Congo Holiday

The Republic of the Congo (ROC) is a small, exotic African nation with beaches, jungles and a host of fascinating wildlife.

Also known as Congo-Brazzaville, or Braza, the ROC is far smaller than the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and much more peaceful.

The former French colony of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo with independence in 1960 and borders the South Atlantic Ocean in western Africa, between Angola and Gabon.

The small nation covers 342,000sq km and has 169km of coastline, with a population of just below four million. It is known largely for its excellent national parks, which are home to endangered animals such as gorillas and elephants.

The Republic of the Congo has been dominated by Bantu tribes throughout its history and was a collection of separate kingdoms that traded with one another until French explorers arrived at the end of the nineteenth century. First peopled by Pygmies, it was largely populated during Bantu migrations.

Annexed as a French colony in the 1880s as part of French Equatorial Africa, Brazzaville became the symbolic capital of Free France during the Second World War.

Since independence, the Republic of the Congo was under Marxist rule until 1990 when a democratically elected government took power. A period of political tension followed and a short civil war broke out in 1997. A final peace accord was reached in March 2003 and the country has become considerably more calm, though widespread poverty still exists.

The capital Brazzaville is bustling and its pretty French architecture and river port make it a pleasant place to visit. Relatively safe, it is also home to busy bars and nightclubs, particularly in the PotoPoto district. Any visit to the city must involve a trip to the colourful markets, where residents can buy everything from food and wine, to bright fabrics, bats and even charms.

Congo's village economy is largely based on local agriculture and handicrafts, with regional traditions kept alive and a slow pace of life outside the cities.

The resort of Pointe-Noire has sandy beaches, bars and some excellent seafood restaurants. Popular with ex pats working in the region, the beach is safe, stunning and the resort offers an array of activities, from windsurfing to hang-gliding and deep sea fishing.

Most visitors to Congo also head for the Odzala National Park and take a safari through the stunning landscape to watch the myriad species of birds and animals in their native habitat.

Hotels in the Congo tend to be basic, with the tourist industry still very much in its infancy. Restaurants largely serve very cheap local dishes, although there are various places springing up in the major towns and cities to cater to visitors.

The climate in Congo is tropical, with a rainy season between March and June and persistently high temperatures and humidity.

Direct flights to Congo from the UK are few and far between, though connections are available from Gabon, Cameroon, South Africa and Angola. Very few travel companies arrange tours and most tourists will be required to make a lot of their own arrangements for travel, with erratic taxis, buses, internal flights and barges all available once in the country.

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