Zaire

Zaire (spelled Zaïre in French) was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between October 27, 1971 and May 17, 1997. Although it came into use in 1971, the name Zaire is often still used for the portion of the Congo controlled by Mobutu since 1965.


Musee National de Kinshasa (National Museum)
The National Museum of Kinshasa holds the largest collection of Zarian artefacts and crafts. It is situated in the capital of Congo , Kinshasa .

Kisanto Botanical Gardens
A 2-hour drive from south of Kinshasa is the Kisanto Botanical Gardens in Matadi. It features a collection of 100-year old trees from all over the world and rivers. Visitors can take a dip in the rivers.

Upemba National Park
Upemba National Park is situated in the south and straddles the River Lualaba. It features several lakes inhabited by hippos, crocodiles and numerous aquatic birds.

Virunga National Park
With an area of 12,000 square metres, the Virunga National Park covers a lot of area which is inhabited by numerous lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, hippos and colorful aquatic birds. This huge plain bounded by two jagged mountain ranges serves as a natural enclosure for animals that roam its natural reserve.

Zaire, useful links and resources
Transports in Zaire http://www.africanet.com/africanet/country/zaire/getthere.htm
Introduction to Congolese Life and Culture http://www.congo-pages.org/
Accommodations in Zaire http://www.africaguide.com/country/zaire/
Health Policy and Guidelines for Travel http://www.dh.gov.uk/
Eco-tours http://www.gocongo.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaire
http://www.africaguide.com/country/zaire/