Most people you speak to wouldn’t think of Congo as a safe destination. And yes, there is a good reason for that with conflict in the DRC constantly plastered over the news in combination with a lack of overall information on tourism in the region. In short, the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo is considered quite unstable, as are some of the cities in DRC. Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville) is actually a lot more relaxed and safer than you’d think. If you do go to Congo Brazzaville, you will probably end up in the coastal city, and economic hub of Congo, Pointe Noire. So is it safe? And what do you need to look out for?
In short yes, we consider Pointe Noire safe to travel. You may be surprised to know there is a large expat population here due to the oil and gas industry, so seeing foreigners walking around is fairly normal. People here are extremely friendly and people in Pointe Noire also have a reputation of loving to party, which is definitely evident at night time.
Is it safe at night?
In certain places, safety at night can be drastically different to the day. In Pointe Noire, it is safe during both night and day, but there are basic common sense things you should keep in mind such as, don’t get too drunk, walk with others late at night etc.
What to watch out for?
The main safety things to watch out for in Pointe Noire would be photography as this is the main thing that gets people in trouble with locals in this part of the world. People generally don’t really like cameras around here and can get quite aggressive if they think you’re taking a photo of them. Just use your judgement wisely and maybe use something like a phone to take photos instead of a camera so it isn’t so obvious.
You should also avoid areas far outside the centre as these tend to be not as secure. However, there’s not really a reason to go these areas as there’s not much entertainment out this way.
What is there to do?
In the way of tourism there isn’t a lot do in Pointe Noire itself, however the city is definitely worth checking out. If you’re looking for a night then Pointe Noire is the city for you as it is much more fun and lively than Brazzaville. In the day time, the beach has several beach clubs you can go hang out at.
For tourist sites we recommend checking out the train station (currently under reconstruction), African Circle Museum of Pointe Noire and the main central market.
Is it expensive?
No and yes. It all depends on whether you’re in a place focused on locals or foreigners. Due to the many oil and gas workers in Pointe Noire, beach clubs and up market bars can be a little pricey. For example you’d be paying around 2000 CFA for a beer that costs 600 at a local place.
If you’re on a budget then you can still have a good time in not just Pointe Noire, but Congo in general. Our tip is go to local bars and eat at local bbq restaurants. If you are a foreigner, most likely you will be the only non-local at these places, but people are friendly and the beer is cheap so what more do you need?
Is the Republic of Congo safe in general?
Yes, Congo Brazzaville is safe. While there is crime in the country, using commonsense will go a long way. We wouln’t consider Pointe Noire or Brazzaville more dangerous than cities such as London, New York or Madrid. We aren’t saying it’s perfectly safe, but we are saying if you walk around by yourself then you’ll be fine.
Where do we run tours in Africa?
While we don’t currently run tours in the Congo, we do go to Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea with plans for many more on the way!
How to sign up for a tour?
To see which tours we have available check out our African group tours section on our website here. To sign up for a tour, send us an email to [email protected] .
