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The '''Democratic Republic of the {{infobox Country|country = of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo|map = <map lat="-2.6531907779834" lng="22.226453530122" zoom="7" view="0" float="right" />|language = French|capital = [[Kinshasa]]|pop = 71,712,867|currency = Franc Congo|hitch = <rating country='cd'' is a country in central Africa bordering Angola, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia./>}}

The '''Democratic Republic of the Congo''' is a country in central Africa bordering [[Angola]], the [[Republic of the Congo|Republic of Congo]], the [[Central African Republic]], [[South Sudan]], [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]] and [[Zambia]]. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, often called DR Congo, RDC or Congo-Kinshasa is not to be confused with it's neighbor its neighbour to the north the Republic of the Congo (often called Congo-Brazzaville).

Congo is widely recognized as the richest country in the world in terms of natural resources, but it currently has the second lowest GDP pr. Capita per capita in the world.

There is are currently only three relatively small areas safe for tourists, backpackers and hitchhikers. Those are the capital Kinshasa in western Congo, the town of Goma on the border to Rwanda in eastern Congo and the bush land of the easternmost part of the Orientale province in north-eastern Congo. There are few roads and plenty of militias between these areas, and trying to get from one to another overland will cost you months of traveling and most likely your life. It's not worth trying! Experience in 2012 from member [[User:Thumbingmyway|Thumbingmyway]] goes to show that the above paragraph is not up to date, with all due respect. One can hitch-hike across the DRC from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa in 2 or 3 weeks, weather, road conditions, and vehicle reliability taken into account. The drivers of vehicles will expect payment. The mere presence of a westerner makes instantly far wealthier than more than 80% of the population, which is incredibly impoverished. However, hitch-hiking long distances is more than possible. As of 2013, the statement on the top is indeed flase with fighting raging in Goma and the Kivu provinces. This only goes to show how essential it is to check the current security status before hitting the road in DRC. == Hitchhiking in Kinshasa == Kinshasa is a huge city a population of more than 10 million. It is considered on the same level as high risk African capitals as Lagos or Nairobi.  "Hitchhiking" is the main way anyone without a car gets around in Kinshasa, as there is no public transit system. When waving at the cars you will get a ride in a matter of seconds, although at busy time there will be 15 other people on every corner, also waiving at cars. If you are travelling within Kinshasa, it helps if you ask for the hand signal for your destination neighbourhood. Drivers will look for people signalling for the same destination as them and may not waste their time stopping otherwise. You will be expected to pay for your ride. Experience in 2012 from member [[User:Thumbingmyway|Thumbingmyway]] goes to show that the above paragraph is not up to date, with all due respect. There is public transport in Kinshasa, in the form of motorcycle taxis, shared minibuses, buses, and shared car taxis. It may not be "publi transport" in the truest sense as it's mostly privately owned and not government provided, but in that respect it conforms with the rest of Africa in transport forms. The writer of this post found that the majority of the Kinshasa public uses one of these forms of transport, and also used it many times himself, finding it safe and reliable. Hitching within the city is possible.

 Many Congolese will tell you that the road shown on maps connecting Kinshasa in the west to Lumbumbashi in the south does not exist or is a huge city a population of more than 10 millionimpassable. In 2011 Hitchwiki member [http://hitchwiki.org/community/members/Notapalooka/ Alyssa] hitched the route. It is considered quite safe took about 25 days of being on the same level as high risk African capitals as Lagos road every day (or Nairobisometimes being stuck in the mud, but still on the road). When waving at the cars you will get There were very few vehicles passing - maybe 5 a day, all bug trucks in terrible condition that were extremely overloaded. At one point a hitched ride in a matter of secondstruck took 6 days to go 200 km due to mechanical problems and mud. You will be expected There were few security issues and contrary to pay for your ridepopular belief about African police, they did not insist on bribes, instead generally offering food and help hitching onwards. Experience in 2012 from member [[User:Thumbingmyway|Thumbingmyway]] confirms that the above paragraph is accurate in the description of hitching long distances in the DRC.

Further to the north. The part of the Oriantale province bordering the West-Nile region of Uganda is safe. Day trips from Nebbi or Arua in Uganda are okay. any Any further and things become difficult.