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20th March 2008 - Bradt Travel Guides
Congo
Democratic Republic ● Republic
FIRST EDITION
Democratic Republic ● Republic
FIRST EDITION
Bradt’s new guide is the first in well over a decade dedicated to the overlooked elephant in Africa’s living room that is Congo. From the outset, author Sean Rorison’s acknowledgements set the tone, featuring backhanded thanks to all those policemen and anonymous petty officials ‘for the forced pleasantries and intentional delays… for not throwing me in jail and asking for only modest amounts of money.’ Travel advice for some areas is unapologetically direct, ‘Even if you could I would advise against it… these people will more than likely stage an attack. They will more than likely kill you as a result, as well as your driver and anyone else travelling with you.’ At this point those whose idea of adventure travel is a banana pancake eating competition in Bangkok may want to put Bradt’s Congo down and move away from the bookshelf…slowly. The history of Congo has approximated to a self-fulfilling prophecy, from the heart of darkness, the playground of Belgian despots (the worst kind!), to the kingdom of absolutely powerful and corrupt dictators. Through the years Congo has provided a battlefield for mercenaries, revolutionaries and freedom fighters, latterly in the World War of Africa. Riots, looting, coup attempts and assassinations together with the spectre of Ebola, all visited the Congos in short order, as Rorison says, ‘The four horsemen of the apocalypse arrived together and never really left, though these days they’re taking a breather’. So, some positive news at last? Rorison reports that, ‘Optimism is easy to find and foreigners arriving with the same attitude will not be disappointed.’ Tourism numbers are estimated at 100,000 per year and growing. Accessible areas now include national parks, home to enduring populations of endangered eastern lowland gorillas. One of the world’s greatest river journeys, 1,750 km on the Congo River from Kinshasa to Kisangani, taking almost three weeks, is again possible. For a small self-selecting group of intrepid travellers Congo provides the practical information, including unique maps never before published, to enable exploration of two nations that embody Africa in the raw. A final word of caution, don’t try to impress bystanders with parlour magic tricks - you may well be denounced as a sorcerer…
Sean Rorison is a freelance writer whose range of travel interests includes some of the world’s most contentious regions – from Afghanistan to Iraq, Colombia and Somalia. In 2002 he helped to start Polo’s Bastards, a travel website focussing on difficult destinations – ‘Going where we ain’t supposed to.’
For review copies contact Travel Media – 01830 540 440 or info@travel-media.co.uk
Title: Congo: Democratic Republic ● Republic
Authors: Sean Rorison
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Publication: 20 March 2008
Price: £15.99 ISBN: 978 1 84162 233 0
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