in some places, and the area sustains the Congo Rainforest, the second largest rain forest in the world (after the Amazon).

This massive expanse of lush jungle covers most of the vast, low-lying central basin of the river, which slopes toward the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This area is surrounded by plateaus merging into savannas in the south and southwest, by mountainous terraces in the west, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo River in the north. High, glaciated mountains are found in the extreme eastern region (Rwenzori Mountains). The tropical climate has also produced the Congo River system which dominates the region topographically along with the rainforest it flows through, though they are not mutually exclusive. The name for the Congo state is derived in part from the river. The river basin (meaning the Congo River and all of its myriad tributaries) occupies nearly the entire country and an area of nearly 1,000,000 km2 (390,000 sq mi). The river and its tributaries (major offshoots include the Kasai, Sangha, Ubangi, Aruwimi, and Lulonga) form the backbone of Congolese economics and transportation. They have a dramatic impact on the daily lives of the people.

The sources of the Congo are in the Albertine Rift Mountains that flank the western branch of the East African Rift, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru. The river flows generally west from Kisangani just below Boyoma Falls, then gradually bends southwest, passing by Mbandaka, joining with the Ubangi River, and running into the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). Kinshasa and Brazzaville are on opposite sides of the river at the Pool. Then the river narrows and falls through a number of cataracts in deep canyons (collectively known as the Livingstone Falls), and then running past Boma into the Atlantic Ocean. The river also has the second-largest flow and the second-largest watershed of any river in the world (trailing the Amazon in both respects). The river and a 45 km wide strip of land on its north bank provide the country’s only outlet to the Atlantic. The previously mentioned Albertine Rift plays a key role in shaping the Congo’s geography. Not only is the northeastern section of the country much more mountainous, but due to the rift’s tectonic activities, this area also experiences volcanic activity, occasionally with loss of life.

The geologic activity in this area also created the famous African Great Lakes, three of which lie on the Congo’s eastern frontier: Lake Albert (known during the Mobutu era as Lake Mobutu Sese Seko), Lake Edward (known during the Amin era as Lake Idi Amin Dada), and Lake Tanganyika. Lake Edward and Lake Albert are connected by the Semliki River. The Rift Valley has exposed an enormous amount of mineral wealth throughout the south and east of the Congo, making it accessible to mining. Cobalt, copper, cadmium, industrial and gem-quality diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, and coal are all found in plentiful supply, especially in the Congo’s southeastern Katanga region. On 17 January 2002 Mount Nyiragongo erupted in Congo, with the lava running out at 40 mph (64 km/h) and 50 yards (46 m) wide. One of the three streams of extremely fluid lava flowed through the nearby city of Goma, killing 45 and leaving 120,000 homeless.

Four hundred thousand people were evacuated from the city during the eruption. The lava poisoned the water of Lake Kivu, killing fish. Only two planes left the local airport because of the possibility of the explosion of stored petrol. The lava passed the airport but ruined the runway, entrapping several airplanes. Six months after the 2002 eruption, nearby Mount Nyamulagira also erupted. Mount Nyamulagira also erupted in 2006 and again in January 2010. Rank Democratic Republic of Congo - Mining Expat Africa Payroll Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country located in central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 75 million the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the nineteenth most populous nation in the world, the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially Francophone country.

It borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi in the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; the Republic of the Congo, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the east. The country has access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (25 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly 9 km wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. National Language of the DRC is French. the currency in DRC is the Congolese Franc (CDF) (1 EUR=1196CDF) Please visit DRC Mining Jobs Portal for employment opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo Both visa and work permits are required by anyone entering the DRC with the intention to work. Expat Africa Payroll through his network of local partners is able to offer the Contractor a global immigration solution including: o Business Visa Expat Africa Payroll ensures that the contractor is fully compliant to work in the country and seeks all avenues in ensuring that the specific requirements of the country are met.

Expat Payroll Africa will ensure that all requirements are fulfilled and that the contractor is fully aware of any developments needed to ensure a successful acquisition of the business visa. Work permit: Applying for a work permit may be done whilst in the country or before the contractor is deployed in the said location. Expat Africa Payroll ensures that the contractor obtains the work permit in the correct way to ensure that he/she is not disrupted by local authorities in any form once the work process has commenced. A work permit may take a few weeks to secure but Expat Africa Payroll ensures that the work permit application process is done in the most efficient way possible and that all requirements are adhered to, including and informing the contractor and end user of any additional requirements that may be needed. Income tax: 30% on income. Social security tax employer: 5% Social security tax employee: 3.5% VAT: 16% on Value added Expat Africa Payroll can provide the Contractor with a lot of “in-country” services such as assistance in opening a bank account, in finding an accommodation, car hire, driving licence conversion, local mobile phone. Expat Africa Payroll can also arrange for the Contractor a medical and repatriation insurance.

The insurance is very flexible and the cover will depend on the requirements of the Contractor, and his family. For more information, do not hesitate to contact Expat Africa Payroll: Email: info [at] expatafricapayroll [dot] com Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Capital city: Kinshasa GDP per capita: 231 in 2011 GDP current US$: 16 in 2011 Ease of Business Ranking: 181 in 2013 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République démocratique du Congo), sometimes referred to as DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa or the DRC, is a country located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 75 million, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the nineteenth most populous nation in the world, the fourth most populous nation in Africa, as well as the most populous officially Francophone country.

It borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi in the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; the Republic of the Congo, the Angolan exclave of Cabinda, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the east. The country has access to the ocean through a 40-kilometre (25 mi) stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly 9 km wide mouth of the Congo River which opens into the Gulf of Guinea. It has the second-highest total Christian population in Africa. The Second Congo War, beginning in 1998, devastated the country and is sometimes referred to as the "African world war" because it involved nine African nations and twenty armed groups. Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continued in the east of the country in 2007. There, the prevalence of rape and other sexual violence is described as the worst in the world. The war is the world's deadliest conflict since the Chinese Civil War, killing 5.4 million people since 1998. More than 90% were not killed in combat.

They died from diseases that were both preventable and treatable (malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition) aggravated by displaced populations living in unsanitary and over-crowded conditions that lacked access to shelter, water, food and medicine. Forty seven percent of those deaths were children under five. Until today the ongoing conflicts excerbates the exhaustion of the country's great agricultural potential. This is one reason for a high mortality rate and prevalence of malnutrition. Conflict for control of the mineral wealth is behind some of the most violent atrocities. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in chronological order, the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Republic of the Congo, and Zaire (Zaïre in French). Though it is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is also economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Source: Wikipedia Bellafric Expeditions | R.D. Congo: Culture, Okapi, Pygmies Culture, Okapi, Pygmies Call us today: +254-722-505588 R.D.

Congo: Culture, Okapi, Pygmies There are an estimation population of about 66 million, comprising of 242 ethnic groups speaking some 450 local dialects, out of these, only four have the status of national languages:- Kiswahili, Lingala, Tshiluba and Kikongo. French is the official language. It has a small lengh of Atlantic coastline. The country covers an area of 2 345 410 km². Kinshasa is the capital city, formaly known as Léopoldville. The D.R. Congo is situated at the heart of the west-central portion of sub-saharan Africa. The country borders clock wise from southwest by Angola, Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia across lake Tanganyika. The country straddles the Equator, with one-third to the north and two-third to the south. The D.R. Congo sustains the second largest rain forest in the world, after the Amazon, which covers more than half of the country.

This massive expanse of lush jungle covers most of the vast, low-lying central basin of the river, which slopes toward the Atlantic ocean in the west. Its area is surrounded by plateaus, merging into savannas in the south and southwest, and by mountainous terraces in the west, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo river in the north. High, glaciated Rwenzori mountains and the Albertine Rift montane forests are found in the extreme eastern region. In the impressive Virunga mountain range, there are eight volcanoes, of which two the “Nyiracongo and Nyamulagira” are still active. The D.R. Congo experiences the largest amounts of precipitation 2 032 mm (80 inches) and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms in the world. The geologic activity of the Great Rift Valley created the famous African great lakes: Tanganyika, Edward and Albert which lie on the eastern frontier. The country has enormous amount of mineral wealth: cobalt, copper, gold, silver, diamonds, zinc, manganese, uranium, radium, bauxite, coal, iron ore, cadmium, tin.

Agriculturally rich in: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, wood products etc. The rainforests of D.R. Congo contain great biodiversity including many rare and endemic species. It is the only country in the world inhabited by two distinct species of chimpanzee in the wild; the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the bonobo also known as pygmy chimpanzee (Pan paniscus), along with gorillas, as well the okapi are the native species classified as endangered by World Conservation Union. Five of the D.R.Congo national parks are listed by UNESCO as the World Heritage sites: Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga, Maiko and Virunga national parks and the Okapis wildlife sanctuary in Epulu. Destinations Info 10 Facts: Democratic Republic of the Congo 10 Facts: Democratic Republic of the Congo by Henno Kruger · June 21, 2010 The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country on the African continent.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo borders the Central African Republic and Sudan to the North, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi in the East, Zambia and Angola to the South, the Republic of the Congo to the West and is separated from Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika in the East. This country has been selected as the 10 Facts topic today on Running Wolf’s Rant. Watch this space for regular updates in the Facts , Technology , Music and Movies categories. If I’ve left out anything important about this country, please comment on this post. Here are some facts about the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly known as the Congo Free State, the Belgian Congo, Congo-Leopoldville, Congo-Kinshasa and Zaire. The current name came into effect in 1997. To distinguish it from the neighboring Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is often referred to as the DRC. French is the only official language in the DRC. Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili and Tshiluba are recognized as regional languages (although there are an estimated total of 242 languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The DRC has an estimated population of 68 million people. The capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Kinshasa (founded in 1881 and formerly known as Leopoldville). The city has an estimated population of 10 million people. In 1974, Kinshasa hosted the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, in which Ali defeated Foreman to regain the World Heavyweight title. The DRC was a Belgian colony (Leopoldville was named after King Leopold of Belgium) and gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Joseph Kabila is the current president of the DRC, he took over after his father was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in the first multi-party elections in the country in 2006 (the first one since 1965). Mobutu Sese Seko was the president of Zaire (now known as the DRC) from 1965 until 1997 and was a US Cold War ally.

Mobutu institutionalized corruption to prevent political rivals from challenging his control, leading to an economic collapse in 1996. Although the DRC is located in the Central African UN subregion, the nation is economically and regionally affiliated with Southern Africa as a member of the Southern African Development Community (or SADC). There you have it. I’m sure that I might have left something important out. Watch this space for regular updates in the 10 Facts section of the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant. A special page is currently active for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, feel free to check it out. The following two tabs change content below.

Congo Gorilla Tracking | Tours to Congo for Gorilla Trekking, Lowland gorilla safaris in Congo | Tour Virunga Park in Congo for Gorillas ABOUT SAFARIS IN CONGO NATIONAL PARKS AND GORILLAS (KAUZI BIEGA AND VIRUNGA PARKS) The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire is the third largest country in Africa by area, the DRC has a large amount of neighbouring countries; the Central African Republic, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Angola, the Republic of Congo and Tanzania across the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It has a short 40 kilometre stretch of Southern Atlantic Ocean coast to the west of the country, and the capital, Kinshasha, is on the western banks of the Congo River. As a result of its position on the equator, the DRC experiences high rainfall and has the highest frequency of thunderstorms on earth! The rainforests are second in size only to the Amazon, as is the Congo River. The forests cover most of the low lying central basin of the river. Plateaus merge into savannah in the south and southwest, mountainous terrain in the west and dense grasslands in the north.

Just in case this isn't enough variety, high glaciated mountains line the extreme eastern region. The River Congo itself is 7,078 km long (2,733 miles), and is navigable for almost 1440km. Its basin contains the planet's largest rain forest, the Congo Rain Forest. This same River basin occupies the central and northwestern parts of the country, while further south, savanna grasslands extend to the border with Angola. In the east, the land rises into a plateau with heights over 5,000 ft., and then into the higher volcanic mountains of the Great Rift Valley. Southeast, the land rises into the peaks of the Shaba Plateau. A number of lakes can be found in the country's eastern borders, including Lakes Albert, Edward (shared with Uganda), Kivu (shared with Rwanda), Mweru and Tanganyika (shared with Tanzania and Burundi). With some incredibly rare species, as well as plenty of endemic ones, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the naturalist's dream. Both species of chimpanzee can be found here, as well as mountain gorillas, okapi and rhino.

This is the only place in the world that the bonobo chimpanzee can be seen in the wild (they're also sometimes called Pygmy Chimpanzees). The okapi is an animal endemic to this region of Africa, and it looks like a zebra, although it is most closely related to the giraffe. Other animals that are also native to this region include the buffalo, forest elephant, manatee, amongst many others. These can all be found in the forests. Congo is a land of wonder and amazement. At 2,267,600 sq. km Congo DRC is the second largest country on the African continent after Sudan. Divided into 10 provinces and one city (ville i.e. Kinshasa), the Land Divisions include; Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale and Sud-Kivu. With a population of 67 million (Kinshasa the Capital 9.3 million), Congo is among the most populated countries in Africa only overtaken by Nigeria, but compared to its land size, it is, probably well populated.

The country is still the ancestral homeland for over 200 ethnic groups, most descended from individual kingdoms established long before the European colonialists arrived around 1870. The Democratic Republic of Congo can be visited at any time of the year as it enjoys a constant equatorial climate. The average day temperature is 24ï¿½C and the night is around 16-21ï¿½C. The dry season is between June and August, and the maximum rain falls between March-May and September-November. Congo is the only place in the world to see the rare bonobo chimpanzee. 86% of the worlds remaining eastern lowland gorillas are found in the Kahusi-Biega National Park and a high percentage of the the world's remaining mountain gorilla are found in three of the national parks, including Virunga National Park on the eastern border with Uganda. Numbers of remaining gorillas cannot be totally confirmed at present although there are some very brave conservationists attempting to protect the remaining few. We offer suggested itineraries, but you can vary them to suit your needs.

Let us know what your budget is and we will do our best to design a trip that gives you the experiences you want within the budget you set. Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Capital : Kinshasa Population : 67,800,000 (as of 2011) Area : 2,345,000km² Religion : Christianity, Islam Introduction The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is located in Central Africa. The country borders the Republic of Congo to the west, the Central African Republic and Sudan to the north, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda to the east, Angola and Zambia to the south, and Tanzania (across Lake Tanganyika) in the east. The country had been called "the Republic of Zaire" until 1997. The weather is tropical. Since independence from Belgium in 1960, the DR Congo has had an unstable era due to the Congo Crisis, civil wars, and international conflicts involving neighboring countries. In 2006, a National Assembly Election was held and a new Constitution came into effect.

DR Congo is a mineral-rich country that includes notable deposits of cobalt, copper, cadmium, diamond, gold and silver. It also has offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Guinea. How these natural resources will be used for reconstruction of the republic has yet to be determined. Performance of DNC We received an order for "The Project for Extension Work of Ngaliema Water treatment Plant Kinshasa" in November 2010. It was our first project in the Democratic Republic of Congo and we built a new water treatment plant of capacity 30,000 m³ / day in the existing Ngaliema plant in this project. In 2013, we received an order for "The Project for Renovation of National Vocational Training School in Kinshasa" a construction project. We executed the renovation work for facilities and equipment of vocational training school in district of Kinshasa in the city of Kinshasa. It was completed in November, 2014. Name of Project

Question: Which country has borders with the Central African Republic, Sudan, Zambia, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi (with Tanzania across Lake Tanganyika)?
Answer: Democratic Republic of the Congo