DRC Kinshasa -Lubumbashi info update
 

Guys,

Been looking around but except for a blog report of some romanians which ican t read, i couldn t seem to find much updated info.

Anyone idea of current situation on kin-lubum trail?

We are now in accra, in about a month in kinshasa and then to lubumbashi or into angola.

We are keen to opt for lubumbashi. Travel advice is not that negative, it would be dry months (if this year the rain doesn t come early or late..).

But would be good to get some recent info on availability of fuel, food, .. Practical things

Or is everyone going for the paperwork adventure of getting an angolan visa ;-)
Greetz, bart

That's an interesting route that not many people use.
Keep us posted if you opt to head South on that route.

Have you read this report?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/......go-lubumbashi- kinshasa-53285

Hi Bart,

There's 3 bikers doing the route right now: Francis on a BMW, Steven on a light Yamaha, and Stergios on a Vespa (Yes, I know..). See also my last blog report (we travelled from Brazza together).

Send me a pm if you want more info.

Cheers from Namibia,

Gee

I'm currently in Namibia heading North.

I'd like to do this route in reverse, Lumbumbashi to Kinshasa but don't want to do it by myself, i'm driving alone.

Anyone planning on heading that direction around July time?

Thimba, you forgot to mention Katharina on her bicycle. She should be on this road right now.
Here is my report again (2012)
Africa: DRC

Hi elbarto
As I'm planning to drive down to South Africa (from same home country as you), one of the options is to drive this route aswell but onroute head more north and towards get this way into Tanzania..
So I'm very follow this topic if you don't mind.
The only information I have is a 4x4 report belgians did 4 years ago....and made me wonder to take this route....

this is 2 years old but contains road information
[url=http://www.bonoboincongo.com/2012/10/04/final-trip-down-congos-national-road-1-kinshasa-to-lubumbashi/]Searching for Bonobo in Congo

Hello,

I am Romanian, if you give me the link to the site you mentioned I will be happy to translate it to you.

Alex

We made it!
 

We completed this route just a couple of months ago on two Honda XR 250s!

Sure, it was a bit hard but I am glad to report that our experience was enjoyable. 13 days in total, without any big issues!

For any travelers who need information on this route, I wrote our experience at:
Madnomad: Central Africa - mad nomad

and:
Madnomad: Trip diary of mad about Africa - mad nomad

Oh, and if you find yourself in Lubumbashi in 2014-2015, I will be glad to host you, since I 'll be working here for a while!

Happy travels!
Elias

Would love to come visit!! I start my trip in December. London to Cape Town down the west coast. DRC is my number one reason for this trip. I read a story years ago and said to myself it must happen.
I have a blog ive started for the trip.

https://www.facebook.com/drcanafricanadventure?ref=hl

Would love to hear your experiences and suggestions.
Regards
Patrick

Hi Patrick!

I am sure your trip is going to be exciting! The thing is that I just got fired from my job in Lubumbashi, which is great for me, because I'll hit the road again ;-)

Anyway, I would just recommend you to try the route that we took from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi. I haven't heard any other overlander trying that route but I think it's better that the usual one.

After all, it's not such a hell. Just be nice and firm with the policemen. They are some of the worst criminals we have met. However, at the end we escaped without paying any bribes!

I travel really slowly, so there is still a chance to bump to each other somewhere around Africa.

Have a nice trip, mate!
Elias

Hi - should be in Lubumbashi around february 2015 - coming from SA and going to France - will you be around by any chance ? Cheers, Sylvain

Should have read a bit further - Apparently, you're no longer in Lubumbashi. Where do you think that you'll be around febr 2015 ?

Yeah, sorry, I am not in Lubumbashi. On February I should be in South Africa. We can keep in touch and I'll be glad to meet you!

Enjoy DRC!
Elias

We left a week ago now from Joburg. Currently in Lusaka - visa issues to get in DRC - meaning no visa issued to non Zambian residents...

We re going to head to the border tomorrow - some dollars on us as well as a bottle of whisky. We ll see what happens...

The idea is to do the Lubumbashi - Kinshasa stretch. Sounds like all had a good time if sometime rough time on that leg.

More later and sooner if we have some internet connection.

Cheers