VISIT CONGO NOW

Africa’s Last Great Frontier

Vast rainforest. Rare wildlife. Living culture.

The journey begins here.

Why Congo?

There are places you visit.

And there are places that change you.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is nearly the size of Western Europe. It holds one of the largest remaining rainforests on Earth. It is home to three of the world’s great apes. Bonobos. Chimpanzees. Gorillas. The rare okapi tiptoes beneath the forest canopy.

In the eastern highlands lives the Grauer’s gorilla, the largest primate on Earth. Found only here. Nowhere else.

In Kahuzi-Biega National Park near Bukavu, you can trek through ancient forest and stand in the presence of these remarkable animals. Travelers often describe it as the most profound wildlife encounter of their lives.

Congo has a history that shaped continents. Explored along the Congo River. Written about in literature. Misunderstood for decades.

Now, it is ready to be experienced on its own terms.

This is Africa at its most raw and most beautiful.

bukavu travel lake kivu tour

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

Encounters You Will Never Forget

Gorilla Trekking in Bukavu

Wake beside Lake Kivu. Drive into the mountains. Enter rainforest alive with birds and filtered light.

Then you see them.

Grauer’s gorillas slinking through their habitat. Families interacting. Silverbacks watching with regal leadership.

Stay at Orchid’s Safari Club Hotel, Panorama Hotel, or Tchivanga Lodge along the lake. Evenings are peaceful. The water turns copper at sunset.

This is why many people come.

Lake Kivu and the Volcanoes of Goma

Travel by boat across Lake Kivu from Bukavu to Goma. The lake stretches wide and calm beneath volcanic peaks.

From Goma, view one of Africa’s active volcanoes from a safe distance. Walk across cooled lava fields that tell the story of recent eruptions.
In the city center, artisans shape metal by hand using techniques passed down for generations.

Stay at the five star Serena Hotel overlooking Lake Kivu.
Adventure. Culture. Landscape unlike anywhere else.

Kinshasa and the Bonobos

Kinshasa is energy. Music. Movement. History.

Visit the Bonobo Sanctuary and observe one of humanity’s closest relatives in a protected forest environment. Gentle. Social. Remarkably intelligent.

Explore the Botanical Gardens. Walk through the Congo National Museum and discover the depth of Congolese history and artistry.

In the evening, dine aboard a riverboat anchored along the Congo River. The current moves slowly past as the city lights shimmer.

Destinations

Explore Our Regions

Bukavu

Gateway to Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Lush hills and cool mountain air. Trek to see the Grauer’s gorilla. Visit Batwa communities and learn about forest traditions rooted in generations of stewardship. Stay along Lake Kivu and watch the sky shift from gold to deep blue.

Goma

Framed by volcanoes and lake. Dynamic and resilient. Experience local markets, traditional metalwork, and dramatic natural landscapes that remind you this land is alive.

Kinshasa

The capital city. Cultural heart of the nation. Visit the Bonobo Sanctuary, Botanical Gardens, and National Museum. Experience Congolese cuisine and vibrant spiritual communities that reflect the country’s diversity.

Idjwi Island

Green and peaceful. A sanctuary within Lake Kivu. Birdwatching. Forest walks. The chance to glimpse elusive blue monkeys. Simple guesthouses offer warm hospitality and authentic connection.

Lubumbashi

The country’s second largest city. A gateway to southern Africa and neighboring Zambia and Zimbabwe. Strong artistic communities. Colonial architecture. A growing culinary scene.

Featured Expeditions

Signature Journeys

The Eastern Highlands Journey

Bukavu. Goma. Kinshasa.
Gorilla trekking. Lake crossings. Volcano landscapes. Bonobo encounters. Cultural immersion.

Congo River Adventure

Journey along the Congo River and into remote rainforest. Travel by canoe. Visit communities along the riverbanks. Explore terrain few travelers have seen.

Designed for true explorers.

The Congo River Basin Expedition

Travel to Kisangani, once known as Stanleyville. Follow part of the historic Congo River route. Canoe near Boyoma Falls and watch fishermen work the currents as they have for generations.

TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE

Planning Your Visit

Visas can be arranged in advance with support from licensed Congolese tour operators.

International visitors typically arrive in Kinshasa or enter eastern Congo through Kigali, Rwanda. From Kigali, travelers continue by road or short regional flight to Kamembe and onward to Bukavu.

Flights commonly connect through Paris, Johannesburg, Cairo, Istanbul, Doha, and Dubai. From Kigali International Airport or Goma International Airport, travelers proceed to their selected destination within Congo.

Your travel advisor can assist with routing and logistics.

National parks operate under established conservation authorities and require visitors to travel with licensed guides.

Visit Congo Now works alongside experienced Congolese tourism partners who manage permits, security protocols, and regional planning.

Recommended Partner:
Kumbu Kumbu Tours

STAY CONNECTED

The Story Continues

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• Rainforest Coffee and fair trade initiatives

Congo is stepping forward.

Visit Congo Now.

FROM THE RAINFOREST

Taste Congo

High in the volcanic soils of eastern Congo, coffee grows slowly beneath rainforest canopy and mountain mist.

The result is exceptional.

Rich. Complex. Bright with notes of citrus and dark chocolate. Grown at elevation. Hand harvested. Sun dried. Carefully roasted to preserve the character of the land it comes from.

Congolese coffee is among Africa’s best kept secrets.

Through Visit Congo Now Fairtrade Coffee, we partner directly with local growers to bring this extraordinary coffee to the world while supporting sustainable livelihoods and rainforest stewardship.

Every cup carries the story of the forest.

Deep soil. Morning mist. Generations of farmers.

Taste Congo.

Promoting the beauty, tourism, and conservation of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Local knowledge. Real connections. Responsible travel.

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