• The capital city of Brazzaville is situated on the west side of Malebo Pool on the River Congo. Sights include the beautiful Basilique Sainte Anne, the colourful suburb of Poto Poto, the Temple Mosque, the markets at Oluendze and Moungali, the National Museum, the Municipal Gardens and the house constructed for de Gaulle when Brazzaville was the capital of Free France.

• Play golf at the golf course in Brazzaville, the Cité du Djoué.

• The first church in Congo was built in 1882 by a French priest and is located in Linzolo, 30km (19 miles) from the capital. The city is also home to the regional seat of the World Health Organization and a very good market.

• The historic village of M’Bé is the capital of King Makoko.

• Some good fishing is available at Lac Bleu.

• Visit the Valley of Butterflies.

• Venture onto the Congo Rapids. Waterskiing on the Congo and Kouillou rivers is a popular sporting activity in peacetime.

• Find a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside at the Loufoulakari Falls (held to be the most impressive falls in the region) and the Trou de Dieu.

• The main town on the coast is Pointe-Noire (with its lively evening market), and there are several good beaches close by in the region known as the Côte Sauvage. Around 20km (12 miles) from the city are the villages of Loango and Diosso. Loango was the main embarkation port for slaves and it is estimated that more than 2 million people were transported from here. The Gorges of Diosso, spectacular cliffs formed by the erosion of the sea and the wind, are worth visiting.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.