UK, US and EU citizens require a visa to visit the Republic of Congo. You must apply for a visa in advance; visas are not available on arrival.

For UK citizens, application forms and information may be downloaded from the Consulate website: consulateofthecongobrazzaville.webs.com

Currently the cost of a 15 day tourist visa is £75 for UK passport holders.

You can also apply in person to the consulate in UK: Honorary Consulate of the Congo-Brazzaville, 3rd Floor, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1PN.  (Tel: 0203 077 9958)

Passports should have at least 6 months validity and two blank pages. We recommend you double check visa requirements before travel as requirements can change.

When to Travel

The weather pattern in the Congo varies between the north and south of the country. In the north, the best time to visit is during the short dry season between January and February. In the south and in Brazzaville, the best time to visit is between May and September, the long dry season. Odzala National Park is also best visited during these months.

Daily temperatures are between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius with night time temperatures between 16 and 21. As Congo lies on the equator, temperatures fluctuate only slightly. Humidity is high all year round.

Health & Immunisation

A yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for all travellers over 9 months of age.

Current recommended immunisations/boosters include: cholera, diphtheria, typhoid, tetanus and hepatitis A.

Good protection against malaria is strongly recommended. Most importantly – insect bite precautions e.g. insect repellent containing DEET (Autan, Jungle Formula or Pure DEET).

Do note that medical requirements are subject to change and it is advisable to check with your local travel clinic before travelling. Strict observance of all medical requirements are a must and we strongly recommend that you obtain a personal first aid kit to carry with you.

We must stress that our suggestions for medical protection are purely advisory and you should always consult your GP/travel nurse for the latest information. See also the NHS Fit for Travel website.

Currency

The national currency is the Central African franc. Euros, US dollars and Sterling may be changed to local currency in Brazzaville. There are ATM machines in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, but few outside the major cities and urban centres.

Note that if exchanging foreign currency, only clean, crisp notes will be accepted.

If staying at the Odzala camps, you must pay for extras by cash in USD or Euro. Credit cards are not widely accepted but a few places take Visa. Travellers cheques are not accepted at all.

Tipping

Tipping in restaurants is in the region of 5% - 10%. Taxi drivers generally aren’t tipped.

For safaris we recommend a tip of approx. $10 per client per day for your guide. There is usually a box at the camp for tipping cooks, waiters and other staff. We recommend approx. $5 per client per day into the kitty.

If possible you should convert the recommended amount to local currency but US dollars and euros are also appreciated.

Tipping is fully at your discretion and these are guidelines only.