CATARACTS - BRAZZAVILLE BEACH

To the south of Brazzaville, in the continuation of Avenue de l'OUA, is the road to the Djoué - a river that flows into the Congo River at this point - which leads to the bridge of the same name. The beach bordering the cataracts is a 10-minute walk from the bridge, at the end of a path that descends to the left. The 60,000-hectare site offers one of the best views of the powerful rapids of the Congo River. Whether washerwomen during the week, or workers collecting sand for construction, it comes alive at weekends, especially during the heat of the rainy season, when Brazzavillians come here for a picnic. An arm of land forms a tranquil reservoir, offering bathing sheltered from the rapids. The cataracts, with their spur-like rocky outcrops and furiously accelerating currents, have always prevented navigation of the river past Stanley Pool, and as such have shaped the history of the Congo, of trade and commerce between the kingdoms, right up to the plans of Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza and the French colonists. For your enjoyment, you can find grills and cold drinks on site, or better still, stock up on maboké and fruit at the Djoué bridge and eat them facing the river. A small island is accessible from the beach by pirogue, nicknamed Lovers' Island, its name in Lari is much more explicit. It's a haven for couples or groups seeking seclusion. Its banks are studded with rocks polished by the current. Note the nets stretched between bamboo poles, similar to homemade volleyball nets: they are used to catch bats, which will soon be sold on the market, as they are appreciated in broth... Behind this islet lies an island nicknamed Devil's Island, very difficult to access due to the rapids, reputed to be infested with snakes and evil. But it's possible that this seal of magic was deliberately placed on the island: during Marien Ngouabi's presidency, the group of putschists led by Ange Diawara, after their failed coup d'état, took refuge there. Moreover, as the river narrows at this point, its location just a stone's throw from the two capitals means that it could serve as a stopover for all kinds of transits between Kinshasa and Brazza. But the rapids keep watch, and the extreme density of vegetation bears witness to its hostile, inviolate side.