Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The city is located on the Congo River. With a population of 10,076,099 million residents, Kinshasa is Africa’s third largest (after Lagos and Cairo). A significant part of the city’s land is undeveloped, and the urban area only occupies a small section in the far western end of the province.
French-speaking Kinshasa city is both a city and a province in status and is divided into four districts which are further divided into 24 municipalities. It is still a major cultural and intellectual centre for the country, with a flourishing community of musicians and artists. It is also the country’s major industrial centre, processing many of the natural products brought from the interior.
Climate
Kinshasa features a warm and tropical climate. There is a lengthy rainy season which spans from October through late May. During the rainy season there is also the possibility of sudden and sometimes violent thunderstorms. The dry season runs from June through September and is slightly cooler than the wet season, though temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year. The best time to take Kinshasa flights is between June and September.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Kinshasa is relatively expensive. However, the city has a wide range of major hotel chains and independent hotels. Each has its own charm and visitors can find accommodation in accordance with his/her specifications as they range from 2 star- 5 star hotels. The guests can ensure warm hospitality where as in the elite class hotels tourists get high class service and facility with warmth hospitality. Top Kinshasa hotels include Hotel Venus de Kinshasa, Hotel Estoril, Hotel de la Gombe, Hotel Daito, Hotel Memling, Hotel Ixoras, Grand Hotel Kinshasa and Flats Hotel Luntu. Hotels Memling and the Grand practically have the monopoly and their rates can be in excess of $300 @ night plus breakfast.
Shopping
Kinshasa is the perfect place to shop for some of the brilliant art works of Congo. Those taking cheap flights to Kinshasa find here many places where they can go for buying at reasonable rates. Shopping in Kinshasa will be an altogether different experience. The trend of hand painting has survived flights to Kinshasa through these centuries as the local people have relentlessly protected their indigenous culture since last many centuries. Shopping in Kinshasa will be incomplete without a visit to the shops of the copper artists. There are many government shops and small boutiques that are famous for copper.
Getting Around
Driving in Kinshasa is one of the most challenging experiences. The roads are full of deep potholes and not well maintained. Officially there is a city bus and it has been bolstered recently by some older buses from Belgium being gifted to Kinshasa to improve the routes. There are taxis that ply set routes between embarkation stations. The cost between these various points is usually around 350 Francs. If one’s destination is through multiple points, different taxis will need to be boarded. For foreigners, it is ideal to have a local guide to move around the city.
Alternatively, at much higher rates, you can hire cars from transport operators such as Ave Batetela, Avis and Gombé. They are available for single runs or can be hired by the day. Rates for these taxis vary widely and if one does not appear to be of African descent, there will also be an automatic premium added.
Getting There & Away
There are connecting flights to Kinshasa direct from Paris, France and a huge array of African cities, with several international couriers including Kenyan Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian airlines and Royal air Maroc (each have a number of flights per week from their hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Casablanca). Flights to Europe are with Air France (Paris) and Brussels Airlines (Brussels). Travelers can also ferry between Kinshasa and Brazzaville-Congo across the Congo River. Travelling overland, particularly from Uganda or Rwanda, is volatile. We recommend liaising with your embassy while preparing for your Kinshasa travel.

DR Congo wildlife; National Parks in DR Congo; DR Congo wildlife tour packages, Gorilla safaris DR Congo; DR Congo Wildlife Safaris; Wildlife National Parks of DR Congo; Wildlife In DR Congo
The variety of wildlife in Democratic Republic of Congo is incredibly diverse and being able to view these animals and birds in their natural habitat is an experience of a lifetime. Several adventure travellers travel to DR Congo wanting to see the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. The chance of spotting a tiger greatly depends on the size of the national park and the rare mountain gorillas, and is higher at some parks than others.
The following are the major protected areas where wildlife safaris can be taken from the Democratic Republic of Congo;

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Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Parc National du Kahuzi-Biega) Kahuzi-Biega National Park is nestled 50 km west of Bukavu town; adjacent to the western side of Lake Kivu in Kivu region in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Park is most known for its dominant rolling landscape in the west that forms a belt between the lowland and highland altitude forests. The park was established to protect 200-300 Eastern Lowland gorillas that reside mostly in the dense forests at 2,100m-2,400m. More Info……. Salonga National Park (Parc National de Salonga) Designated a National Park on 30th November 1970, Salonga National Park (Le Parc National de la Salonga) spanning over 36,560 sq km is the world’s second largest tropical rainforest national park and the largest in Africa. It lies isolated in an extensive area of the central Congo River basin about 100 km south of Boende, midway between Kinshasa and Kisangani. More Info……… Virunga National Park (Parc National des Virunga) Virunga National Park is situated in the north eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Established in 1925, Virunga Park covers an area of 7,900 sq km and boasts an immense diversity of habitats. The Park is part of the 434 sq km stretch that makes up the Virunga Gorilla Conservation Area that also has other Gorilla habitat areas of Volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in Rwanda and Uganda respectively. More Info……… Kundelungu National Park (Parc National de Kundelungu) Situated in the Katanga Province in DR Congo, Kundelungu National Park is one of the top Congo safaris destinations. This park comprises of grasslands, forests and riverine habitats and it is a natural habitat to several wildlife including Antelopes, Leopards, Lions, Baboons, Hippopotamus, Warthogs, Zebras etc. More Info……… Maiko National Park (Parc National de Maiko) Officially gazetted as a national park in 1970, Maiko National Park is one of the most protected national parks in the Congo. It lies in one of the most remote forest areas of the country and spans over an area of 10,885sq km. The Park was created to protect the key populations of Grauer’s gorilla, chimpanzee, okapi and forest elephants from extinction. More Info………. Garamba National Park (Parc National de la Garamba) Established in 1938, Garamba National Park (Parc national de la Garamba) is one of Africa’s oldest and the most venerated national parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stretching over an area of 492,000ha, Garamba is home to a wide range of amazing wildlife species particularly the threatened Northern White Rhinoceros. It is also rich in avian species. The Park was primarily founded with the objective to protect the threatened to extinction of the northern white rhinoceros by poachers. More Info……….

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Approximately 1,180 special and unique bird varieties have been spotted in DR Congo belonging to 73 different families. Majority of them are endemic as well as endangered species. The rich and lush green forests of DR Congo offering the natural habitats is the reason for the amazing bird list of the country’s.
Birds of DR Congo
The endemic species of birds of DR Congo are the Beford’s Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Black-faced Waxbill, Congo Peacock, Black-throated and Yellow legged Malimbe. Albertine Owlet, Shelley’s Crimson Wing, Spotted Ground Thrush, Woodhouse’s Antpecker, Pale-fronted, Watteled Crane and Yellow Legged Weaver are some of the endangered species of birds rarely spotted in DR Congo. The Blue Swallow, Corn Crake and Lesser Kestrel are common but migratory birds of the country. Prigogines Greenbul is one of the best endemic species in DR Congo. This colourful small bird can be spotted in the Lendu plateau. Black collared lovebirds considered as nature’s treasure are also adorable natives of the country.
When to go for Bird Watching
November to March offers the best period for bird watching in DR Congo.

DR CONGO BIRDING HOTSPOTS
Several birding spots have been conserved in DR Congo to serve as tourist spots for visiting nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers. Colourful bird watching in the country is spectacular at the following areas;
Lendu plateau
The Lendu plateau is an isolated extensive area in the north East of DR Congo bounded by Lake Albert on the west side. It lies at an altitude rising from 1,700 m and 2,000m along its eastern edge, to some cone-shaped Mount Aboro (2,455 m). The plateau is dominantly grassy with few montane forest pockets and periodic water-logged areas ideal for bird breeding. Bird watchers to Lendu plateau are guaranteed sight of a number of colourful birds including the Thick-billed Seedeater, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Blue-headed Sunbird, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Citril, Dusky Crimson-wing, Black-billed Weaver, Golden-winged Sunbird, Brown-capped Weaver, Chapin’s Mountain-babbler, Red-faced Woodland-warbler, Joyful Greenbul, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, White-spotted Flufftail, Handsome Francolin, etc.

Thick Billed Seedeater
Luki Forest Reserve
Luki Forest Reserve is a breeding area within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve stretching over 330 sq km. It is a lowland forest zone adjacent the Atlantic coast, 20km north of Boma town. It also forms part of the Luki river basin. Some of the common birds sited in the area are the Pale-fronted, Western Bluebill, Hartlaub’s Duck, Congo Serpent-eagle, Blue-headed Wood-dove, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, African Dwarf-kingfisher, Rosy Bee-eater, Black-casqued Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Gabon Woodpecker, etc.
Ngiri Forest Swamp
Ngiri Forest Swamp is one of the most notable Important Bird Areas in the DR Congo and Africa. It is a wide isolated swamp-forest area nestled between rivers Ubangi and Congo in the west and east respectively. Significant numbers of water birds use it as a breeding ground the most common ones being the African Darter, Long-tailed Cormorant and Purple Heron. Ngiri is also the only known location in the country to harbour the Congo Sunbird. Other regularly sighted varieties include Forest Francolin, White-crested Tiger-heron, Red-chested Owlet, White-spotted Flufftail, Congo Serpent-eagle, Red-thighed Sparrow hawk, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, Blue-headed Wood-dove, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Hartlaub’s Duck, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Akun Eagle-owl, Cassin’s Spinetail, Black Bee-eater, African Pied Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Barbet, Rufous-sided Broadbill, etc.

Long Tailed Cormorant inNgiri Forest
Salonga National Park
Salonga National Park covers over a third of the immense Salonga-Lukenie-Sankuru forest block and is the second largest almost intact tropical rainforest reserve in the world. This natural habitat and world heritage site is a great refugee for numerous endangered bird species. Approximately 101 species of birds have been recorded here including Birds include the endemic Congo Peafowl, Cattle Egret, Migrant Black Stork, Yellow-Billed Stork, African Grey Parrot, Blue-Throated Roller, Afep Pigeon, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Brown-Eared Woodpecker, Golden Greenbul, Yellow-Spotted Barbet, Violet-Tailed Sunbird, etc. There are several water birds along Loile and Lomela rivers.

Bird watchers in Virunga Park
Parc national des Virunga
Virunga National Park (Parc national des Virunga) is situated near the Uganda border stretching from the Rwenzori range, south through Lake Edward and the chain of volcanoes north of the town of Goma, to Lake Kivu. Over 700 species of endemic birds and colourful aquatic birds are reside in its wide habitats. Species of interest known to occur in the park include Grauer’s Swamp-Warbler Bradypterus graueri, Yellow-crested Helmet-Shrike Prionops alberti and Shelley’s Crimsonwing.
Itombwe Mountains
Itombwe Mountains situated west of the northernmost part of Lake Tanganyika are the wealthiest single forested bird refugee in Africa with 563 species recorded. Rare Prigogine’s Nightjar is only found here. Congo Bay Owl and Schouteden’s Swift are the other rare varieties known to visit this site.
Other birding spots are;
- Mount Hoyo Reserve
– Maiko National Park
– Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
– Niarembe Escarpment
– Rwindi Lulimbi
- Garamba National Park
- Okapi Wildlife Reserve
- Masisi

Designated a National Park on 30th November 1970, Salonga National Park (Le Parc National de la Salonga) spanning over 36,560 sq km is the world’s second largest tropical rainforest national park and the largest in Africa. It lies isolated in an extensive area of the central Congo River basin about 100 km south of Boende, midway between Kinshasa and Kisingani.
Salonga National Park, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, supports a diversity of forest habitats and many endangered endemic species including the bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee), the Congo peafowl, African forest elephants and the white rhinoceros.
The park is divided into two sections by a 45 km stretch of relatively high human density and it is the only National Park in the range of bonobos (covers about 10 % of the bonobos range) thus one of the most important conservation areas in Central Africa. The Park also stretches over a 1/3 of the immense Salonga-Lukenie-Sankuru Forest block and is the second largest almost intact tropical rainforest reserve in the world. Within the park areas are remote communities that mostly occur the river banks.
Vegetation
The majority of the park is covered by equatorial forest, the main types of forest being riverine, swamp and dry land.
Climate
Salonga National Park features a typically continental equatorial type of climate hot and humid with a mean annual precipitation of 2000mm over most of the reserve. There is a slightly drier season from June to August. Seasonal flooding is normal due to the rains that come heavy particularly are mostly downpours and on only 30 days in the year.

Wolf’s Monkey
Wildlife
Salonga is a natural habitat to more than 50 large to medium sized mammals; the most significant of all being the bonobos or pygmy chimpanzee Pan a great ape endemic to the central Congolese forests eco-region. Other primates include Angolan colobus, West African red colobus, the endemic black mangabey and numerous Cercopithecus species including dryad monkey and red-tailed monkey. In savanna-like areas in the south there are several grassland-dependent species including side-striped jackal and common duiker. Among the large mammals include Hippopotamuses (in Congo River), Elephants, Western Bongo, Giant Ground Pangolin, Tree Pangolin, Pygmy Cape buffalos, African Forest Buffalos, Blue Duikers, Sitatungas, Bushbucks, etc. Prominent reptiles are the African slender-snouted crocodiles, also known as the “false” crocodile commonly sighted in river Congo. There are over 400 species of fish.
Bird Life

Close to 101 bird species have been recorded in the park and over 150 seasonal migrant birds visit the area. Common bird sightings include the  Migrant Black Stork, Cattle Egret, Yellow-Billed Stork, African Grey Parrot and the Endemic Congo Peafowl.
How to Get There
Because it’s remote location within the equatorial regions of Bandundu and Kasai, Salonga National Park is only accessible by boat and a light aircraft.