DR Congo

Places in DR Congo

• Bukavu

  Bukavu sits on the southern tip of Lake Kivu, straddling the Rwanda border with a surprising collection of Art Deco buildings and a laid-back lakeside atmosphere. It's the gateway to Kahuzi-Biega National Park for lowland gorilla treks, Idjwi Island escapes, and a surprising food scene anchored by lakeside hotel restaurants.

  Atlas entry

• Bumba

  Bumba is a remote river port town of 108,000 people in the Congo Basin, serving as a transit point on the Congo River between major towns. It offers a genuine off-the-beaten-path experience for travelers crossing northern DRC, though tourist infrastructure is extremely limited.

  Atlas entry

• Gbadolite

  Gbadolite was Mobutu Sese Seko's ancestral hometown and received lavish investment while the rest of Zaire languished. Nicknamed "Versailles of the Jungle," the city features abandoned palaces, an oversized airport built for Concorde flights, and even an underground nuclear bunker—all remnants of one of Africa's most notorious kleptocracies.

  Atlas entry

• Goma

  Goma is a city of remarkable resilience, rebuilt after the devastating 2002 Nyiragongo volcano eruption buried most of its streets in lava. While the city remains under constant construction, it offers unique adventures including climbing the famous Nyiragongo volcano with its persistent lava lake, and some of the cheapest mountain gorilla tracking in Africa through Virunga National Park.

  Atlas entry

• Kinshasa

  Kinshasa is a vast Congo River capital where museums, music, nightlife, and dense urban energy meet. It offers memorable cultural experiences, but travelers need deliberate transport and local support.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$79

  Best months

  Dec–Oct

• Mbandaka

  Mbandaka is the capital of Equateur province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located where the equator crosses the Congo River and Ruki River. The city was formerly known as Coquilhatville during Belgian colonial rule from 1886.

  Atlas entry