Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > sub-Saharan Africa
sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Like Tree4Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 9 Oct 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 22
DRC visa

I have been reading about the need to get the DRC visa in your home country. I have a problem as I have not been there in the last 10 years.
That said I have also noted some people have got temporary residence in Togo to get their visa.
Has anyone done this recently since I also read about people being turned away if it is not from their home country.
Any recent experience would be appreciated.
Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 9 Oct 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 826
Quote:
Originally Posted by mandm View Post
[...]I have also noted some people have got temporary residence in Togo to get their visa. [...]

Sounds interesting ;-) Where you read that?

This guy has to return on the border, because his visa wasnt issued in his homecountry: 4x4tripping: Afrikatrip - nicht "nur" eine Afrika Umrundung

When you search the Hubb you find the Post from indlovu http://indlovu.org/?p=1437 who gets their Visa in Libreville, Gabon for 57`500 CFA and passed the DRC without problems. Other guys at HuBB too named Benin as place to optain the Visa.

If you try the Brazzaville/Kinshasa Ferry i suggest to optain it in your homecountry, or to use the way you wrote about ;-)

Surfy
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 9 Oct 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Iceland
Posts: 131
dont try in brazivill you will wait months and then get turned down....we got ours in togo just after easter time without a problem....just ask if there is a way to become a togo resident in the drc embassy and offer money.....realy just offer money

but yes do not try to take the ferry from brazi to kin they will send u back....take the back road...it takes a good few days and is not a easy road...but it worked for us in may...and when u get to this last important bourder with drc...dont be shy with the cash
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 9 Oct 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 826
Quote:
Originally Posted by gazza171 View Post
...and when u get to this last important bourder with drc...dont be shy with the cash
I don't like the cash /bribe stuff...

It makes the Situation worse for the next traveller...

If you like that way - do it. But don't promote such shitty stuff

Specially when there was severall other travellers who did similar stuff without spending money there...

Surfy
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10 Oct 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 22
I have cut and pasted lots of info about visa and borders and unfortunately did not keep source. At the moment I have 2 notes about people getting temporary residence in Togo through the DRC embassy ( most recent is dated 14/3/13), in one case they used it to get another visa. The price is around CFA 10K, which does seem to be a bargain and not a bribe. I was just asking about recent crossings or attempts.
I was intending on using the upstream crossing and not Kinshasha, you have only confirmed my intention.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10 Oct 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 826
Quote:
Originally Posted by mandm View Post
I have cut and pasted lots of info about visa and borders and unfortunately did not keep source.
That was exactly the reason, why i start to write a blog. You can too use it as an private blog just for you visible.. To have a Search-Engine - to add links to a topic - is a easy way to work with
Anyway, thank you for the update!

Surfy
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 14 Oct 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Iceland
Posts: 131
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfy View Post
I don't like the cash /bribe stuff...

It makes the Situation worse for the next traveller...

If you like that way - do it. But don't promote such shitty stuff

Specially when there was severall other travellers who did similar stuff without spending money there...

Surfy

Hay....u may not like it but in Africa a dash is part of life, we managed to get across Nigeria ...throw over 95 road block and ocasianal gunfire without paying a red cent....but when it came to the drc bourder..there are a lot less options...that is the last rea lcorupt Africa bourder.....and there is no other option...officaly they can turn you away as you visa was not issued in your home country.....and yes ive herd it happen....and no there is not anouther bourder post to try.....its that bourder or nothing.....and you are faced with 3 days drive back to rep congo...then 3 days to point noire to ship your vehical....or....when the oficer tells you its 10 dollors each or your ****ed....you pay....its easy to say dont do it online.but when you been on the road for 5 months and you know this is the only entrance point then ok........sure you can say wait it out......as ive seen other white guy wait it out in cells, but this bourder is realy remote...but so close to the end of the hard travel
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 14 Oct 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Iceland
Posts: 131
and in case you were wandering...we payed to enther rep congo aswell.....the embasys of congo purpusly make the visas look bad and make lots of mistakes and then rewrite over the mistakes....when the imigration officer finds this...o boy.....he had the stamp out to cancel the visa...he put the ink on the stamp....and he held the stamp over the passport.....PAY or you go back to libraville to get a new visa ( between 7 and 10 days hard drive).....what are the options...we are not talking about europe here, just because you are right and white, does not mean you cant be beaten or shot ( on my other trip years ago in Congo, one European guy in a landy, was shot and killed by the road block cop for arguing......this is Congo not Senegal)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 3 Nov 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Germany
Posts: 123
Quote:
Originally Posted by gazza171 View Post

... and no there is not anouther bourder post to try.....its that bourder or nothing.....
Very very wrong, there is a good alternative for the Brazaville-Kinshasa ferry which is indeed a nightmare from what i heared from other travellers. Met a turkish guy who was imprisoned on the RDC side for having his visa issued outside his homecountry, his embassy had to bail him out.

On the road from Dolisie to Brazaville you will pass the town of Mindoulli. From there its a 10km ride over a horrible piste/mountain pass to a borderpost where there is one immigration officer who lives in his small hut ( it doesnt get more remote than there, seriously ) and had to walk to the next village to get his stamp ! Easiest border on the whole trip, he was very happy about the 2 packs of cigaretts we brought for him ! No temporary import for our bikes, 5 minutes of time. Don´t try if its raining, its going up and down the hills all the time and the "roads" become so slippery that there is a very big chance you´ll get stuck ! ( we did !!! )

Supply until Luozi is very difficult in terms of fuel, spareparts, food, mobile reception and passing traffic to get help in case something goes wrong.

You can camp in the small villages and the people are super nice. That area gets close to no foreigners and if you are looking for genuine adventure and an unspoiled african experience there you go.

About 15km after the borderpost there is a catholic mission in Miyamba on a hill. For that area its a relativly big complex with school, hospital and church ! They have two generators they are fireing on every evening to watch the news and if you need welding or repairs cos the roads broke your vehicle ( which is not too unlikely ) you can find help there as they have a workshop too. The congolese priests are unbelievable nice and welcoming, they gave us a room to stay in and food when the rains made any progress further impossible. Be nice and polite, leave your european attitude at home and contribute what you can cos they do an extrodinary job out there ! Its worth staying there also when not stuck, the that part of my trip was the most memorable. I waited one week there for a passing vehicle to transport my vespa to Luozi ( broken chassis i needed gas welding for ) but not one single truck passed the road. In the end they put my vespa on their landcruiser as they had to go to Luozi anyway to meet a delegation of other african bishops. It broke down after 50km but thats another story ...

In Luozi itself theoretically you have to register with the DGM ( Direction generale de migration ) and pay a fee of 10$. As i was travelling on a big truck I had to but a friend of mine just went past the checkpoint and took the ferry, depends if you are lucky. There is another mission there you can ask to stay at when needed !

I loved the DRC !!!

Hope this post helps some people on the road, added some photos.

Don´t manage to upload any photos so here some links :

http://s7.directupload.net/images/131103/b47u5xp9.jpg ( road to borderpost )

Directupload.net - r3s4bbfl.jpg ( borderpost )

Directupload.net - kmfpdo8u.jpg ( roads )

Directupload.net - y9e7xsmh.jpg ( ferry )



cheers,
Chris
__________________

Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8 Nov 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 826
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris.perjalanan View Post
Supply until Luozi is very difficult in terms of fuel, spareparts, food, mobile reception and passing traffic to get help in case something goes wrong.

You can camp in the small villages and the people are super nice. That area gets close to no foreigners and if you are looking for genuine adventure and an unspoiled african experience there you go.
Thank you much for sharing the pictures - it let me feel like being there again. Near 1 year ago we cross there too. We did wild camp on the top of one of the hills, just we and the nature.

There was a lightning thunderstorm near we could watch - and we know - if we get a bit of rain - we have to winch us down the hill, with our ground anchor. But we just enjoy the evening and the show, and we got just some raindrops during the night.

The drive on the next morning was slippery, but well to handle. On the small village border we just get the stamp for our passports, not the carnet.

If you come to luozi there are some police people at a kind of a hat on the left. To the ferry you had to tun left, to luozi right.

We try to get our carnet stamped in Luozi turned right, but it was sunday and everything was closed, therefore we just drove back, to the ferry.

The same Police guys at the hut asked us if we did our paperwork, we give them a thumb up and head to the ferry.

We don't had clean papers (no tip or carnet stamp) - and progress through the DRC with mixed feelings about.

This is how bribe stuff starts to catch you. This way it catches gazza171, because the visas wasn't really clean (not from the home country):

Quote:
Originally Posted by gazza171 View Post
officaly they can turn you away as you visa was not issued in your home country…..(...)...when the oficer tells you its 10 dollors each or your ****ed....you pay....
Yes, i had payed too in your situation! But to be honest, i never would take such a risk when i carry a lot of people behind. Also with a stamped visa (who is issued wrong), you can run into trouble at any checkpoint.

If you had to look for so many people, that was more than stupid. It was well known before that the visa has to be issued in your home country (through other traveller blogs).

But I don't have to throw stones when i`m in a glasshouse, right? We too did some stupid stuff, driving through an high percentage of roadblocks, instead of chatting with the guys, too when they sign us to stop.

Therefore we overdrive the last Congo Police roadblock and we had no exit stamp of congo as we was on the village border of the dr congo. guess what..

But it is different when you just had to take care about yourself, or about a group. But we are all back, and it had worked for us. Maybe this discussions help other travelers a bit - to avoid bribe scenarios, to be less silly.

Surfy
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12 Nov 2013
roamingyak's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Portugal
Posts: 1,134
DRC is pretty ****ed up officialdom wise. A tourist being killed there isn't going to be a problem except for the tourist.

I found the Brazza/Kinshasa ferry quite organised and professional apart from the whipping and fake disinfectant cleaning. Things change day to day.

If you don't have a DRC embassy in your home country (i.e. New Zealand) what are you supposed to do?
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 13 Nov 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 826
Quote:
Originally Posted by roamingyak.org View Post
If you don't have a DRC embassy in your home country (i.e. New Zealand) what are you supposed to do?
There is a wikkitravel entry about:

Quote:
As for arriving overland, you're best off if your home country doesn't have a DRC embassy (such as Australia & New Zealand) in which case you can apply for a visa in neighboring countries without too much trouble.
The fun stuff is to tell that to the border guys…

Here a guy has to return at the Brazza/Kinshasa Ferry/Boarder - because his visa was not issued in his home country.

I just want to suggest that we travelers obtain it from home when we are in the planning stage.

That to pay bribes at the is cheaper than to ship the passport for obtaining them at home is another issue. But you can't be shure that it works when you reach the border, and not be shure if the border is the only point you get controlled about (the police officers are happy when they know how to catch you).

Just avoid weak point in your papers when you are able to


Surfy
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 17 Nov 2013
sander.en.marianne's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 10
First of all information about visa application. We did this in Cotonou, Benin. We read somewhere on the internet it was very easy and straightforward. And it was, no residency needed. They only asked for a letter of introduction but accepted also a copy of one intended for the nigerian embassy. Also the provided us with the name of a Hotel to fill in on the application form. Single entry visa for 1 month is 50.000 CFA.

We crossed to DRC august 2013.
DRC border crossing is something different. We got stuck (mechanical problem) between the borders of Congo Brazaville and DRC (at the Luozi border). Resulting in something you'll only see in movies.. DRC is mental!!!
Don't think we'll ever do the Luozi border again, even though how bad the Brazaville/Kinshasa ferry stories may be.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 17 Nov 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 235
Quote:
Originally Posted by sander.en.marianne View Post
First of all information about visa application. We did this in Cotonou, Benin. We read somewhere on the internet it was very easy and straightforward. And it was, no residency needed. They only asked for a letter of introduction but accepted also a copy of one intended for the nigerian embassy. Also the provided us with the name of a Hotel to fill in on the application form. Single entry visa for 1 month is 50.000 CFA.

We crossed to DRC august 2013.
DRC border crossing is something different. We got stuck (mechanical problem) between the borders of Congo Brazaville and DRC (at the Luozi border). Resulting in something you'll only see in movies.. DRC is mental!!!
Don't think we'll ever do the Luozi border again, even though how bad the Brazaville/Kinshasa ferry stories may be.
Thanks for the update!

Happy trails,

Gee
__________________
Travels with Thimba
eBOOK!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 18 Nov 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Iceland
Posts: 131
Quote:
Originally Posted by chris.perjalanan View Post
Very very wrong, there is a good alternative for the Brazaville-Kinshasa ferry which is indeed a nightmare from what i heared from other travellers. Met a turkish guy who was imprisoned on the RDC side for having his visa issued outside his homecountry, his embassy had to bail him out.

On the road from Dolisie to Brazaville you will pass the town of Mindoulli. From there its a 10km ride over a horrible piste/mountain pass to a borderpost where there is one immigration officer who lives in his small hut ( it doesnt get more remote than there, seriously ) and had to walk to the next village to get his stamp ! Easiest border on the whole trip, he was very happy about the 2 packs of cigaretts we brought for him ! No temporary import for our bikes, 5 minutes of time. Don´t try if its raining, its going up and down the hills all the time and the "roads" become so slippery that there is a very big chance you´ll get stuck ! ( we did !!! )

Supply until Luozi is very difficult in terms of fuel, spareparts, food, mobile reception and passing traffic to get help in case something goes wrong.

You can camp in the small villages and the people are super nice. That area gets close to no foreigners and if you are looking for genuine adventure and an unspoiled african experience there you go.

About 15km after the borderpost there is a catholic mission in Miyamba on a hill. For that area its a relativly big complex with school, hospital and church ! They have two generators they are fireing on every evening to watch the news and if you need welding or repairs cos the roads broke your vehicle ( which is not too unlikely ) you can find help there as they have a workshop too. The congolese priests are unbelievable nice and welcoming, they gave us a room to stay in and food when the rains made any progress further impossible. Be nice and polite, leave your european attitude at home and contribute what you can cos they do an extrodinary job out there ! Its worth staying there also when not stuck, the that part of my trip was the most memorable. I waited one week there for a passing vehicle to transport my vespa to Luozi ( broken chassis i needed gas welding for ) but not one single truck passed the road. In the end they put my vespa on their landcruiser as they had to go to Luozi anyway to meet a delegation of other african bishops. It broke down after 50km but thats another story ...

In Luozi itself theoretically you have to register with the DGM ( Direction generale de migration ) and pay a fee of 10$. As i was travelling on a big truck I had to but a friend of mine just went past the checkpoint and took the ferry, depends if you are lucky. There is another mission there you can ask to stay at when needed !

I loved the DRC !!!

Hope this post helps some people on the road, added some photos.

Don´t manage to upload any photos so here some links :

http://s7.directupload.net/images/131103/b47u5xp9.jpg ( road to borderpost )

Directupload.net - r3s4bbfl.jpg ( borderpost )

Directupload.net - kmfpdo8u.jpg ( roads )

Directupload.net - y9e7xsmh.jpg ( ferry )



cheers,
Chris


Hi Chris...
this was the bourder that we took..the back road...NOT the kinshasa ferry,
the point i was trying to make was that this is the ONLY bourder post that you can cross with a 10 ton truck...no other place, so when they ask for the 10usd registration , then there is very very little chouice....if you are lucky and get to the town straight to the ferry ( 2 or 3 ferrys a day, not continualy) then its possable to get past the DCM , but otherwise you are screwed...you pay...then the DCM take you to the Mission for the night and organise it all and take you to the ferry in the morning to make sure you are out of there duristriction



the visas we had issued were all legal and valid...no short cuts made...but if a imigration officer in a remote part of africa wants to make the visa invalid, for any reason, he can....same as in europe or USA or Australia ....a visa is not gaurenteed permision to entre a country...the final dicision is with the imigration offical on the bourder

and some people say they would not take the risks with tourists in the back in remote parts of africa...well everyone knew exactliy how difficult it was....and if they did not feel happy with the situation then they flew over the countrys in question ( as some people did)

so for my 2 cents, the visa from togo is a legal visa, just if the visa is respected is a diffrent matter...out in DRC the boys in uniform do exactly what they want.....and if you cant deal with corupt officals then DRC is not the place to be
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
North to South Visa Info - How's this look? ajctraveler sub-Saharan Africa 68 21 Jul 2014 14:31
Real Russia visa agency. Beware, be very aware... chris Trip Paperwork 13 12 Apr 2014 16:12
Visas – What do you need know before you drive to China? BigO Trip Paperwork 3 15 Jun 2013 00:35
Visa Angola / DRC / Congo Anacondor sub-Saharan Africa 9 11 Aug 2012 18:39
West Africa visas - 2011 experience africano sub-Saharan Africa 12 7 Apr 2012 13:39

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:46.