Travel Essentials

DR Congo: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C, D and E, 220 V. Emergency: Police 112, Fire 118. Tipping: Not obligatory; round up or tip about 10% in restaurants and give small tips to guides and drivers. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.

Open The DR Congo Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C, D and E, 220 V

Emergency Numbers

Police	112
Fire	118

Tipping

Not obligatory; round up or tip about 10% in restaurants and give small tips to guides and drivers.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies
Malaria: Risk throughout the country year-round; antimalarial tablets recommended

Apps To Download Before You Go

M-Pesa (Vodacom): Mobile money is the main way to pay and transfer; Vodacom M-Pesa is the largest service.
Orange Money: The other big mobile money service, alongside Airtel Money.
Yango: The most used ride-hailing app in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
Heetch: Ride-hailing app that also operates in Kinshasa.
Uber: Available in Kinshasa.
WhatsApp: Used for nearly all communication with hotels, guides and drivers.
Congo Airways: Domestic flights are the only practical way between distant cities; CAA is another local airline.
Google Translate: French is the official language; Lingala is available in the app.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A formal handshake is standard; French is the language of administration alongside Lingala, Swahili, and other local languages.

Dress and respect. Dress modestly and conservatively; show respect to elders and officials, and always carry ID/passport copies.

Checkpoints. Expect document checks at roadblocks; stay calm, keep copies of documents, and avoid arguing with officials.

Safety And Scams

Most governments advise against travel to large parts of the DRC, especially the conflict-affected eastern provinces (North and South Kivu, Ituri) due to armed group violence and, as of 2026, an Ebola outbreak declared a public health emergency; Kinshasa and some western areas can be visited with strong local support and organized logistics, but this is not a straightforward tourist destination.

Bribery at checkpoints. Police and soldiers sometimes seek unofficial 'fees'; travel with a trusted local fixer or guide who knows how to handle this.

Currency exchange tricks. Count money carefully and use reputable exchange points, not street changers.

Overcharging foreigners. Agree prices in advance for transport and services.

Women travelers. Extra caution is warranted; avoid travel after dark and rely on vetted transport and accommodation.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Use Caution

Same-sex relations are not explicitly criminalized in law, but vague 'public decency' and 'offending morals' provisions have been used against LGBTQ+ people, there is no anti-discrimination protection, same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned, and lawmakers have repeatedly proposed criminalization bills; the real-world risk and stigma are significant despite the technically permissive law.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	6,000 CDF	$2
Local bus or metro ride	1,500 CDF (shared taxi/bus)	$0.50
Mid-range restaurant meal	45,000 CDF	$15
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	120,000 CDF	$40
Mid-range hotel (night)	250,000 CDF	$83
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	330,000 CDF	$110

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

June to September (dry season) has less rain and better roads, but travel plans should be built around the current security situation rather than the calendar.

Phrases

Basic French phrases · Basic Lingala phrases · Basic Swahili phrases · Basic Kikongo phrases