10 must-have items for a trip to the Congos
Congo Brazzaville is a country with an overflowing culture, with 6.107 million inhabitants and 342,000 km², it is with its neighbor Congo Kinshasa 102.3 million inhabitants and 2.345 million km² square meters of abundant places of culture. The two countries were once united into a single region making the territory one of the richest and most notable parts of Africa on the continent.
Today separated under two distinct flags, they nevertheless remain the most attractive regions to visit, and teeming with cultures. To better perceive the wealth of the two Congos, we offer you the list of 10 equipment to have during a visit to the Congos.
Go pro
For a filmed experience as close as possible to you, your go pro is essential during your trip to the center of Africa. The camera is available from fifty euros, we present it to you more, it is very resistant and offers unique images at the heart of the action. Like your denim, it will accompany you everywhere and will allow you to immortalize your trip by keeping images without any other similar to relive your trip in front of a screen.
Your go pro will be of great use to you in the streets of Brazzaville or Kinshasa, it will also be useful to you in the zoolandia zoo or the zoodekinshasa zoo, and also during activities such as whale and dolphin watching in Pointe-Noire, or Rafting & Tubing in Dolisie.
The go pro is a very interesting film equipment to capture an experience, an atmosphere, it will be your flagship equipment to relive your descent in the center of the black continent.
Waterproof camera
The two Congos are crossed by the eponymous Congo River, and you will see the watercourse in both countries. It is the 5th largest river in the world, and the 2nd largest in Africa. It’s one of the most prolific rivers on earth in terms of rare stone deposits, and it’s also a river rich in photographic spots.
There are plenty of places to take photos, including the Kayo waterfall in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Zongo waterfall in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Bela waterfall in the Republic of the Congo, where you can take your waterproof camera without worry.
The waterfalls are major tourist attractions in both the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with drops of 80m, 65m and 30m respectively. These are places where you can watch the water cut its way naturally through the rock just a few kilometres from Congolese towns.
If you want to get some great shots close to the waterfalls, we recommend the KODAK Pixpro WPZ2, the AGFA Photo Realishot WP8000 and the PENTAX Compact Waterproof WG-1000 Olive, with their purchase links on amazon below.
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Electronic reader
The Congo is the only African country to have a front cover of Tintin, the series based on Hergé’s hero. This is the 2nd album in the adventures of Tintin, and despite the controversy surrounding it, it is a much-loved album in the saga.
In this album, the young Belgian reporter travels to the Belgian Congo to report on a story, a journey during which he encounters many adventures.
The book is available in colour and in a much longer black and white version. The book was much loved in both Congo and beyond.
So, to honour this land of literature and the historical account of this publication (re-prepared in 2023), we suggest that you bring an e-reader with you on your trip to the Congos. Armed with your e-book, you’ll be able to read the Tintin and Snowy saga in its entirety, and enjoy other comics in your spare time.
The Congolese people are very respectful of literature, so you won’t be making the wrong choice by bringing along an e-reader. Link to buy your e-reader.
Drone
We see in the Congos mountainous and coastal massifs, the area is 70% forested with tropical forest and rich in fertile valleys. The Republic of Congo has 6 national roads and the Democratic Republic of Congo has 42, both countries are littered with its roads which offer a multitude of landscapes.
To best appreciate the diversity of the multitude of settings that you will see, we advise you to equip yourself with a drone. Indeed, despite the fact that the region is crossed by many roads that are a vestige of Belgian colonization, many areas will remain inaccessible to you, especially the top of the rivers and the top of the forests. Places with incomparable views and which will give your trip aspects of visiting Hollywood sets.
For the purchase of a drone we recommend DJI Air 3S (RC-N3), with a 4K camera, or TTROARDS TT19 with a 1080P HD camera.
https://amzn.eu/d/0v3v3oG
https://amzn.eu/d/3psWkMN
Magnifying glass
For a memorable stay in the Congos, we advise you to bring your explorer’s magnifying glass. It’s the most important piece of equipment for any traveller in search of adventure, so what do you need it for? Well, it’s obviously useful for observing the region’s biodiversity, as well as being part of your perfect adventurer’s kit.
The Congos is home to a dense fauna and flora, including chameleons, butterflies, lizards, rodents and insects of all kinds. With your magnifying glass, you’ll be able to observe as many specimens as possible, as close as possible to the way they function and live. As well as allowing you to observe the smallest creatures, your magnifying glass will also allow you to observe the biggest! At Brazzaville Zoo, you’ll see the striped jackal, the Brazza cercopithecus, and in the Ituri forest reserves you’ll see okapi, the giant genet and forest elephants. Armed with your magnifying glass, you’ll be able to get up close and personal to watch them and, if you like, study how they function.
Amphibious waterproof camera
The Congos have 210 km of coastline between them, and off the coast you’ll find hydrocarbon extraction platforms and fishing boats. These are major resources for both countries, along with the extraction of precious stones.
As well as providing income from the exploitation of its natural riches, the Congolese coasts are popular tourist destinations. As you’ll see, the beaches are crowded and there are plenty of places to sunbathe.
Bringing an amphibious waterproof camera is a must if you want to make the most of your time on the beach.
The camera we recommend: Rollei Underwater Camera.
Tape recorder
What are you going to use a tape recorder for in the Congos? You can use it to record all the unusual noises you encounter there. In the Congos, you’ll meet elephants, gorillas, souimangas and touracos, all animals you’ll want to record.
The recorder will fit in perfectly with your explorer’s kit, making it a valuable addition to your travel equipment.
Portable MP3 music player
The Congo region is culturally rich, the country of Congo was discovered as a Franco-Italian part colonised by the French and Belgians to join the Francophonie in 1977 and 1981.
As a result of these historical events, the Congos have produced a huge number of authors and artists. Whether in Lingala, the local language, or in French or English, there is an abundance of works from the Congos.
So when you visit the Congos, we suggest you take your old mp3 player and immerse yourself in the cultural heart of the region. You’ll be able to listen to local artists as well as international artists from central Africa. Here are a few names to get you started: Gims RDC, Damso RDC, Innoss’B RDC, Youssoupha RDC.
An explorer’s hat
Another piece of equipment to make your trip a real expedition to the heart of Africa: an explorer’s hat.
Click here to buy the hat we’ve selected for you.
A folding walking stick
Ancillary equipment that is added to our list is the folding walking stick.The cane is recommended for people of advanced age or those who are not used to walking outdoors. It will help you during walks and may be useful in the event of animal attacks.
Another use for the cane is as an ornamental object once the trip is over, or as a soil-mixer for gardening.