VISITOR'S GUIDE

Time

GMT plus one hour

Geography

The Republic of Congo is an equatorial country on the west coast of Africa. A flat, treeless plane stretches down from the highlands to the coast. The coastline stretches about 170km along the Atlantic Ocean. The rain-forested highlands extends northward to Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Congo is bordered by Gabon in the west, and with the Democratic Republic of Congo to the east. In the south there is a short frontier with the Cabinda enclave of Angola.

Climate

Equatorial or sub-equatorial. Main dry season from June–September with average temperatures ranging from 15 degrees Celsius (C) at night to 32 degrees C during the day. Rainy season from October–May with higher average temperatures and high humidity. Generally hotter and more humid in Congo Basin, drier and cooler in highlands.

Entry requirements

Required by all, valid for at least six months.

Required by all. Tourists must provide evidence of accommodation arrangements in Congo and of sufficient funds. If on business, a letter, issued by the traveller’s company, giving a detailed summary of intended purpose of trip, a full itinerary including intended contacts with host company, and the acceptance of full responsibility for any expenses incurred during the term of stay, and repatriation expenses in case of emergency, must be submitted with the application to the local embassy.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency which can be imported, but amounts above US$335 must be declared; export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. The import and export of local currency is prohibited, except between countries in the CFAf zone.

Health (for visitors)

Medical and dental facilities are inadequate.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by all.

Typhoid, hepatitis A and B, polio and tetanus vaccinations are recommended. Malaria prophylaxis should be taken, as a risk exists throughout the country. Water precautions should be taken. Visitors should avoid uncooked fruit and vegetables. There is an Aids risk and a risk of rabies.

Hotels

Good hotels are available in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and Loubomo; there are few elsewhere. It is advisable to book well in advance. A 10 per cent tip is usual.

Credit cards

Two hotels in Brazzaville and several in Pointe Noire accept major credit cards.

Public holidays (national)

1 Jan (New Year's Day), 5 Feb (President's Day), 8 Mar (Women's Day), 18 Mar (Marien Ngouabi Day), 1 May (Labour Day), 22 Jun (Army Day), 31 Jul (Revolution Day), 13–15 Aug (Independence celebrations), 25 Dec (Christmas Day), 31 Dec (Republic Day).

Easter Monday; Ascension Day.

Working hours

Mon–Fri: 0630–1300. Counters close at 1130.

Mon–Fri: 0800–1200 and 1430–1730, Sat: 0800–1200.

Mon–Fri: 0700–1400, Sat: 0700–1200.

Mon–Fri: 0800–1200 and 1530–1800. Sat: 0800–1200 and 1530–1800/1900. Some shops close on Mon afternoons; a few open Sun mornings.

Telecommunications

Telephone services are inadequate. Major hotel may provide fax and Internet services.

There there are two GSM 900 networks operating: CelTel Congo, and Libertis Telecom; however, coverage is generally restricted to Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.

Electricity supply

220V AC 50 cycles; the voltage varies erratically.

Weights and measures

The metric system is used.

Getting there

Lina Congo

Brazzaville-Maya Maya Airport (BZV), 4km from city; restaurant.

Pointe-Noire Airport (PNR), 6km from city.

CFAf500.

There is a road from Lambaréné, in Gabon, to Loubomo and Brazzaville; this is not surfaced all the way. Entry from Cameroon is only practicable in the dry season. There is a surfaced road from the Cabinda enclave of Angola.

A ferry service across the River Congo is operational daily from 0800–1200 and 1400–1700 between Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville. Cars can be carried. The ferry takes about half an hour. There is also a vedette service for passengers only, which takes 15 minutes. Both services are liable to short-notice cancellation or delay.

Pointe-Noire. Brazzaville is the inland river port.

Getting about

Internal air service operated by Lina Congo from Brazzaville to Pointe-Noire and the main provincial towns.

There are 1200km of tarred roads; other routes are mainly tracks which can be impassable in wet weather.

There are very few metalled roads outside Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, while the roads within the towns are generally poor.

The main route from Pointe-Noire, through Brazzaville to Ouesso, is not uniform in quality; the section from Loubomo to Pointe-Noire is liable to become impassable in the rainy season.

The Congo-Océan railway runs from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, a distance of around 500km. The service has been improved, but the journey is slow. The only other line is the 280km Comilog railway from Mbinda on the Congo/Gabon border which links to the Congo-Océan railway and is used mainly for the carriage of manganese ore produced by Comilog.

The railways suffer from lack of maintenance and general upkeep.

The ferries on the rivers Congo and Oubangui are a principal form of transport.

Freely available in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire; tipping is not usual. Can be hired by the hour or day. Fares should be negotiated in advance of journey.

Available from main hotels in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire. International or national driving licence accepted. Traffic drives on the right.