Soyo

Soyo sits at the southern side of the mouth of the Congo, the second largest river in the world by discharge, and the volume of fresh water pushing out means the sea offshore is brown and lighter than the ocean around it for many kilometres. The town itself runs on oil and gas and is not built for visitors, but the river mouth, the mangroves and the beaches on the ocean side are the reason to come, along with a sixteenth-century church associated with the early Kongo kingdom.

What to look for

• The river mouth - the Congo discharging into the Atlantic, visible as a colour change.
• The mangroves - stands along the estuary channels.
• The beaches - Atlantic shore south of the river mouth.
• The old church - a sixteenth-century building from the Kongo kingdom period.

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the most comfortable. The rains from October to April bring heat, humidity and storms. Boat trips on the estuary depend on conditions.

Things to know

The town is an oil base with high prices and limited accommodation, most of it booked by industry. There is little tourist infrastructure and no organised trips. Photography near port and industrial facilities is restricted.

Nearby

Mbanza Kongo is inland to the southeast, and the Congo river runs north.

Key facts