Vegan Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as DR Congo, the DRC, DROC, or simply the Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. It was formerly called Zaire. It is, by area, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the second-largest in all of Africa
The Congo Basin Countries
The Congo Basin spans six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Together this region makes up one of the most important wilderness areas left on earth and the world’s second largest tropical forest..
Vegan Congo
How vegan friendly is Congo?
Much of traditional cuisine in Africa is naturally vegan, simply for economic reasons.
Meat and fish are seen as luxury items. However, meat consumption is on the rise, due to cheap meat produced on factory farms in industrialised countries being imported into the Congo.
Vegan Restaurants
Most restaurants in Kinshasa are owned and run by foreigners who recreate the cuisine from their own countries.
The only place you will find traditional, home-cooked Congolese meals is in Kinshasa'snganda restaurants, which serve local ethnic food and beer. If you'd like to experience an authentic Congolese meal in a nganda, just let the owner know ahead of time that you don't want any meat or other animal products. Dairy is not often used in Congolese cuisine anyway, so it's mainly just meat that you'll need to watch out for.
Loving hut is a true 100% vegan and charming place. The place promotes the vegan perspective, with workshops, information and so on.
The place is in Gombe, the busy center of Kinshasa, but in quiet and charming back yard.
Loving Hut has a peaceful environment, which offers international vegan foods and you are welcome to enjoy lunch, dinner, deserts, coffee and drinks.
Local Vegan Food
Fufu
Fufu (or foofoo, fufuo, foufou) is made by mixing and pounding separate equal portions of cassava and green plantain flour thoroughly with water. It is then adjusted to either increase or decrease the viscosity of the fufu depending on personal preferences.[
Chikwanga
Chikwanga or kwanga is a traditional bread consisting of cassava flour cakes that are wrapped in dry banana leaves. It is served warm with various stew, soups and sauces.
Lituma
A concept very similar to fufu. The only difference is that the lituma specifically refers to a fufu made with plantains.
- Fragrant rice: it is a grilled rice made with macedonia, garlic, onions and spices.Mbala / Potatoes: are widely consumed in the eastern provinces, but they can be found in each region. Potatoes are typically grilled or used to make a stew.
- Loso ya bulayi: is a rice based on tomato sauce.
- Steamed cassava: it is often prepared with granulated sugar.
- Pili-pili: chili sauce. Present at every Congolese meal.
- Fumbwa: also called koko, is a green leaf rich in iron. This vegetable is prepared in a peanut sauce. It can also be used as a condiment.
- Pondu: pondu, also called "saka saka" and "sombe" is a creamy dish made from cassava leaves. Each province has its own way of cooking it. Some use sweet potatoes and corn.
- Matembele: vegetables with sweet potato leaves
- Shanghai-Miu: light vegetable soup
- Nkovi: similar to fumbwa but prepared with spinach
- Kamchumbari: is a salad made with onion, tomatoes and chilli.
- Machanata: is a stew made of potatoes, tomatoe
Wildlife
The wildlife of the Democratic Republic of the Congo includes its flora and fauna, comprising a large biodiversity in rainforests, seasonally flooded forests and grasslands. Wildlife is threatened by overhunting for bushmeat.
The country is considered one of the 17 megadiverse nations. Its rainforests harbour many rare and endemic species, such as the chimpanzee and the bonobo. Five of the country's national parks are listed as World Heritage Sites and are all listed by UNESCO as World Heritage In Danger.
The civil war and resultant poor economic conditions have endangered much of this biodiversity.
The Congo Basin is abundant in natural resources such as timber, diamonds and petroleum, but current methods and rates of extracting these resources are unsustainable and threaten the future of this vast wilderness area. In addition, unsustainable hunting of wildlife for the commercial bushmeat market threatens to wipe out many species.
Congo Safaris : National Parks
Kahuzi-Biega National Park:
The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is named after the mountains Kahuzi and Biega and is located in the south of Kivu. It is famous for habituated lowland gorilla trekking. The Eastern Lowland Gorillas have seen their numbers increasing recently thanks to efforts by government and conservationists. Unlike mountain gorillas, tracking lowland gorillas gorillas is relatively easy. The need to trek long distances on steep mountain slopes is avoided. Apart from gorillas, visitors can spot elephants, chimpanzee and several species of antelope.
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park was created in 1925 and is among the first protected areas in Africa. The two main activities while on tour of the park are mountain gorilla trekking and hiking the Nyiragongo volcano. You may also spot the endangered and elusive okapi, which is a cross between a giraffe and a zebra. Visit the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphange.
Salonga National Park
Located in the Congo River basin, this is Africa's largest tropical rainforest reserve covering about 36,000 km². Forest elephants, bonobos, bongos, giant pangolins, and the indigenous Congo peacock all call Salonga home. It potentially holds 40% of the world bonobo population.
The world's only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos. The sanctuary helps protect youngsters left orphaned after the killing of adults. Where possible they are release back in to wild.
Save Animals works in animal welfare, with the overall objective of contributing to the awareness of everyone regarding the value of animals and conservation infrastructures intended for their breeding.
We are determined to be the main lobbyist for pets, mainly cats and dogs, in the DRC.