Republic of Congo Holidays

Given the rains in the Congo tend to arrive around October and continue through to April, the best weather is found outside these months. Despite this, the Republic of Congo can be considered a year-round destination if you don’t mind a bit of rain. It will always be hot and humid any time of the year.

When photographing wildlife, bear in mind you will be in humid rainforests, with a lot of moisture around so lenses can become foggy very quickly. It is best to keep a small, dry cloth in an old film canister or similar to counter this, along with putting plenty of silica gel packets in your camera bag. A good zoom lens is essential and a minimum of 300mm is recommended, but 400mm would be even better. Remember much of the photography in the forest will be in shadow, looking at dark subject matters so you will need to use a high ISO.

In the cities and markets, photographing people may not always be appropriate so please ask first and strike up a conversation to put people at ease. A wide-angle lens can be a great way to get a sense of place in the forest or a sense of scale in the markets.

In Odzala National Park, the standard of accommodation is excellent. Here, there are upmarket lodges, catering for those who prefer their safaris on a fly-in basis, with high levels of comfort and great food and wine after a day in the wilds (although make no mistake, step outside your room and you are very much in the heart of Africa). These camps have private bathrooms, hot showers and are very comfortable – reflected in the higher costs.

However, outside of Odzala and the capital, Brazzaville, there is almost no tourist infrastructure and any accommodation options are extremely basic.

Yes. The Republic of Congo is not to be confused with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. We have been running tours here for years and the safety of our clients is paramount. We remain in constant contact with government officials, tourism bodies, charities and lodge owners who update us on the political situation and the Congolese people are some of the most welcoming you will meet.

You are usually safer in the remote camps – given the difficulty in getting there – than you would be in the larger cities, although when in the cities, common sense prevails in terms of keeping an eye on your valuables as you would in any large city. The opening up of new, upmarket camps is a testament to the ongoing stability of the country.