Brazzaville

Brazzaville was a relatively well-developed and thriving city before the civil war began in 1997. Although there is still some fighting in the rural areas, it is a safe city to visit, but the infrastructure has been run down. Many new restaurants and hotels are being built--especially by Lebanese immigrants--and it can be a pleasant stopover to Pointe Noire or visits to the Congolese rain forests.

Brazzaville can be reached from Paris by Air France on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can get there from Johannesburg by Interair on Mondays and Thursdays. One may also travel between Brazzaville and Kinshasa by boat, but it is recommended to fly into Brazzaville if your intent is to visit the Republic of Congo.

Brazzaville is a very very expensive city, as you will find all kinds of things but almost four times the price in Dubai or elsewhere. For example if you are looking to buy a can of Pepsi Cola which is usually 1 UAE Dihram in Dubai and you will get it for XAF 750 (Central African CFA Franc) which is equivalent to 5 UAE dirhams. Same goes for other things. So if you are planning to come here, bring usual day to day usage stuff along with the you.