Travel in Congo

Following the Civil wars that occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo since independence,  travel to the destination has been limited and only undertaken by the most adventurous or daring travelers, along with businessmen.

Fortunately, the Congo is no more. The expanses of Congo stretching from Kinshasa to Goma, the Rwanda border to the Congo River system until its emptying in Atlantic Ocean, destination Congo only features amazing riches of the continent of Africa with diversity of wildlife, scenery and culture all thriving in a tranquil and peaceful environment.

With the assistance of the Chinese, a range of infrastructural developments, including roads and rail lines, connect Democratic Republic of Congo with the neighbouring states, especially the Republic of Congo.

The range of airlines that also connect to Congo includes Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airways, South African Sky, Air France, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines.  Kinshasa, the main capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, features a range of twenty (20) carriers that operate flights to it.

The City of Kinshasa is one of the lively cities on the continent of Africa with rich internet access. International cuisine, including European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Western and Asian cuisine, is available in most of the restaurants and actually across the main Cities of Congo, while nightlife is full of fun listening to the famous indigenous Lingala songs.

At the center of the famous Congo Basin, ranked as second-largest tropical rain forest in the world, following the Amazon, lies the famous Congo River, noted to be offering the world’s greatest river journey. Apparently, the cruise along the Congo River is possible, subject to correct home work.

Regarding the accommodation, a range of comfortable hotels and lodges, including 5-star hotels, are being constructed across the main towns, while Safari lodges present accommodation for travellers on Congo Safaris and tours.  The Kinshasa Hotels range from around $60 but a Congo safari undertaker-friendly room is around $80 – $300.

Best Time to Travel

The average day time temperature in Democratic Republic of Congo is 24 degrees Celsius, while the nights are between 16 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius.

The Annual rainfall ranges from 1100mm to 2000mm, while seasons of the year are categorized into four, namely: October to December, which is a long rainy season, January to February, which is a short dry season, March to April, which is a short rainy season; and May to September, which is a long dry season.

The Odzala National Park is the main destination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and features 1500mm every year. The best time to visit it is from May to December.

KINSHASA

Kin La Belle stands a long-aged misnomer nestled in its monster of electric African sky, visible across all the streets. Kinshasa stands as one of the most vibrant African cities, famed for its indigenous music and less dangerous compared to some other African cities.  Lola ya Bonobo is about an hour’s drive from Kinshasa, which is the popular site for day excursions from the city.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo features the best hotels in Central Africa, including the famous Kempinski Residence and Fleuve Congo Hotel.

Though the nightlife is buzzing in Kinshasa, you can’t take a walk in a range of places at night, apart from the areas close to embassies and good hotels.

Kinshasa is popular for its history, music, and culture, the neighbouring McVallee Lake, and the Bonono Orphanage.  The boat ride to Kisangani is a lasting adventure into the Congo’s darkest wild.  The Avenue de Tourisme presents the best scenic drive along the River Congo in Kinshasa.

The men in uniform are common along the road drives in the Democratic Republic of Congo and they may or may not request money from foreigners but it is advisable to carry along a pocket change for a bottle of soda for them. It is important to keep calm and have a have a sense of humor, as it will help to make things smooth along the way.

If you opt to connect to Kisangani by public ferry, be prepared for an awful but lasting adventure of its own. It is always expensive, if not dangerous, to procure or hire a boat to Kisangani. The public ferry departs Kinshasa with 2–4 platforms in tandem that turn into floating, dirty market places every 10–20 days.

Connecting to Kisangani takes about 15–20 days and the boat does not pass through the secluded and beautiful parts of the Congo River. There is a need for flexibility until you land on a bunk and though you may be required to secure a four-bed room alone, the guarantee is low that you will have it yourself.

Mosquitoes and theft are common along the ferry, and this is not a cruise ship, so it is hot, not clean, and unsafe. It is always exciting to see some fish being sold, some of which have never been documented in science before.

Private boat operators also exist and can be used where you travel in a covered boat marked by powerful engines along with a full team of porters, cooks, camping gear, and permits.

On a sad note, at about 400 km, the River Congo stretch in the south of Kisangani has developed, and man-eating crocodiles and canoeing and kayaking should be avoided along that area.

Is Congo safe?

It can be noted that Congo is Safe. Kinshasa City is recorded as being even safer than Johannesburg and Nairobi, where the crime rate is high. However, like other cities, there are parts of Kinshasa that one should not walk into alone at night.

Despite the negative media coverage positioning Congo as a land of war-torn people, the destination Congo is steadily rising from the civil war conflict, especially to the east of the country and presents a harmonious travel platform for world travellers. But the issues of men in uniform still remain, though could be avoided with a friendly gesture and compliance.

CONGO VISA INFORMATION AND AIRPORT HASSLES IN KINSHASA

Travelers intending to take up Democratic Republic of Congo safaris and tours require a valid passport and tourist visa.

The Passport should be valid for six (6) months, with at least one blank passport page on which the Visa can be stamped.

You require a letter of invitation from your host company in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which you will attach to the visa application letter submitted to the local embassy or online at Travisa. The letter of invitation has to specify the period of stay, place of stay, and contact information.
The computer-generated flight itinerary from a travel agency or airline detailing the port of entry and exit from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is also required.

Other requirements include a copy of the birth certificate and a notarized consent letter for minors; medical requirements, especially the International Yellow Fever Vaccination; and a financial statement with enough money to sustain you during the entire period of your stay in DR Congo.

Important to note is that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is usually given as Congo-Kinshasa to avoid confusion with the neighbouring Congo Republic.

The duration of the Congo Tourist Visa, which can be obtained at all accredited Congo Consulates the world over, is 90 days for single entry, but multiple entry visas are also available.

Kinshasa Airport though not so developed, handles considerable traffic compared to Brazzaville across the River.  At Kinshasa, you may have issues going through the Immigration formalities in terms of delay and intensive scrutiny but a small tip can take you through such hurdles.