Democratic Republic of the Congo
Travel Destination – Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as Congo-Kinshasa, is Africa's second largest country and home to the world's second largest tropical rainforest. Rich in biodiversity, it protects thousands of unique plant and animal species, making it one of the continent's premier wildlife destinations.
The country's standout attraction is Virunga National Park, home to around a quarter of the world's remaining mountain gorillas and Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano with the world's largest permanent lava lake. Kahuzi-Biega National Park offers the only opportunity to see eastern lowland gorillas in the wild, while Okapi Wildlife Reserve protects the elusive okapi, found nowhere else on Earth. Deep within Salonga National Park, visitors may encounter the endangered bonobo in one of Africa's largest remaining rainforest wildernesses.
The capital, Kinshasa, is renowned for its vibrant music, art, and cultural diversity, while journeys along the Congo River offer a glimpse into one of the world's great wilderness regions. Travel in the DRC requires careful planning, with limited infrastructure and challenging conditions making thorough preparation essential.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
The DRC requires more careful pre-travel health planning than the vast majority of international destinations, and there is no substitute for booking a travel medicine consultation at least six to eight weeks before departure. The scope of infectious disease risks here, spanning multiple vaccine-preventable illnesses, year-round malaria requiring chemoprophylaxis, periodic outbreaks of Ebola, demands a thorough and individualised approach that accounts for the specific provinces being visited, planned activities, and the traveller's baseline health.
Medical infrastructure throughout the DRC is very limited. Even in Kinshasa, hospitals may be under-resourced, and outside the capital, healthcare access can be absent. Emergency medical evacuation is the realistic response to any serious health event regardless of location, and comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers this must be secured before departure, not as an afterthought. All prescription medications and the full antimalarial supply must be obtained in Australia, as pharmaceutical availability and quality cannot be assumed within the DRC.
Insect avoidance
The mosquito-borne disease burden in the DRC is among the heaviest of any country in the world, and insect protection requires genuine and sustained commitment across both day and night throughout the entire trip. Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes active from dusk to dawn. Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are spread by the daytime-biting Aedes species. Yellow fever mosquitoes feed predominantly between dawn and dusk but also bite at night, particularly in forested environments. Therefore, protection is required for the full 24-hour period.
DEET or picaridin-based repellent applied to all exposed skin and reapplied at regular intervals is the foundation of a sensible insect protection strategy. Long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing and long trousers reduce skin exposure, and permethrin treatment of outer garments and gear significantly improves protection in forested and rural environments. A permethrin-treated bed net should be used whenever sleeping in unscreened accommodation, which will apply across many itineraries outside of Kinshasa's hotels. Screened or air-conditioned rooms are strongly preferred wherever available.
Tsetse flies, the vectors of African trypanosomiasis in parts of the DRC's rainforest and savannah regions, do not respond to standard repellents. Medium-weight, neutral-coloured long-sleeved clothing, avoidance of open vehicle travel in tsetse-endemic areas, and staying clear of roadside vegetation during the warmest periods of the day are the practical measures that reduce exposure.
Food and water hygiene
Congolese food is deeply tied to the country's agricultural and riverine environments. Moambe chicken, slow-cooked in palm nut sauce and served with fufu, is widely regarded as the national dish, while saka-saka, a stew of pounded cassava leaves, and fresh river fish from the Congo's extensive waterways form the backbone of everyday cooking in most regions. Enjoying the food safely requires consistent vigilance throughout the stay to help reduce the risk of gastroenteritis, as well as cholera and hepatitis A.
Tap water is unsafe throughout the DRC, and bottled or boiled water should be used for all drinking and dental hygiene. Ice should be avoided unless its source is confirmed. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap before eating and after using the toilet, and alcohol-based sanitiser carried for situations where water and soap are unavailable. Only freshly cooked, hot food should be consumed, with raw and reheated dishes avoided, and fruit peeled immediately before eating.
Rabies prevention
Rabies is a significant and ongoing health concern in the DRC. The virus is carried by dogs and a wide range of wildlife including bats, which may be consumed as bushmeat in some regions and carry a particularly high exposure risk. Rabies is almost universally fatal once symptoms develop, with limited post-exposure treatment available outside Kinshasa.
All contact with domestic and wild animals should be avoided throughout the visit, including bats and primates in forest environments. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended for travellers visiting rural or forested areas, those spending extended time in the country, and those undertaking activities involving increased animal contact, which in the DRC context includes gorilla and bonobo tracking, forest expeditions, wildlife encounters, and any work involving animals.
Any bite, scratch, or contact of broken skin or mucous membranes with animal saliva requires immediate wound washing and prompt medical assessment, regardless of prior vaccination status.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Yellow Fever
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Yellow fever is present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry.
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission throughout the country, and vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged nine months and older. The infection is transmitted by mosquitoes that predominantly feed between dawn and dusk, though biting also occurs at night in forest environments. In severe cases, yellow fever may cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and death.
The vaccine should be administered at a registered yellow fever vaccination centre at least ten to fourteen days before arrival. This provides lifelong immunity in the majority of recipients, and documentation must be carried throughout the trip.
Meningococcal disease
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Parts of northern DRC fall within Africa's meningitis belt, the sub-Saharan corridor where meningococcal disease rates are substantially elevated relative to the rest of the world. Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection of the brain and spinal cord membranes capable of causing death or permanent disability.
Vaccination with a quadrivalent MenACWY vaccine is recommended for travellers aged two months and older visiting meningitis belt regions, particularly during the dry season between December and June when transmission risk is greatest. A travel doctor can advise on the appropriate schedule based on individual history and planned itinerary.
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection acquired through contaminated food or water, with illness ranging from a brief, mild episode to prolonged jaundice and significant hepatic inflammation.
Given the high risk of food and waterborne illness throughout the DRC, including in well-resourced accommodation, vaccination is strongly recommended for all previously unvaccinated travellers. Two doses provide durable long-lasting protection, and many Australians have not completed this course.
Typhoid
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Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria transmitted through contaminated food and water, producing sustained fever, headache, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort with potential for serious complications without treatment.
Vaccination is recommended for the great majority of travellers to the DRC, particularly those eating outside of controlled hotel environments, visiting smaller provincial towns, or undertaking extended stays. Careful food and water practices remain important alongside vaccination throughout the trip.
Rabies
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Rabies is present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is carried by dogs and other mammals, including wildlife. Pre-exposure vaccination should be considered for travellers spending extended periods in rural areas, undertaking wildlife activities, or visiting remote regions where urgent medical care and post-exposure treatment may be difficult to access. Any bite, scratch, or contact with animal saliva on broken skin requires immediate wound washing and prompt medical assessment, regardless of vaccination status.
Mpox
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Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a viral infection spread through close physical contact with an infected person, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Symptoms typically include fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and a characteristic rash that progresses through several stages before healing. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has ongoing transmission of mpox, and the risk to travellers varies according to their itinerary and planned activities. A travel doctor can advise whether vaccination is recommended, particularly for those undertaking healthcare or humanitarian work, spending prolonged periods in affected communities, or anticipating close physical contact with locals.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus producing fever, cough, and a spreading rash, and the DRC is currently included on the global measles health notice alongside many other countries reporting rising cases.
Measles spreads exceptionally easily in crowded settings and can remain viable in enclosed air for up to two hours, making vaccination critical for any traveller transiting through airports, using public transport, or spending time in densely populated areas.
Australian travellers born during or since 1966 require two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine.
Polio
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Poliovirus has been documented in the DRC, and outbreaks of polio have occurred within the country. Poliovirus spreads through the faecal-oral route and can cause irreversible paralysis in a proportion of those infected.
Both confirmation that the childhood vaccination series is complete and an adult booster dose where appropriate are recommended before travel. There is no cure for polio once the infection has taken hold, making vaccination the only reliable protection.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B spreads through blood and other bodily fluids and is considerably more prevalent in the DRC than in Australia. The risk is not confined to lifestyle exposures, as any medical or dental treatment received within the DRC carries an uncertainty around sterility of equipment that makes prior vaccination a practical necessity.
Adults who are uncertain of their hepatitis B vaccination history should confirm their status with a travel doctor before departure.
Cholera
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Cholera is a bacterial infection acquired through contaminated food or water, causing profuse watery diarrhoea that can rapidly lead to severe dehydration if untreated. Cholera risk exists in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly where access to safe water and sanitation is limited.
A cholera vaccine may be considered for travellers at higher risk, including those undertaking prolonged stays, visiting remote areas, working in outbreak settings, or with limited access to safe food and water. Regardless of vaccination status, careful food and water hygiene remains essential, including drinking treated or bottled water and avoiding potentially contaminated foods.
Routine vaccinations
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To protect your health while travelling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is important to ensure all routine vaccinations are up to date, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, and polio. Check whether you are due for a tetanus booster before departure, particularly if you plan on hiking, wildlife activities, or spending time in remote areas where access to wound care may be limited.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended, as influenza circulates year-round in tropical climates rather than following Australia's seasonal pattern. COVID-19 vaccination should also be current in line with Australian public health guidance, including booster doses for travellers aged 65 and over or those with relevant underlying health conditions.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Other health risks in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Malaria
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Malaria is a serious health risk throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and all travellers should take preventive medication regardless of where they visit or the time of year. The most common type in the DRC is Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe form of malaria, which can quickly become life-threatening if not treated early.
The malaria tablets that are effective in the DRC must be chosen before departure, as there is some resistance to older medicines such as chloroquine in the region. A travel doctor can recommend the most suitable option based on your health, activities, and length of stay. Bring enough medication from Australia to cover your entire trip, plus extra in case of delays.
Any fever or flu-like illness during travel or after returning home should be assessed promptly, and you should always tell your healthcare provider that you have recently travelled to a malaria-risk area.
Sleeping sickness
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Sleeping sickness is a parasitic infection spread by the bite of infected tsetse flies, which are found in parts of the DRC’s forests and savannah areas. The DRC has one of the highest numbers of cases worldwide.
Most short-term visitors to cities have a very low risk, but travellers spending time in rural areas, rainforests, or undertaking activities such as gorilla or bonobo tracking may have greater exposure. There is no vaccine or preventive medication available.
Symptoms can appear days to weeks after a bite and may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin changes around the bite site. If untreated, the infection can affect the brain and nervous system, causing severe sleep disturbances and other neurological symptoms. Travellers who develop unexplained fever or neurological symptoms after visiting rural or forested areas of the DRC should seek medical advice promptly and mention their travel history.
Ebola
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Ebola outbreaks occur periodically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Healthcare workers and people involved in caring for patients or attending funerals of suspected cases are at greatest risk.
Travellers should avoid contact with anyone who is unwell with fever or bleeding symptoms, practise strict hand hygiene, and avoid healthcare facilities treating Ebola patients unless essential. Anyone who develops fever, headache, muscle aches, or bleeding symptoms within 21 days of leaving the DRC should seek medical advice by phone before attending a healthcare facility and clearly disclose their travel history. Current advice should be checked before and during travel.
Gastroenteritis
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A high risk of gastroenteritis and gastrointestinal illness exists across the DRC, including in the country's more comfortable accommodation, and the risk climbs further for travellers eating at markets, roadside stalls, or in provincial settings with limited sanitation. Bacterial, viral, and parasitic causes are all common, contributing to symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping within one to three days of exposure.
Oral rehydration is the primary treatment for uncomplicated illness, and most cases resolve within a few days. Given the severely limited medical infrastructure across most of the country, prevention through consistent food and water hygiene throughout the entire trip is particularly critical.
Dengue and chikungunya
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Both dengue and chikungunya are transmitted by daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes and are present across the DRC. Dengue causes sudden fever, severe headache, and profound muscle and joint pain, with a minority of cases progressing to serious illness. Chikungunya produces a similar acute presentation, distinguished by joint pain that can persist for weeks to months following the initial illness.
No specific antiviral treatment is available for either condition, and no vaccine against chikungunya is routinely accessible in Australia. Consistent insect protection throughout daylight hours provides the only meaningful defence against both.
Rabies
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Rabies is a significant and ongoing health concern in the DRC. The virus is carried by dogs and a wide range of wildlife including bats, which may be hunted in some regions and carry a particularly high exposure risk. Rabies is almost universally fatal once symptoms develop, with limited post-exposure treatment available outside Kinshasa.
All contact with domestic and wild animals should be avoided throughout the visit, including bats and primates in forest environments. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended for travellers visiting rural or forested areas, those spending extended time in the country, and those undertaking activities involving increased animal contact, which in the DRC context includes gorilla and bonobo tracking, forest expeditions, wildlife encounters, and any work involving animals.
Any bite, scratch, or contact of broken skin or mucous membranes with animal saliva requires immediate wound washing and prompt medical assessment, regardless of prior vaccination status.
Schistosomiasis
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Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is a parasitic disease acquired when Schistosoma larvae released from infected freshwater snails penetrate intact human skin following contact with contaminated water.
The Congo River and its vast network of tributaries, lakes, and wetlands carry this risk across large parts of the country, including Lake Kivu in the east. All freshwater contact, including wading, washing, and swimming in rivers, lakes, and slow-moving streams, should be avoided throughout the trip.
No vaccine or preventive medication is available, and any traveller with potential freshwater exposure should arrange testing on returning to Australia, as effective treatment is available before the infection causes long-term damage.
Bubonic plague
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Bubonic plague is a rare but serious bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis, which is spread mainly through the bite of infected fleas carried by rodents. Cases have been reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in rural areas where close contact with rodents or their habitats may occur.
Travellers staying in cities or following typical tourist itineraries have a very low risk, but those visiting remote rural regions, undertaking outdoor activities, or spending time near rodent populations should take precautions. Avoid contact with rodents and wild animals, do not handle sick or dead animals, and use insect repellent to reduce flea bites.
There is no widely available vaccine for routine travellers. Anyone who develops sudden fever, chills, weakness, swollen and painful lymph nodes, or other unexplained symptoms after potential exposure should seek urgent medical attention and disclose their travel history, as early antibiotic treatment is highly effective.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial lung infection spread through the air and is relatively common in the DRC.
Short-stay travellers with limited community contact face relatively low individual exposure risk, but those on extended itineraries, working in healthcare, humanitarian, or community settings, or spending prolonged time in close contact with local populations face genuine and meaningful risk of exposure.
TB screening before departure and on return to Australia is recommended for higher-risk travellers, and a persistent unexplained cough or systemic symptoms developing after time in the DRC should be investigated promptly.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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The security environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is complex, with particularly serious risks in eastern regions due to armed conflict, violence, and displacement. Crime is also a concern in major cities, including Kinshasa, with risks of robbery, assault, kidnapping, and carjacking.
Travellers should remain alert, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and be prepared for sudden changes such as road closures or curfews. Consular assistance is limited, particularly outside Kinshasa, so comprehensive insurance and an independent emergency plan are essential. Current advice should be checked before and during travel, particularly the Australian government's Smartraveller website.
Altitude sickness
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The majority of the DRC, including Kinshasa, the Congo River basin, and the vast rainforest regions, sits at low to moderate elevation where altitude sickness is not a concern. However, the Virunga volcanoes in the east reach significant heights. Mount Nyiragongo stands at 3,470 metres, and the ascent to its crater rim will take trekkers above the threshold at which acute mountain sickness becomes a relevant consideration for susceptible individuals. Symptoms including headache, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness can occur above 2,400 metres in those who ascend rapidly.
Travellers planning the Nyiragongo hike should ascend at a measured pace, be alert to early warning signs of altitude illness, carry no plans to push higher if symptoms develop at any point during the ascent, and descend without delay if symptoms do not improve. A travel doctor can advise on preventive medication where appropriate.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Road travel in the DRC carries significant risks due to poor road conditions, unsafe driving practices, crime, and the possibility of armed incidents in some areas. Travelling outside major cities should only be done with experienced operators, reliable vehicles, and appropriate safety planning. Night driving should be avoided.
Wildlife activities, including gorilla and bonobo tracking and volcano hikes, should only be undertaken with licensed guides and operators. Conditions in national parks can change quickly, so local safety advice should be checked before departure.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Travelling to the DRC from Australia requires long-haul travel, with prolonged immobility increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Regular movement during flights, seated calf and ankle exercises, and sustained hydration throughout the journey reduce this risk. Travellers carrying additional predisposing factors, including a prior clotting event, recent surgery, pregnancy, hormonal contraceptive use, or significant overweight, should discuss below-knee compression stockings with a travel doctor before departure.