Congo, Democratic Republic of the aka: Zaire,Congo-Kinshasa

My trip was focused on humanitarian aid, not to see the gorillas and the scenery. To see, first-hand, how over ten years of rape, violence, and war have taken their toll on the people in this country. Exposure to this is everything: it is seeing the bravest, strongest, and most resilient people you could ever meet in the worst possible conditions a person could face in their lifetime. I visited IDP camps in Goma, health centers in Bukavu, and schools in Beni with many places further north, south, and in-between. What this country has gone through and still struggles with today is by far one of the world’s biggest and most unknown humantarian crises that deserves our support.

After reading the book, Congo, I have wanted to go here. Explore the jungles, discover the ruins, dive into the rivers. Danger may lurk, but, alas! I will be prepared, with my trusty guide and band of foliage slashers… pulls out machete

to thailand

Went on a boat trip down the Congo, amazing. The Congo is so wide that it feels like you are out at sea. You catch this boat that goes down the river where no cars go. People live on it. It has all you need. The boat goes to places where it is some people’s only contact with the outside world. People cook on it(MAINLY MONKEY BRAINS!), wash on it and to some it is their life. There are three levels depending on where you are in society, being white we were on the top level. Not all mod cons by any stretch of the imagination but truly an experience I will never forget.I still have the image in my mind of the locals riding up on canoes to try and attach to the boat to sell their wares, phenominal…...

The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo contain great biodiversity, including many rare and endemic species, including both species of chimpanzee: the Common chimpanzee and the bonobo (also known as the Pygmy Chimpanzee), mountain gorilla, okapi and white rhino. Five of the country’s national parks are listed as World Heritage Sites: the Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and Virunga National Parks, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The civil war and resultant poor economic conditions have endangered much of this biodiversity. Many park wardens were either killed or could not afford to continue their work. All five sites are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage In Danger.