DRC travel information
Getting There
All of our DRC itineraries involve entering the DRC by road from Rwanda, crossing the border and clearing immigration at the check point. You will be accompanied by a Rwandan guide who will assist you through immigration and be met by a DRC guide upon crossing the border.
Passport and Visas
Australian passport holders require a visa to enter the DRC, which is obtained prior to arrival with the assistance of your ground handler, who will provide a letter of invitation. For more information, please contact us. You will also need a current passport with two blank pages and six months’ validity from the date you return home, and a return ticket.
Weather and Climate
DRC’s climate is hot and humid in the area along the equator and its vast rainforest, and hot year-round but with a dry season in the areas to the north and south of the equator. It is generally cooler in the highlands and mountains. Temperatures remain relatively stable throughout the seasons, with averages of low to high 20s Celsius during the day, and cooler at night. In the north, November through March is the dry season and April through October the rainy season. In the south it is the reverse.
Getting Around
All of our itineraries involve 4×4 vehicle road transfers between places, accompanied by a guide and armed rangers. Keep in mind road conditions can slow you down.
Health
Consult your GP or a travel doctor at least six weeks before you travel. You may be required or recommended to get vaccinations for yellow fever, measles, typhoid, and hepatitis A & B, among others. A certificate of vaccination for yellow fever is required for anyone entering the DRC, so please carry your certificate with you and present to immigration. Malaria is present in the DRC, so malaria prophylactics are recommended.
Currency
The local currency is the Congolese Franc (CDF), which is made up of 100 centimes. When it comes to cash, US dollars is best and accepted throughout the country. The Franc has no value outside DRC. US dollar bills printed before 2010, or defaced bills, are likely to be refused outright. Credit cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants, and upper-end shops. Remember if you use credit cards, ask what the exchange rate is and what the service fees are.
Language
French is the official language, while Kituba, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba are classified as national languages.
DRC is waiting for you. What are you waiting for?