- For other places of the same name, see Congo.
| Republic of Congo | |
 | |
| Flag | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Capital city | Brazzaville |
|---|---|
| Area | 342 000 km² |
| Population | 3 903 318 hab. (2008) |
| Density | 11,41 inhab./km² |
| Other languages | French (official) Lingala Monokutuba local dialects |
| Cash | CFA franc (XAF) |
| Electricity | 220 V/50 Hz, European plug |
| Telephone prefix | 242 |
| Internet suffix | .cg |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 1 |
| Location | |
 1 ° 28 ′ 48 ″ S 15 ° 37 ′ 48 ″ E | |
The Republic of Congo or more simply Congo is a country ofcentral Africa.
The Republic of the Congo is sometimes called Congo Brazzaville to distinguish it from the Democratic Republic of Congo neighbor (formerly Zaire), also called Congo-Kinshasa.
Understand
Regions
Cities
- 1 Brazzaville – the capital
- 2 Black Point – Port city.
Other destinations
To go
Formalities
Nationals of member countries of the CEMAC as the Cameroon, the Gabon, the Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and the Chad, are exempt from visas if they stay in the Congo for at least 90 days.
- Republic of Congo
- Visa exemption
- Visa at the arrival
By plane
It is possible to arrive in Brazzaville at the Maya-Maya International Airport or the Agostino Neto International Airport in Pointe-Noire. Air France, for example, serves these two airports. Since the end of August 2012, the company ECAir (Equatorial Congo Airline) operates a Brazzaville - Paris Charles de Gaulle connection.
On a boat
By the international seaport of Pointe Noire or by the river port of Brazzaville "beach"
Circulate
The main means of transport remains the taxi. Depending on the distance, the cost of a race can vary from 700 to 1500 CFA (1 to 2 €). Note that some drivers refuse to go to certain districts because of dilapidated roads (track). There are also buses and mini-buses that make round trips in the districts, the cost of which varies between 50 and 250 CFA.
Taxis and buses, as well as freight vehicles, are easily recognized. All these vehicles are green on the bottom and white on the top in Brazzaville and respectively blue and white in Pointe-Noire. Taxis represent approximately 80% -90% of vehicles circulating on the roads of Congo (in 2006).
For all trips by private vehicle, it is strongly recommended to use a 4x4 vehicle so as not to get stuck in the many holes in the roadway.
By train
The only train line is the Congo-Ocean Railway which connects Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire. To be avoided absolutely, especially in the section around Brazzaville where the guerrillas are still active, but it can be a means of excursion into the interior of the country from Pointe-Noire. But the risks remain significant: derailment, ransom and theft are frequent.
By bus
There are a lot of minibuses which connect all the districts of the cities, the place will cost you 150 F CFA in the city but do not expect extraordinary comfort, although the rare buses (present only in Brazzaville, and nicknamed "Quaker") remain very acceptable. Outside the cities, prices vary but the bus (or the common taxi: 4 people in the back and 3 in the front) remains the safest way to get around: they are frequent and the drivers know the tracks.
By car
Given the state of the roads avoid personal cars, except perhaps in Brazzaville and in the center of Pointe-Noire, everywhere else you risk getting bogged down, but a taxi is a good solution. For a "normal" journey (less than 10 min), it will take 750 F CFA during the day and 1000 F CFA at night (from 22 h). These prices are regulated, but for a long trip, the driver will ask you more (rarely more than 1000 F, during the day) and if you do only a few hundred meters, you can negotiate 500 F. Most taxis encountered in town will agree to take you to a tourist site located outside and pick you up there at an agreed time.
Orient yourself
It is very difficult to find your way around the city: most of the streets do not have names, and there are very few numbered buildings, however, if you take a taxi, you will have no problem: stand at the edge. of a road, your skin color (if you are white) or a wave of the hand will be enough to make stop the first comer. Then give the name of the place, most often the driver will know, if he hesitates, do not insist and stop the next one.If you are traveling on your own, you will find a free (and more or less exact) map of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire edited by the telephone operator Celtel.For travel by bus, it is recommended, at least at the beginning, to be accompanied by a native: the buses of Pointe-Noire have line numbers, but not those of Brazzaville where the destination is announced by a crier (who will also take care of the collection). In any case, you will have to announce when you want to get off.
To speak
The entire population is French-speaking but will spontaneously speak the local dialect: Lingala in the north and Monokitouba in the south.
Lingala is interspersed with French words and has a very simplified grammar which makes it relatively easy to understand. Knowing a few words can also attract sympathy. Hello is said to yourself "M'boté", if you do not stay parked in your hotel and you walk on foot, which is very rare for a white person, you will hear sentences beginning with "moundélé" on your back, the white . You can respond to the kids who will chase you from their "Hey moundélé" with a "bo'lingui nini, bana oyo!" (bo'lingui nini, bana oyo: what do you want dear children?) which is an invitation to courteous conversation and respect; it will only have a good effect!
To buy
Silver
Cash
Countries using the CFA franc: 
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The official currency of the countries forming the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) is the CFA franc. The issuing institution is the Bank of Central African States (BEAC).
The CFA franc is written for short in FCFA or F CFA, and its ISO code is XAF. The CFA franc exchange rate was 1 XAF = 0,01 FRF which gives a fixed parity with the euro of 1 € = 655,957 XAF but banks and exchange bureaus may charge a commission on the transaction.
The member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union use another CFA franc whose code is XOF.
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There are in specialized streets (along the river in Brazzaville) dozens of money changers whose commissions vary from 10% to 0.5%. You will find in Brazzaville (opposite the Russian cultural center), as in Pointe-Noire, a Crédit Lyonnais branch equipped with an ATM and accepting your traveller's checks.
The steps
Remember to visit the markets and do not be intimidated by the sellers who will approach you in a sometimes cavalier way.The Total Market is one of the largest in Brazzaville along with that of Moungali, open every day but less lively in the afternoons. and on Sundays, you can find everything at the best prices. Closer to the center, try the Gambali market in Poto-Poto not far from the CFCO station and easily accessible on foot or by bus. In the city center, a small Plateau market, inaugurated in 1938. In Pointe-Noire, go to the huge Tié-Tié market. prices will be displayed, which does not prevent them from being reduced sometimes by half. A street vendor will ask you 3 to 4 times the price he wants to obtain. Either way, bargain and don't take your eyes off your wallet.
Before leaving, still take a look at the markets for tourists, you will find masks, fetishes, jewelry and statuettes of Tintin, much more expensive than they are worth ... in Brazzaville, Plateau market, stalls of art in front of the Central Post Office; in Pointe-Noire around the Central Station.
Supermarkets
If you are homesick, or if you prefer goods with Western standards (which may be advisable, especially in pharmacies), try the "Casino" supermarkets (in downtown Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire): a French supermarket that we would have moved there and replanted here. You can find everything there, but at European prices, or even higher.
Eat
Prices
If you go to restaurants in town centers or hotel bars, the prices will be practically European: 1000 to 1500 F for a coke or a beer and around 10,000 F for a meal.At least out of curiosity, prefer the markets or refreshments-restaurant (N'Ganda) where you can eat without financial or gastric problems for much less: a bottle of beer (65 cL) will cost you 500 F, as much for half a fish and cassava, a chicken leg can cost 1000 F. You will buy your bread 150 F, fried sweet potato (excellent!) for, at most, 50 F each, etc ...
Food
Congolese cuisine is generally very pleasant. You will undoubtedly have to taste cassava and fou-fou (which are pretty much the same thing). Also try the sweet potato and fried bananas which are on sale everywhere in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. There are also donuts in both cities, very delicious in different preparations. You will find, especially in the northern districts of Brazzaville (those that the French Embassy will recommend that you avoid) many barbecues that will offer you chicken, fish or pork chops accompanied by onions and cassava (from bread if you request it).
As for drinks, there are 3 come out of local beers (in 65 cL bottles) and sodas, pleasant for connoisseurs. You will also enjoy the bissap (an infusion of hibiscus flowers) and ginger juice.
Have a drink / Go out
There is no cinema in the Congo, all the rooms have been transformed into "evangelical" temples ... On the other hand, you will be able to see films well before their release and follow sporting events in "video clubs", on the boss's television. From time to time performances take place at the French cultural center, Rond-Point des Combattants in Brazzaville.
The main distraction is therefore sitting in a refreshment bar, which is usually on the side of the road, and people watching while trying the local beers.
As for the evenings, there are many nightclubs, reserved because of the price of entry (around 2500 F) and consumption (around 1000 F) to a minority of rich and expatriates. The Congolese often prefer to go dancing in bars. In Brazzaville, to name only the most famous, you can ask the taxi driver to take you to "la paillotte" in Bacongo or to the "jackpot" in Makélékélé, or to the Faignond space in Poto-Poto. Entrance is free and consumption is less expensive, although more expensive than in a refreshment bar. This type of establishment is usually packed on weekends.
Most working-class neighborhoods stay lively (and safe) until late at night. Feel free to sit down somewhere, have a drink and a bite to eat, if possible. Otherwise, you can always ask the "mother" who will serve you to tell you where to buy sweet potato or "groundnut" (peanuts), it will cost you a hundred francs.
Housing
There are many acceptable international hotels in both Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. Do not hesitate, if you stay several days to negotiate the price of the room (often aberrant compared to the standard of living): you will be asked 20 to 30,000 F which corresponds to the rental of a decent house for a month!
Communicate
Brazzaville and Black Point are very well covered by three telephone operators: Airtel, MTN, Warid. Phone refills are bought on the street from street vendors called Sap-sap. There are also cybercafés without real difficulties, the hour costs 500 F but the connection speed is often minimal. On the other hand, finding an open position is a feat.
Security
 | Emergency telephone number: Police :117 Firefighter :118 |
We shouldn't believe everything we say about Africa. Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire are very safe cities day and night, and you can safely laugh at consular recommendations. It can be reassuring at night to walk around with a local and stay along paved and / or lighted roads, but don't imagine risking your life taking a few steps, even in a working-class neighborhood. .
There are rumors about taxis robbing their customers. If you have some idea of where you're going and seem confident, you're probably not at risk. There were robber gangs in Brazzaville, but they have been severely repressed in recent years (sometimes at the cost of summary executions) and are still hunted down today. Paradoxically, the fact that there is still a few kilometers from Brazzaville, in the forest, an armed guerrilla warfare makes it a very safe city because of a massive military and police presence. There would be times when tourists were ransomed by the military, again, if you don't do it yourself and get too much attention, you're unlikely to be at risk.
The only real dangers are undoubtedly linked to the traffic and the state of the roads, and whether you are on foot or in a car.
You will undoubtedly be approached by beggar children, the locals drive them away without any consideration, do the same by not letting them distract you from your pockets. If you forget something somewhere, there is little point in hoping to find it, but it would be ridiculous to take your watch off and go out, as you sometimes hear the advice.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
Vaccination against yellow fever is the only one compulsory, but it is in your interest, especially if you are going out of cities, to update your vaccines against hepatitis, meningitis and rabies.
Mosquitoes are fairly inconspicuous during the day but particularly virulent towards 18 h, At nightfall. So wear long clothes and use an effective repellent, if you are near the river or in a humid area, apply these precautions even during the day. Do not lose sight of the fact that most repellents attack certain plastics: watch out for your watches, glasses, cameras ... Finally, if necessary you will easily find an impregnated mosquito net on site (if you are in Pointe Noire call 672 16 04 or 535 20 50), but most hotels already have them.
When it comes to hygiene, the markets can cause a cold sweat, but personally I have never had any problems. Perhaps allow yourself a week of acclimatization before adopting the local diet and plan some ad-hoc medication, just in case, but don't believe what tells you that you are going to lose. 5 kg in a few days.
The only really essential precautions are:
- do not drink running water (unless you use disinfectant tablets, a ceramic filter or, at a pinch, if you boil it, and in Pointe-Noire where it is drinkable),
- regularly follow treatment against malaria,
- and of course get out covered: Hepatitis B and AIDS are serious dangers.
Respect
Generally speaking, the Congolese are extremely welcoming and generous towards their hosts. They will appreciate it, but without demanding a return for this generosity. In N'ganda, consider offering your tour, if you are going for a purpose other than tourism, you can try to imagine what is sure to miss your interlocutors and that you could offer them. By default, you can just bring a few CDs or VCDs with you.
The Congolese are quite expansive, do not close in on yourself: make the most of your stay, it will be the best way to make yourself appreciated.
