Democratic Republic of Congo
According to Countryaah, there are 9 countries in Central Africa. Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of them. The DR Congo has lush nature, an exciting history and a very hospitable population! The country was originally home to several kingdoms and one of the largest African states. The Kingdom of the Congo, founded in the 14th century, stood out in particular. After a checkered history, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) – until 1960 the Belgian Congo, from 1971 to 1997 Zaïre – today is the third largest state in Africa and covers an area of 2,345,411 square kilometers, making it 6.6 times the size of Germany. The DR Congo should not be confused with the western Republic of the Congo, the former French Congo. Tropical rainforest covers two thirds of the republic. In addition to dense forests and savannahs, many primeval forest rivers shape the landscape. The largest remaining rainforest areas in Africa are home to innumerable animal and plant species; There are said to be 1,600 different species of butterflies in the DR Congo alone – more than in any other country in the world. Primates in particular have an immense attraction on travelers: in the DR Congo, bonobos can be seen as well as the eastern lowland gorillas.
Climate:
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has an equatorial climate with year-round rain and a fairly constant temperature of around 26 degrees Celsius in the central part of the country. In the north and south, a rainy and dry season alternate with a moderate climate.
Best travel time:
Depending on the region, the period from December to February is suitable for a trip to the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, whereas the months between April and October are favorable for the south. In general, the rainy season should be avoided due to the high humidity and heavy rainfall.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo is located in central Africa. Until 1960, when the French Congo was a colony of France, it should not be confused with the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the former Belgian Congo and Zaïre. There was already slave trade in the Congo estuary in the 17th and 18th centuries, and French proselytizing began in 1766. From 1875, Pierre Brazza began exploring the country. This was followed by the establishment of a military post in the Congo, from which the city of Brazzaville emerged. The Republic of the Congo is one of the more exotic travel destinations in the tourism industry. Tourist highlights are undoubtedly the rare lowland gorillas and extremely shy forest elephants living in the north-west in the rainforest.
Climate:
The African country has high temperatures and high humidity all year round. The dry season between June and September is followed by a humid rainy season with sometimes strong tropical thunderstorms. The average annual temperature is between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius, with the thermometer rising to over 30 degrees during the day. The Atlantic moderates both the amount of rain and the humidity on the west coast of the Republic of the Congo. In the inland rainforest, it is correspondingly more humid.
Best travel time:
The warm and humid tropical climate can put a heavy strain on European tourists, which is why the dry season between June and September is recommended for trips when the temperatures and humidity have dropped somewhat. In December and January it is still cheap to travel to the north of the Congo. The humid rainy season is not advisable.
Gabon
Gabon is a country of incredible natural beauty. More than 70 percent of Gabon’s area is covered by tropical rainforest. Because of the difficult climatic conditions there are hardly any roads and a thin settlement (4-6 Ew./qKm), which is mainly concentrated in cities. The population is 1.2 million people, as a result of which there is little settlement pressure on nature. The statistics speak for themselves: 64,000 elephants, 25,000 gorillas, 35,000 chimpanzees, 680 bird species, 2,000 to 3,000 humpback whales and 320 types of orchids are native to the forests of Gabon. Here you can find quite rare zoological species such as lowland gorillas, mandrills, forest elephants, bongo antelopes and spotted rockhoppers. Gabon’s landscapes range from savannah and coast to dense tropical rainforest; Visitors to this country are constantly discovering new natural beauties. About 10% of the land area of Gabon has been placed under protection by the government. 13 national parks have been opened since 2002. The best known are the Reserve de la Lopé, but also the Ivindo National Park or the Loango National Park, where there are unique opportunities to experience Gabon’s fauna.
Climate:
The African country Gabon has a tropical climate, which causes high temperatures all year round. At night, temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius, and during the day an average of 26 degrees is reached in the coastal region. There is also an extremely high humidity of up to 98%. The course of the year is determined by a longer rainy season between mid-January to mid-May, followed by a dry period up to around September, before a few more rainy months follow.
Best travel time:
For a tour to Gabon you should use the dry periods between June and September and the two months of December and January. During this period animal observations are possible, and the trade winds lower the humidity a little. At the turn of the year turtles come to the beaches to lay their eggs. Whales can be seen off the coast from July to September.
Chad
Chad is probably the least known country in Central Africa – mainly because of its extremely fragile security situation. Chad, which is more than three times the size of Germany, has unique natural beauties: In the bizarre desert landscapes of the Ennedi Plateau, a labyrinthine world of sandstone formations, there are ancient inscriptions and rock art. In the north of the country, the largest groundwater lakes in the Sahara are located in the middle of dune areas and pyramid-shaped table mountains – and the highest mountain range in the Sahara, the Tibesti, with the more than 3,000-meter-high Emi Koussi. The Zakouma National Park southeast of the capital N’Djamena is one of the best places in Central Africa to observe huge herds of elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, lions as well as numerous antelope species, primates and birds.
Climate:
In the north of Chad there is a dry desert climate, here is the Sahara desert. In May, peak temperatures of 45 to 50 degrees Celsius are reached here, and the nights are often much cooler than the days. A rainy season runs between June and September in the so-called Sahel zone (the center of the country). The south of the country is characterized by a humid, humid and hot tropical climate with a rainy period between May and October.
Best travel time:
The drier winter months of November, December, January and February are given as the optimal travel period for Chad because the temperatures are then lower. In the rainy season, many paths can no longer be reached and the humidity rises uncomfortably high. The extremely hot spring and summer months are also unfavorable for traveling.