麻豆社

A journey in sound along the mighty Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This adventure, using cutting-edge binaural audio, transports you to the heart of the country on the eve of long-delayed elections. You鈥檒l encounter busy ports, vibrant markets and rare gorillas. You鈥檒l learn why this mineral-rich country the size of western Europe is so poor. You鈥檒l ride on the river to the soundtrack of its music, meet its wrestlers, its acrobatic fishermen and explore how history has shaped what the Congo is today. You will travel into the heart of the Ebola outbreak with United Nations peacekeepers, go hunting with pygmies, wander through former President Mobutu鈥檚 ruined palace in a town trapped in time, and explore the cobalt mines which will drive the electric cars of the future. So put your headphones on, shut your eyes and let Alastair Leithead, the 麻豆社鈥檚 Africa Correspondent, take you on an epic adventure in sound in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Produced by Becky Lipscombe.

Image: Forest with mangroves at one of the tributaries of the Congo River, shortly before its mouth into the Atlantic Ocean at the town of Muanda. This area is protected as the Mangroves National Park. (Credit: guenterguni/Getty Images)