Electricity and sockets
Yes – from the UK you need a travel adapter for Congo, because the sockets there (Types C and E) will not take your plugs.
Sockets at the destination
For Congo the records list Types C and E at 230 V and 50 Hz. A converter can stay at home; Congo supplies 230 V.
You will find identical sockets in Madagascar, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Travelling further to Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania means a different adapter. In Africa, 21 of 55 recorded destinations use exactly this combination.
Protective earth
Mixed supply: Type C without earth, Type E with earth. Which one is in your room only shows on arrival.
Quick check by home country
| From the UK | adapter for Types C and E | Check route → |
|---|---|---|
| From the US | adapter for Types C and E | Check route → |
Phone chargers, laptop supplies and 230 V hair dryers from the UK all run in Congo without a converter. Check your own device →
The same sockets are used further afield: Belgium, Guadeloupe, Slovakia, France, Czechia and French Guiana.
Common questions
Yes. UK plugs do not fit the sockets in Congo.
Congo uses Types C and E at 230 V and 50 Hz.
No converter needed – Congo runs at 230 V.
If a socket gets hot, crackles or smells burnt, unplug the device straight away.
Data for Congo from IEC World Plugs and IEC TR 60083. Sources and method →