There are a number of good restaurants in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, but prices are high. Hotels and restaurants which cater for tourists are generally expensive and serve international and national dishes. Small restaurants and snack bars offer Chinese, French and Belgium food.

National specialities:
• Moambe chicken with rice and spinach.
• Fried yams.
• Corn and beans.

National drinks:
• Paupau paradise.
• Pineapple bugada.
• White elephant (coconut, rum and milk).

Tipping: 10% service charge is added to hotel and restaurant bills. Extra tipping is unnecessary.

Kinshasa is the best place for nightlife, especially in the sprawling township of the Cité, where most of the population live. In spite of recent political turmoil, the local music scene is thriving. There are hundreds of dance clubs in Kinshasa. Congolese music is popular throughout Africa as well as in Europe and the USA.

Local craftware includes bracelets, ebony carvings and paintings. The large towns all have markets and shopping centres, selling everything from fresh ginger to baskets and African carvings.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1800.