The Democratic Republic of Congo

FCO Travel Update: The FCO advises against all travel to Goma, eastern and north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This includes entering DRC from Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. The only exception to this is within the town of Bukavu, where the FCO currently advise against all but essential travel. The FCO advises against all but essential travel to Kinshasa and the rest of DRC because of continuing tension and insecurity. The situation can deteriorate at very short notice. Be aware that in the event of escalating tension and unrest, commercial flights may be suspended and/or borders closed severely restricting your ability to leave the DRC. (31 July 2012)

It used to be called Belgian Congo, then Zaire, and now it's the Democratic Republic of Congo and Africa's third largest country. The territory is crossed by Africa's second largest river, the Congo, which acts as the country's backbone. Its land is covered in varied types of landscape: from mountain ridges in the west to lakes and volcanoes in the east. Since the equator runs across the country, everyone will be able to find the climate that suits them, whether it be equatorial or tropical.