Democratic Republic of the Congo - basics - Countries Guide

Time: GMT +1 in the west (Kinshasa) and GMT +2 in the east.

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Plug types in use are round two-pin attachment plugs and round pin plugs with grounding.

Language: French is the official language, but Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo and Tshiluba are also spoken.

Health: Yellow fever vaccination is a requirement for entry for everyone over one year, and vaccinations against cholera, meningitis, typhoid and polio are highly recommended. Large numbers of cases of acute watery diarrhoeal syndrome have been reported in North Kivu province (easter DRC) since September 2008. In many instances these have been fatal. In areas of poor sanitation it is not advisable to drink water unless it has been treated by boiling and filtration or with a chemcial purifier. There is a significant malaria risk throughout the country, and advice should be sought in advance about preventive measures. HIV/AIDS is prevalent. Rabies is endemic to the DRC, and monkeypox occurs, which is a virus usually transmitted to humans from infected ground squirrels and rodents. Regular outbreaks of pneumonic plague also occur, particularly in the district of Ituri, and is fatal if left untreated. An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus occurred in September 2007. The Centre Prive d'Urgence (CPU) clinic in Kinshasa is able to cope with basic health problems and to stabilise a patient after most serious accidents. However, medical evacuation to South Africa (or elsewhere) would be advised as soon as possible. Outside Kinshasa, western standard medical facilities are practically non-existent. Visitors are advised to take their own basic medical supplies with them, as medicines are in short supply. Medical insurance with provision for emergency air evacuation is essential for visitors. All water should be regarded as contaminated, and milk is unpasteurised, therefore consume only imported bottled water and avoid dairy products.

Tipping: A 10% service charge is included in restaurant and hotel bills and further tipping is unnecessary. In general, tipping (known as 'Mahtabish' or 'something extra') is a way of life and it is routine to give some small change for all services.

Safety: Travellers are advised against all but essential travel to the DRC because of continuing tension and insecurity. The east and north east of the country are insecure and travellers should be cautious if travel to the region is necessary, particularly near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda. All travel to Bas-Congo should be avoided. There are frequent armed clashes in the district of Ituri near the Ugandan border, as well as Kivu province and northern Katanga. There is a high level of street crime and armed robbery, particularly in Kinshasa, where armed gangs or criminals posing as plain-clothes policemen regularly attack foreigners. Security officials have also been known to arrest foreigners and demand payment for their release. Do not display valuables on your person, walk the streets alone or carry large amounts of money, and keep car doors and windows locked. Demonstrations and political gatherings should be avoided. Boats and ferries are poorly maintained and have low safety standards; on 16 January 2005 an overcrowded ferry on the Kasai River sank, killing 35 people. The DRC also has one of the world's worst air safety records. Due to violent attacks, the border between Angola and the DRC is now closed.

. Customs: Do not take photographs of uniformed officials or any military equipment and installations; in general be discreet when taking photographs in public places.

Communications: The international dialling code for the DRC is +243 and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). International direct dialling is available. Domestic telephone connections are unreliable. There are GSM 900 and 1800 networks with variable coverage and roaming agreements covering Kinshasa, but it is unwise to use a mobile phone in public because of the likelihood of robbery. There are some Internet cafes in Kinshasa, but power failures can be a problem.

Duty Free: Visitors to the DRC may import 100 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; one bottle of alcohol; perfume for personal use and a camera to be used for touristic purposes, without paying customs duty.

Climate: The DRC straddles the equator and therefore experiences a tropically hot and humid climate. South of the equator there are frequent heavy rains between October and May, and north of the equator the rain falls between April and November. The eastern highlands has a more temperate weather. In the low central basin average annual temperatures are around 77°F (25°C), while at the higher altitudes the temperatures hover around 68°F (20°C). The average annual rainfall in Kinshasa is 56 inches (1,422mm).