The Republic of Congo welcomes almost 500,000 tourists a year, making it a major tourist hub in central Africa. Places to visit include Pointe-Noire and its beaches, Brazzaville and its crowded streets, and Dolisie and Ouesso. Congo is usually crossed by 4×4, bus or simply light car. For travellers looking for something a little different, other means of transport exist in the former French colony, and it’s these ways of experiencing your trip differently that we’ll be looking at in this article. How can you travel differently in the Congo? We tell you all about it!

Travelling by mountain bike

Travelling in the Central African Republic by velocipede is a growing activity, and you’ll see more and more Westerners crossing Africa using this mode of transport. It’s no longer a novelty, it’s manoeuvrable, light and easy to use: it’s a means of transport that’s highly prized by the locals. For an even more intense experience, we recommend pedalling along the main avenue, Avenue Foch.

In the Congo, as in many Central African countries, you drive on the left-hand side of the road. The roads are either asphalt, or rough earth on the roads leading to the countryside. You’ll find bicycle repair shops on every street corner, where you can fix a punctured wheel, change the brake pads or simply have your bike checked.

Bicycles are a popular means of transport in the country, used on a daily basis for both long and short journeys, and also for transporting goods from home. By choosing the bicycle as your means of transport during your trip, you are sure to be immersed in the Congolese way of life.

Travelling by scooter

Another two-wheeled vehicle that is enjoying success in the Congolese countryside, the scooter is a means of locomotion that is becoming increasingly popular with the Congolese. As a tourist, you can hire a scooter or use one of the motorbike taxis recently authorised in July 2024.

The advantages of travelling by scooter are certainly its increased mobility and the thrill of the ride. Visiting the city of Brazzaville on a scooter is an authentic choice and offers a maximum number of sites to see, crossing the coastal streets of Pointe-Noire on a scooter is a unique experience that we recommend, and taking the city on a scooter trip to Dolosie or Ouesso is an original experience.

For travel between the various towns, scooters or even motorbikes are possible and definitely recommended for motorbike enthusiasts. You could contact an agency specialising in motorbike hire; there are a few, but we don’t have any addresses to recommend.

Travelling by public transport: bus, taxi

Another way to experience your trip to the Congo differently is to use public transport to get around. You can choose between: the bus, which costs 250 FCFA per journey or 0.38 € or 0.43 $; and the taxi, which costs about 1500 FCFA per journey or about 2.29 € or 2.61 $ for an hourly cost of 3000 FCA or 4.57 € or 5.21 $.

Taking the bus or taxi to get around the Congo is expensive, but it promises an authentic trip with the fruity flavour of the dark continent. The bus is the most accessible mode of transport, and you’ll find that the streets of Brazzaville are full of ‘bleu buses’, mini-buses and other buses that run their routes according to the hazards of the journey. Taxis are an alternative to public transport in the streets of the Congo, offering a unique experience.

Travelling on foot

Another way to experience your trip to Congo Brazzaville differently is simply to cross it on foot. As well as being good for your health, it gives you the opportunity to get close to the Congolese people, to be at the heart of Congolese life, and to hear their breath and rhythm at every turn.

Travelling entirely on foot requires organisation, so we recommend good walking shoes, a walking stick, clothing suitable for walking (synthetic jogging suits), a water bottle and a walking hat. These are the basics, but you can add to the list as you wish.

Also, when walking, bear in mind that some streets are risky for Westerners, so make sure you are informed and adapt your route accordingly.

Travelling by speed canoe or boat

The last way to travel the Congo differently is to see it from the Congo River: you can navigate the river in a canoe or boat.

While the other means of transport allow you to immerse yourself in the life of the inhabitants of Congo, this one gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Congolese flora and fauna. When you sail on the Congo River, you enter the home of the hippopotamus, the crocodile, and the habitat of many birds and snakes…

To sail on the Congo River, you can approach companies such as congorivercargo, congotravelandtours or lentrepreneurvoyage, many of which offer freight services on the Congo River.

It’s an activity that doesn’t require a great deal of prior skill, and it offers the best opportunities for meeting animals endemic to the region. The Congo takes its name from the river that flows through it, and the watercourse also passes through Congo Kinshasa, which was the main attraction for the first Westerners to discover the region. Even today, navigating the waters of the river is a unique adventure that offers exceptional sensations.