Any Travels

The Republic of Congo is located on the western coastline of Central Africa, bordering with the Southern Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola to the South, Zaire to South and east, Central Africa Republic and Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the northwest.

The terrain consists of a narrow low-lying coastal plain, of mainly grassland. Further inland are the highlands and the northern region consists mainly of equatorial rainforest.

The new Constitution of Congo was approved by referendum on 15 March 1992 with more than 96% assent. It provides for a strong presidency in a parliamentary system with two houses and features an independent judiciary and a catalog of fundamental rights. One of the Constitution's specialties is the extensive catalog of provisions about the family and the environment It also prohibits certain amendments of the Constitution.

General Denis Sassou-Nguesso handed over power after elections in 1992, his successor got on the wrong side of the army, and Sassou-Nguesso was back in power five years later after a short but bloody civil war. Since then, various militias with names like the Ninjas and the Cobras have been battling government troops, creating hundreds of thousands of refugees and untold casualties. Fighting in Brazzaville, the capital, has displaced over 200,000 people from their homes.

The rebels are also involved in the settlement, which is significant because up to now President Kabila has refused to recognise them, regarding them as illegal. Moreover, for the first time Congo has recognised the problem of the extremist Hutu militias in the east of the country.

Congo Brazzavile, until recently known as Congo, because the other Congo was called Zaire is in may ways a 2.0 version of Congo Kinshasa. More compact, easier to travel, less hassle and better beaches.

Waterfalls, parks with wildlife and encounters with genuinely interested and interesting people are among the higlights of Congo.

Brazzaville the capital is the best place to start exploring the country. It is an easy going city, with lively bars and colorful markets.

Pointe noire in the south is the place to go for if you want to sun and tan. The beaches are clean and shaded by palm trees. The temperature of the water is great all year round.

Brazzaville
The capital city of Brazzaville is situated on the west side of Malebo Pool on the River Congo. It is a nice city, pretty laid back, with nice markets (especially Oluendze and Moungalito) to stroll around on and lively bars to have ad drink. Sights to see include the beautiful Basilique St Anne, the colourful suburb of Poto Poto, the Temple Mosque, the markets at Oltreruendze and Moungali, the National Museum, the Municipal Gardens and the house constructed for de Gaulle when Brazzaville was the capital of Free France.

Pointe noire
Pointe-Noire is the main town on the coast. Go here for the beaches and the lively evening market. Several good beaches are close by in the region known as the Cote Sauvage. Around 20km (12 miles) from the city are the villages of Loango and Diosso. Loango was the main embarkation port for slaves and it is estimated that more than 2 million people were transported from here.

The Gorges of Diosso, spectacular cliffs formed by the erosion of the sea and the wind, are worth visiting.