History of DR Congo – Congo Safari Tours
History of DR Congo: The Democratic of Congo is one of the richest countries in world- blessed with an abundance of natural minerals and wildlife. Although Congo has been known for its violent history that has not stopped tourists from visiting this beautiful nation. Commonly visited destinations in the Democratic Republic of Congo include; Virunga National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park which is famous for its habituated eastern lowland gorillas, Mount Nyiragongo and Tchegera Island to mention but a few.
History of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s, the world’s 18th biggest country, history is rife with murder, strife, and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a history of separation and warfare, ranging from King Leopold II of Belgium’s personal colony through tyrant Joseph Mobutu’s personal piggy bank to a country divided by a twenty-year civil war.
As a result, refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have fled all over the world. Gilbert Munda works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with child soldiers, a subset of enslaved people. He strives to reintegrate them into society by assisting them in rebuilding their life.
As colonial enthusiasm peaked in the nineteenth century, King Leopold II of Belgium took personal control of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was awarded to him as part of the 1885 Berlin Conference, which split and codified most of the previous colonial expansion, laying the stage for the tail end of the so-called scramble for Africa.
In one of history’s great ironies, an explicit humanitarian rationale for the expropriation was given: the abolition of slavery by Arab traders. Slavery was not abolished under Leopold’s reign; rather, it was institutionalized. Rubber was the most profitable crop, and failure to meet quotas was severely punished: a limb was removed. In response to international pressure, Belgium took over the colony in the early 1900s.
However, colonialism fell out of favour after World War II. Europe was either delivering independence or opposing it, striving to postpone the inevitable. During this period, Joseph Mobutu ascended to power. Mobutu was able to solidify his position as president through a series of power changes.
Mobutu was able to solidify his position as president through a series of power changes. He soon transformed the country into a one-party state and reigned for more than three decades.
As a return for his anti-communist stance, he received major backing from the United States, France, and Belgium. He was, however, a ruthless despot who embezzled billions of dollars in aid. He was overthrown in 1997 as a result of deteriorating health and a weaker grip on the country.
During the First Congo War, Rwanda attacked Zaire, and Mobutu lost power as a result. Laurent-Désiré Kabila seized control in 1997 and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following that, the Second Congo Battle erupted, culminating in a regional war in which many different African states participated and millions of people were murdered or displaced. Kabila was slain in 2001 by his bodyguard, and his son, Joseph, took over as president and was later elected by the Congolese government in 2006.
Joseph Kabila wanted peace fast. Foreign troops stayed in the Congo for a few years, and a power-sharing administration was formed between Joseph Kabila and the opposition party. After resuming total control of the Congo, Joseph Kabila was re-elected in a contested election in 2011. Félix Tshisekedi was elected President in 2018, marking the first peaceful transition of power since independence.
Things to do during your visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain Gorillas in Virunga National Park.
Mountain gorillas may be seen up and personal in Virunga National Park – Mount Nyiragongo & Mountain Gorilla Treks, Africa’s first World Heritage-listed national park. The tranquil yet war-torn sanctuary encompasses 7,800 square kilometers (3,000 square miles) and is home to 25% of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The park is separated into three zones: the northern Rwenzori Mountains, the middle Lake Edward, the Ishasha River Valley, and the Rwindi Plains, and the southern slopes of Mikeno volcano. Hike to the 5,000-meter glacier-carved peaks for sweeping views of lush woodland, marsh, and grassland.
Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Tourists interested in gorilla trekking adventure safaris in Congo may visit Kahuzi-Biega national park, which is home to both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas. The Chimanuka and Mpungwe gorilla groups are the national park’s two habituated populations of eastern lowland gorillas. A gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi-Biega costs USD $400 per person.
Eastern lowland gorillas were the first subspecies of gorillas to be monitored by tourists to Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the 1970s.
Climbing Nyiragongo Mountain
Mount Nyiragongo stands 3,470 meters tall and is home to the world’s largest lava lake, making it one of Africa’s best climbing and trekking attractions. This mountain is responsible for a significant fraction of African volcanic outbreaks. Despite its catastrophic past, many continue to visit for the opportunity to peer into or picture the lava lake from the rim.
Visit Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage
The renowned Senkwekwe Center, the only institution in the world that caters for orphaned mountain gorillas, is located in Virunga National Park, which is home to one-third of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Rumangabo, the park’s headquarters, is home to this rehabilitation center.
Visit Lwiro Centre
Get an opportunity to visit Lwiro Centre during your visit to Kahuzi Biega National Park. Visitors can see habituated Chimpanzees in the Lwiro Sanctuary near Kahuzi-Biega. Visitors to the primate rehabilitation center are taken on a tour of the facility’s history and conservation initiatives.
Explore the beautiful Tchegera Island.
Tchegera Island is located on the northern side of Lake Kivu, which Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo share. It is one of the nicest, if lesser-known, places in Congo, providing superb leisure and solitude. While there, you may relax on the beach or explore the island with a kayak or paddle board, which Tchegera Island Tented Camp provides.
