Things to do in Republic of the Congo

Walk silently through cathedral-like rainforest to observe habituated families of western lowland gorillas feeding and playing in their natural habitat.

Glide silently across a mirror-like forest clearing in a traditional dugout canoe, surrounded by forest elephants, sitatunga and rare birds.

Experience a close encounter with orphaned western lowland gorillas rehabilitated in a protected riverine forest north of Brazzaville.

Watch the Loufoulakari River plunge over a wide ledge in the Pool region, a scenic picnic spot reached after a short hike through savannah woodland.

Join locals for an evening walk on the elevated promenade overlooking the Congo River, with Kinshasa’s skyline shimmering across the water.

Navigate the bustling aisles of the city’s largest market, where vendors sell everything from wax-print fabrics and spices to fresh cassava and saka-saka.

Visit this Romanesque-Byzantine masterpiece completed in 1949, famous for its green-tiled roof, colourful mosaics and serene atmosphere in the heart of Brazzaville.

Explore the mausoleum and museum dedicated to the eponymous founder of Brazzaville, where the explorer’s remains are interred in a striking modern monument by the river.

Taste fresh fish steamed in banana leaves with chilli and lemon, a coastal speciality best enjoyed at an open-air table while watching the Atlantic surf.

Stretch out on golden sand under towering cliffs, popular with surfers and families seeking a breezy escape south of Pointe-Noire.

Immerse yourself in Congolese nightlife at an open-air bar with soukous music, grilled fish and a lively crowd that keeps going until dawn.

Attend the continent’s premier celebration of African music, held every two years, with huge open-air concerts, parades and workshops across the capital.

Try the national dish of pounded cassava leaves cooked in rich peanut sauce, served with grilled fish or smoked meat in the bustling Poto-Poto district.

Join a local cook in Brazzaville to prepare the iconic chicken in palm nut sauce, learning the secrets of proper foufou and spicy condiments.

Venture deep into primary forest with expert trackers to spend a magical hour with a silverback and his family, one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters.

Hide in a viewing platform overlooking a mineral-rich swamp where dozens of elephants, buffalo and giant forest hogs gather in the open.

Board the train from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville for a journey through vine-draped tunnels and over dizzying viaducts, completed in 1934 after immense human toil.

Wander the quiet streets of central Brazzaville to see early 20th-century administrative buildings, including the former Governor’s Palace, blending European and local styles.

Fly or trek to a remote freshwater lens deep in the swamp forests of the north, a haven for shoebills, herons and the legendary mokele-mbembe.

Hike down a narrow ravine sculpted by red cliffs, then visit the ruins of a colonial-era trading post and burial site in the suburb of Diosso.

Learn how the Jane Goodall Institute cares for orphaned chimpanzees on the forested coast, with close-up views of the juveniles in a semi-wild sanctuary.

Tackle forested trails through the mossy, mist-shrouded mountains that form the border with Gabon, looking for monkeys and rare butterflies.

Explore a coastal national park where freshwater lagoons meet the ocean, paddling past mangrove tunnels and spotting manatees, chimps and sea turtles.

Take a dip in the cool plunge pool of a multi-tiered cascade near Mouyondzi, its thunderous roar echoing off a lush wall of tropical vegetation.

Set out in a wooden canoe with a family of fishers to try your hand at landing the ferocious Goliath tiger fish, a river monster of the rapids.