Republic of Congo
Noted for its lowland gorillas and wild chimpanzees, Congo is characterised by dense rainforest and impenetrable jungle juxtaposed against a narrow 169km coastal strip that plays host to a nascent oil industry. Outside the French-flavoured capital of Brazzaville, attractions include the surf beaches of Pointe-Noire, the white-water Congo River rapids and - in 13, 600-sq-km Odzala National Park - one of the Africa's largest and least known tropical ecosystems.
with flights starting at $690 per person!