Republic of the Congo
Africa · Brazzaville · CG
The Republic of the Congo is the river country of central Africa, the smaller and quieter neighbour across the great river of its giant namesake, a land of the dense equatorial forest, the mighty waterways and the wide savannas that spreads from the Atlantic coast of the west to the rainforest of the north. It is a country of the deep contrast, where the lively capital of the Brazzaville on the banks of the Congo faces the skyline of its twin city across the water, and where the forest interiors of the north hold the chimpanzees, the gorillas and the elephants of the pristine wilderness. The oil of the coast and the timber of the interior fund the building of the modern nation, while the fishing, the markets and the music of the river shape its everyday soul. Undiscovered, friendly and profoundly wild, the Republic of the Congo is the hidden heart of the river basin.
Overview
Republic of the Congo is a country in Africa. Its capital is Brazzaville and the international dialling code is +242. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include French. Local currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). We also list 1 city in Republic of the Congo: Brazzaville.
The Capital of the Brazzaville and the Ferry of the River
The capital of the Brazzaville, the river city of the country that spreads along the north bank of the great stream of the Congo, is the political and the cultural heart of the republic, a green city of the wide boulevards, the basilica of the Sainte Anne and the colonial-era buildings of the French century. The riverfront of the capital, with the lively beach of the fishermen and the ferries and the pirogues that cross the water to the enormous sister-city of the Kinshasa on the far bank, is the daily theatre of the river life of the region. The markets of the city, the craft village of the artists of the Poto-Poto quarter and the music clubs of the evenings, with the rumba of the country, give the capital its warm, bustling, deeply musical character, and the views over the enormous river set the stage of the whole city.
The Forests of the North and the Apes of the Goualougo
The rainforest of the north of the country, the vast green wilderness of the basin of the Congo that stretches across the prefectures of the forest toward its borders, is the great natural heart of the republic and one of the last untouched forest realms of the planet. The parks of the region, the magnificent protected forests of the Odzala and the Nouabale-Ndoki, shelter the western lowland gorillas, the chimpanzees, the forest elephants and the bongo of the deep forest, and the famous clearings of the baï of the region, where the enormous gorilla families gather in the light of the openings, offer the extraordinary wildlife watching of the conservation. The excursions of the forest, following the elephant trails with the trackers of the camps and gliding on the rivers of the canopy world, give the visitor the rare, complete immersion in the greatest wilderness of the continent.
The Falls of the Loufoulakari and the Pools of the Region
The countryside around the capital of the country, the green river lands of the south that the tributaries of the Congo lace with the waterfalls and the pools, holds the accessible natural wonders of the republic. The falls of the Loufoulakari, the wide cascades of the river of the region that pour over the sandstone ledges into the dark pools of the surrounding forest, are the beloved picnic and swimming destination of the capital, reached by the short road and the trails of the area. The pools and the rapids of the nearby rivers, with the birdlife and the eagles of the streams, and the beaches of the islands of the Congo offshore, complete the gentle weekend world of the south of the country.
The Savanna of the South and the Coast of the Conkouati
The south of the country, the wide belt of the savanna and the coastal scrub that spreads between the forest of the interior and the Atlantic, holds the open bush country and the long, largely empty coastline of the republic. The coast of the region, from the port of the Pointe-Noire and its beaches of the city to the wild shoreline of the park of the Conkouati in the far south-west, carries the mangroves, the lagoons and the sea turtle nesting grounds of the marine world of the country. The park of the Conkouati, with its lakes, its hippos and its manatees of the coastal waters and its forest of the neighbouring peat lands, gives the extraordinary marine and wetland sanctuary of the region, and the beaches of the coast, empty of the crowds, offer the quiet Atlantic edge of the republic.
The River World of the Congo and the Islands of the Stream
The mighty river of the Congo, the great waterway that gives the country its identity and forms the border of the region with its giant eastern neighbour, runs the length of the republic and shapes the life of its peoples from the northern forest to the capital. The river world of the country, with the sandbanks, the islands and the channels of the deep water, is the highway of the region, and the boats and the pirogues carry the goods, the people and the fish of a whole water civilisation. The islands of the river, from the sandbars and the villages of the fishermen to the fishing camps that spread their nets on the beaches, hold the rhythm of the great stream, and the sunsets over the silhouette of the sister city across the water close the daily drama of the river capital.
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- Capital
- Brazzaville
- Currency
- Central African CFA franc (XAF)
- Languages
- French
- Calling code
- +242
- Internet TLD
- cg
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Republic of the Congo.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Republic of the Congo?
Brazzaville is the capital of Republic of the Congo, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Republic of the Congo?
You pay with Central African CFA franc (XAF) in Republic of the Congo. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Republic of the Congo?
The languages we list for Republic of the Congo are French. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Republic of the Congo?
The dialling code for Republic of the Congo is +242 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Republic of the Congo do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Republic of the Congo: Brazzaville (capital).