Republic of the Congo Travel Overview

Republic of the Congo Travel Overview

At a glance

Capital: Brazzaville

Official language: French

Currency: franc

Continent: Central Africa

Congo Brazzaville

The Republic of the Congo is only advisable for experienced travelers

Location

According to Countryaah, the Republic of the Congo is located in Central Africa and borders Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola

Travel Congo

The Republic of the Congo is often confused with the much larger Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is many times larger and which it divides by the Congo River. Due to the internal conflict situation, the country is not open to tourism and only a few travel to the country, which has a lot to show culturally. There are no tourist centers in Congo, the country can almost only be visited individually.

Important facts

Alternative name: Congo Republic

Capital: Brazzaville

Official language: French

Currency

Currency (sub-unit)

Franc (100 centimes)

ISO 4217 code

CDF / 976

Geography

Continent: Africa

Region: Central

Geo coordinates: S 0 ° -13′-40.9 “E 15 ° 49 ‘39.6”

Highest mountain: Mount Berengou (903 m)

Total area: 342,000 km²

Mainland: 341,500 km²

National border: 5,504 km

Coastline: 169 km

Politics

Dependency: France until 1960

UN member since: 1960

Form of government: People’s Republic

Economy

Republic of the Congo GDP - gross domestic product

Export goods: Precious wood, diamonds

BSP: $ 3,042,700,000

GDP: $ 2,874,000,000

GDP purchasing power parity: $ 2,920,000,000

Economic growth: 6.9%

GDP share of agriculture: 6.8%

GDP share of industry: 53.4%

GDP share of services: 39.8%

Inflation rate: 2.5%

State budget revenue: $ 10.8 billion

State budget expenditure: $ 1143,000,000

Export: $ 2,362,000,000

Import: $ 974,000,000

Gold and currency reserves: $ 311,000,000

Electricity consumption: 683 million KWh

Gas reserves: 90,610 million m³

Oil reserves: 94 million m³

Oil production: 254,000 million m³

Oil consumption: 7,000 million m³

Cultivation area: 1.78%

Bovine: 134,000 pieces

Sheep: 87,000 pieces

Fishing: 37,000 t

Demographic data

Residents: 3,702,400

Residents in cities: 2,034,700

Average age: 20.9 years

0-14 years: 36.3%

15-64 years: 60.7%

> 65 years: 3%

Population growth: 2.6%

Birth rate: 42.57 / 1,000 residents

Death rate: 12.93 / 1,000 residents

Migration: -3.62 / 1,000 residents

Ratio men / women: 0.99

Fertility: 6.07 children / woman

Infant mortality: 85.29 ‰

Life expectancy men: 51.65 years

Life expectancy women: 53.98 years

Country codes and abbreviations

ISO 3166 Alpha 2: CD

ISO 3166 Alpha 3: COD

ISO 3166 numeric: 180

Top Level Domain: CD

IOC country code: COD

UN / LOCODE: CD

Source: Abbreviationfinder

Communication

Telephone connections: 18,000

Cell Phones: 462,000

Radios: 473,000

TV: 290,000

Computer: 55,000

Internet users: 80,000

Transportation

Railway lines: 894 km

Paved roads: 1,742 km

Cars: 75,000

Pipelines: 760

Health

Number of doctors: 970

Daily food intake: 2.180 kcal / resident

HIV- infected people: 100,000

Education

Illiteracy: 15%

History

Foundation: 1960

Last sovereign since: 1960

Religion

Main religious group: Christians

Crime

Prison inmates: 1,400

Military

Armed forces (troop strength): 10,000

Warplanes: 30th

Defense Spending: $ 90.3 million

GETTING THERE

Arriving by plane

Lufthansa (LH) operates the Frankfurt-Pointe Noire route with a stopover in Libreville (Gabon).

There are no direct flights from Austria or Switzerland to Brazzaville.

International airlines flying to the Republic of the Congo are Aero Benin (EM), Air France (AF), Air Service Gabon (X7) and Ethiopian Airlines (ET).

Flight times

Frankfurt – Brazzaville: 15 hours 10; Vienna – Brazzaville: 17 hours; Zurich – Brazzaville: 16 hours 40; Paris – Brazzaville: 12h30.

Departure fee

500 CFA Fr.

Arrival by car

There are roads from Lambaréné (Gabon) to Loubomo and Brazzaville. The road connecting Cameroon is only passable in the dry season. Another road connects Pointe-Noire with Cabinda (Angola). Right-hand traffic. Driving in the dark should be avoided. You can also travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Documents:
A carnet de passage is required to cross the border.

Arrival by ship

Ferry ships dock at the port of Pointe-Noire. Every hour from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. there is a ferry across the Congo from Kinshasa (Dem. Rep. Congo) to Brazzaville (travel time 20 minutes). Ferries on the Ubangi connect Congo with the Central African Republic.

ON THE GO

Traveling by plane

There are scheduled flights to Pointe-Noire with stops in Loubomo and Ouesso, as well as private charter flights to Owando, Zanaga and Impfondo. Airport fees: 3400 CFA Fr on domestic flights.

On the way by car / bus

Roads are mostly unpaved sand tracks and only accessible with all-wheel drive in the dry season. Around 10% of the entire road network (1200 km) is suitable for all weather conditions. Right-hand traffic. Driving at night is not recommended.

Car Rental:
A number of rental companies have offices in Brazzaville, a directory is available in the larger hotels.

Documentation:
international driver’s license.

Traveling in the city

Minibuses operate in Brazzaville. In Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and Loubomo there are taxis without meter, the fare should be agreed before departure.

On the go by train

The route network is operated by the Congo-Océan railway company. There are connections between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire (travel time up to 3 days). Book in advance and not rely on timetables. Children under 5 travel for free, children aged 5-9 pay half.

On the way by ship

Steamers operate from Brazzaville on the Congo and Ubangi. The rivers are of great importance as transport routes.