Angola vs DRCongo (any recent experience)?
 

Right now we are in Accra (Ghana) applying for visas. We heard this probably will be the only place to get a Angola visa. However this comes at a very high prices (160 USD to be precise). We also found out that hotels, etc. are very expensive in that country. So that got us thinking about going to DRC instead, as we already need a visa for that one as well.

Does anybody have any recent experience with DRC or Angola?
Where to get our visas? We read there should be a DRC embassy in Benin, but we are unable to find the exact location. How about Yaounde (Cameroon)? Not much info on that one as well. We would prefer Cameroon since it is easier then for us to say when we expect to be in DRC.
What are the roads (RN1) like in DRC? Are they similar to Guinea (Conakry) or worse? And what about the bribes and security? Up to now the only bribes we had to pay was at the borders.

Hi, 160 Euro for the Angola Visa is a good rate if you really get it for this price. I had to fight more then 3 months and payed even more for invitation letter etc. to finaly get a 4 days transit visum. Angola Visa are known to be hard to get. The people at the embassy allways promis you "tomorrow tomorrow..."

Here you can see how the roads look like. I never payed any bribes or hotels:

http://afrikamotorrad.eu/?report=en_westkueste

enjoy Africa, Tobi

Hi Sander and Marianne,

Maybe you have already read these Kinshasha - Lubumbashi reports:


Africa: DRC

Democratic Republic of Congo: Lubumbashi to Kinshasa - Expedition Portal

Happy travels!

I had listened all west-route transafrica travellers who wrote a blog from 2012 in my blog:

Trans-Africa: Gerade Unterwegs...

There you can pickup "newer" informations.

I also try to collect the travelers from 2013.

Many of the added travelers are not listed on the africa overland network, are picked up from the Google and from the guestbooks of the Sleeping Camel / Hippocamp at sample or we meet them on our way.

We did our trip at 2012/13 - but we start with all Visas in our Pockets and have no experience how to optain them on the way.

Surfy

Get the Angolan Visa in Accra. Reserve an expensive hotel for a few nights and cancel it after you get your visa. I was able to speed down the entire country in under 48 hours and wild camped both nights without any problem. 90% of the roads are fantastic.

If RN1 is the road from Kinshasha to Matadi then it's in fantastic shape (Chinese) and the only way to go to Angola. I tried the "road" that goes directly south and it was a nightmare before I turned back defeated.

Get your DRC visa in Benin, it's super easy and the guy who issues it is really helpful.

I just got to Namibia a couple of weeks ago, so this is all current info.

If you can get the Angola visa for that price, get it and enjoy the country; I couldn't so I crossed DRC. Are you on a bike or a car ? I think people in a 4x4 are having a much harder time than bikers on the tough roads of DRC, for various reasons.

Don't try to compare the roads of DRC to Guinea, it doesn't even look close to anything else on this planet (me think). It's not an alternative to Angola it's an adventure in its own right, and that's how it should be looked at. It's a serious commitment - although quite a few people have done it and all survived to tell the tale (as far as we know).

About the bribes and hassles: it's entirely manageable, if you have the right attitude. I think it's pretty much par for the course for Africa.

My report:

Tour d'Afrique - and then some - Page 9 - ADVrider

Laurent

I got DRC visa in Conakry - was v easy (they didn't even mind that I didn't have enough cash and processed the visa anyway and I went back and paid the next day! If you still want the location let me know and I'll try and remember where it was exactly.

DRC RN1 is in no way comparable to Guinea.
From Kin to Kikwit, i.e. first 500km it is all paved. Rivers have bridges too.
Katanga province has better roads and it was paved from Fungurume-Lubumbashi-Zambia border.
The bits between are variable to say the least. It's much easier on bike as can use footpaths between villages. With 4x4 your only option is the 'main' road. From Kamuesha to Kananga the main road had been smoothed when I was there and was also OK. Depends on the season too. It was dry when I went. Would be much much harder in the wet!!

Kin to Kikwit pics
Where the 'fun' begins pics - Kikwit to Tchikapa

If you do go that way, stop at Lac Mukamba, half-way between Kananga and Mbuji-Mayi - it's beautiful. Even better, take a detour to Lac Fwa (but you'll want to get permission in Dimbelenge and you might get hassle from the local village chief if he thinks you're after their diamonds!

Lac Mukamba pic
Lac Fwa pic

As for bribes - it is probably easier with a bike, but patience is the key. more often than not i was bought food by 'immigration' guys after I refused to give them anything as a bribe.

Meant to say, I went through Sept-Dec 2010. So getting on for 3 years ago... but I suspect the roads have not changed so much. I know people in Katanga I can contact for more up-to-date info...

Hi,

Mandy at AA Safaris. 18US and she will supply all paperwork required for a visa for Angola. Angola is not that expensive if you eat at supermarkets and camp. Free campsites are all over.

Angola very safe, bushcamp will be fine aswell.

In my time of crossing my friend in Lumbumbashi said that the road was totally destroyed to Kinshasa... He worked in Lumbumbasi airport. Should be ok now I guess.

we got our visa in Accra aswell...not to hard to get...did not need a resavation or any other papaerwork...but i think because not to many others try to get it there

you have to pay it into the bank in USD no chouce

you can get the DRC visa in Benin...but be cerfull not to cross at the beach in Brazzi as they will send you back with a canceld visa...find out more at the hippocamp ( good buffee and free camping)

and from what ive heard and from my experiance of taking the back road into DRC dont even think of crossing DRC ( to zam) unless you have a couple of months and lots and lots of cash to spare....eg desil over 3 usd a liter in the countryside... even 1.50 euro in Matadi

hope this helps

Hi,Gazza171

could you inform how many days you waited for authorization from Luanda in Accra?

I applied yesterday but the lady told me to wait as maximum waiting time is 8 working days. I am a little bit worries as I leave for Benin next Tuesday...

Thanks!

Tian

hi, sorry i cant remember exactly how many days it was....it was over easter holidays aswell so i know that added a little time to it...but as far as i remember, when she said for me to come back...it was ready....i think it was around a week and a half

but realy...do anything you can to get the visa there...its your best last chance.....after you have to be lucky

even if you have to overstay a visa or get a new visa issued...do it in accra if you can....big millys is not such a bad place to stay...and you can always so see more of ghana when you are waiting

just looking at my passport now....the benin visa was issued on the 27th of march and angola visa issed 10 of may......and seeing that its not possable to go every day to the embassy ( only open some days, but they did let us go in one of the day it was not open,i cant remember why now...maybe we were late)

so it took between 1 and a half and 2 weeks

Highly appreciated!

Tian

Hi,

Did you get a transit or a 30-day visa in Accra?

Happy travels,

Gee