Democratic Republic of Congo comprises of various beautiful landscapes along with forests, lakes, wildlife and waterfalls. Congo (Dem Rep) is a vast country which is also a major tourist attraction. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the Africa’s third largest country with an area of 2,345,410 sq km (905,563 sq miles). This country also holds a dense population of 60.1 million according to the UN estimate of 2005. This country is surrounded by Central African Republic to the north, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi to the east, Sudan to the northeast, Angola to the southwest, Zambia to the southeast and south, Congo and Angola Republic to the west.

Culture
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s culture is the reflection of the diversity of its ethnic groups and their different ways of life across the country.

People & Languages
There are approximately 250 languages which are spoken in Congo (Dem Rep). Same number of ethnic groups is also present in the country. The population of the country is mainly divided into four categories which are Pygmies, Bantus, East Africans and Hamites.

Religions

• Roman Catholic Christianity


• Protestant Christianity


• Indigenous Christianity


• Islam


• Other Christian denominations

Food
Congo utilizes a blend of locally available grains, fruits, vegetables, meat and milk products for its cuisine. Some of the popular Congolese cuisines are:

• Piri Piri, (with pepper)


• Mouamba Chicken in palm oil served with cassava leaves and cabbage salad


• Saka Saka( ground cassava leaves cooked with peanut paste and palm oil)


• Maboke( fresh water fish which is cooked in marantacee leaves)

Attractions in Congo
Some of the chief attractions of Congo are as follows:

• Kinshasa & the West


• Southwest Congo & Bandundu


• Central & Eastern Congo, Kasai & Shaba


• Upper Congo & the Kivu


• Virunga National Park