Things to do in Republic of the Congo

25 things to do in Republic of the Congo

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Trek to see western lowland gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

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

  Odzala-Kokoua

• Paddle a pirogue through flooded bais in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park

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

  Nouabalé-Ndoki

• Visit the habituated gorillas at the Lesio-Louna Gorilla Reserve

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

  Lesio-Louna

• Marvel at the Loufoulakari Falls

  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.

  Pool

• Stroll along the Corniche riverfront promenade in Brazzaville at sunset

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

  Brazzaville

• Explore the colourful Marché Total in Brazzaville

  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.

  Brazzaville

• Admire the Basilique Sainte-Anne du Congo

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

  Brazzaville

• Pay respects at the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial

  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.

  Brazzaville

• Savour maboké at a seafront restaurant in Pointe-Noire

  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.

  Pointe-Noire

• Relax on the wild Côte Sauvage beach

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

  Pointe-Noire

• Dance the night away at a maquis in 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.

  Pointe-Noire

• Experience the FESPAM Pan-African Music Festival in Brazzaville

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

  Brazzaville

• Taste saka-saka at a traditional restaurant in Poto-Poto

  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.

  Brazzaville

• Learn to cook poulet à la moambe in a family home

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

  Brazzaville

• Go gorilla tracking in the Odzala-Kokoua wilderness

  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.

  Odzala-Kokoua

• Spot forest elephants at Mbeli Bai in Nouabalé-Ndoki

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

  Nouabalé-Ndoki

• Ride the historic Congo–Ocean Railway

  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.

  Pointe-Noire

• Examine colonial architecture in the Plateau district

  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.

  Brazzaville

• Birdwatch on the mystical Lake Tele

  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.

  Likouala

• Discover the Diosso Gorge and abandoned Boma

  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.

  Pointe-Noire

• Visit the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center

  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.

  Kouilou

• Hike in the Chaillu Massif highlands

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

  Niari

• Paddle through mangrove channels in Conkouati Lagoon

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

  Kouilou

• Stand under the Chutes de la Bouenza waterfalls

  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.

  Bouenza

• Go tiger fishing on the Congo River with local fishers

  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.

  Brazzaville