Republic of the Congo Trips & Tours

Getting there International flights arrive at Maya Maya Airport in Brazzaville, the capital city, where you’ll be met and assisted by a member of the Congo Conservation Company. Depending on the time of your arrival, you’ll either spend a night at a recommended hotel or carry on to Odzala via a two-hour flight. Every Monday and Thursday, a flight departs from Brazzaville at 1 pm and lands at the Mboko Airstrip in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Return flights leave the airstrip at 9 am. Private charter flights can also be arranged for other days of the week, if you would prefer it.

Health & safety Please consult your personal physician and/or a travel clinic preferably 6 weeks prior to your departure. Vaccine requirements vary based on your country of origin and your travel itinerary and your previous vaccination history. It is best to consult with your physician or the CDC website for guidelines. Important vaccinations to consider and which may either be required or recommended are: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis, polio and yellow fever. Please always carry your ‘International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)’ or ‘Yellow Card’ with you. Malaria We advise that you consult a medical practitioner at least six weeks prior to travel. Malaria is present in the Republic of the Congo and it is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit. Please consult a medical professional regarding which prophylactics will be suitable for you. In addition to the recommendations of your travel clinic or physician, you may also consider the following proactive preventative measures: ● Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Recommended repellents contain 20-35% DEET but it is a very virulent repellent, and should be used cautiously. ● Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants at dawn and dusk, as well as closed shoes. ● Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed. If you come down with flu-like symptoms either during or within four to six weeks after your visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice immediately and let him/her know that you have been in a malaria area. You can also visit www.malaria.org.za for more information. Communication Republic of the Congo country code: +242 Calling overseas from Republic of the Congo: From a landline dial 00 followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: 00 1 910 795 1048 When calling from a cell phone dial + prefix followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: + 1 910 795 1048

Money: The currency in the Congo in the Central African Franc (CFA). You can convert money to Francs at a bank or Forex Bureau, or withdraw from an ATM, all found in the larger airports and towns, please check with your bank for charges and advice when using international ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted in most hotels and establishments, however there may be a surcharge levied. It is advisable to have some cash for smaller shops and stalls. Major banks are available in most towns in Rwanda. They operate business hours of 9am – 3pm, Monday to Friday. Gratuities: We must stress that tipping is not compulsory or expected; rather it is an extra reward for excellent service. If you are pleased with the service you receive you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff in the various lodges and camps. As a guideline for tipping your guide and the staff , you can leave between USD 10 to 15 per guest per day. Tipping is usually done at the end of your safari and most lodges and camps have a tip box in the main area. You may tip the staff individually, place a tip for all the staff in the box or do both. Tips can be made in Central African Francs or US Dollars.

Insurance It is a condition of booking that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents/travelling companions for the duration of your trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: Compulsory Insurance: a. Emergency evacuation expenses b. Medical expenses c. Repatriation expenses Recommended Insurance: a. Cancellation or curtailment of trip b. Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

As a general precaution, we recommend you make several copies of your travel-related documents (passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets, insurance cover, visas, etc). Leave one set at home, and bring another set with you, and place it in a location separate from your originals. Most nationalities do require a visa to enter Republic of the Congo. Immigration control is very strict, and is known to deny entry to those not meeting the requirements. Invitation letter or a hotel reservation (multiple copies) is required. Passports MUST be valid for at least six months (we recommend nine) from your departure from Republic of the Congo to home. There must be at least TWO consecutive blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Please do contact the embassy or consultant in your home country to reconfirm visa requirements, as they change often. Visa Central is also a good resource for further information.

Climate: The Republic of the Congo produces a hot and humid climate with minimal temperature fluctuations throughout the year. There are two rainy seasons in the country – late-February to early-May (long rains) and the period from late-October to late-December (the lighter short rains). Rwanda can be visited at most times of the year, but the climate can become quite unpredictable at the peak of the wet season. Dress Code: Generally speaking, light layers of clothing in neutral safari colours of green, khaki and beige are the best items to bring with you. Dark colours such as navy or black can attract tsetse flies and are best avoided, as are bright colours like yellow, red and purple if you are going on safari. A lightweight waterproof jacket is also a must, with high humidity leading to occasional showers. What to Pack: Layers - long and short sleeve shirts and trousers A warm fleece or jumper A lightweight waterproof jacket Comfortable but sturdy shoes Leather gloves (there are stinging nettles in the parks) Gaiters Flip-flops Swimming costume A hat or baseball cap Sunglasses Sunscreen – a must! Toiletries – most camps will provide shampoo, shower gel and soap A small torch Spare batteries, plug adaptors and charging equipment A good pair of Binoculars Books or a fully loaded Kindle / iPad for siesta time Most camps and lodges will have a small medical and first aid kit, but we recommend bringing your own supply of essentials - cough medicine, plasters, vitamins, aspirin and paracetamol, and anything else you use on a regular basis. Camera Equipment (for the enthusiasts) • A telephoto lens (200/300mm) • Flash and fast film (400 ASA) for night photography • Lots of film (64,100,200,400 ASA) if using an SLR camera • Spare memory cards for digital cameras • Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag • Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, charging capacity can be limited. Luggage: Many international airlines have a baggage allowance of 20 kgs or more per person, but please check this with your individual airline. Please be advised that on domestic flights, luggage is limited to one soft sided bag per person with a maximum weight of 15kg. No hardshell bags are permitted. Electricity The Republic of the Congo uses type C and E plugs. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. It is best to bring an adapter/convertor combination.