I've been thinking about Lubumbashi --> Kinshasa for a couple of years now.

I ride a DR650 but might opt for a DRZ 400 if I was to do this. Here are some pic sets from a Dutch HUBB member who did it in a 4x4 a few years ago.

http://www.radiobaobab.be/index.php?id=510

An overland guide was thinking about running a two-month tour, wonder if he will pull it off. Note he cites the dry season as June & July.

http://overlandtravel.com/truck-trav...ca/tour_71.htm

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http://ridefar.typepad.com

I will be in Kinshasa soon and plan on going to Kisangani by barge (then on to Uganda), anyone got contact info for a boat? I don't fancy arriving in Kinshasa having just missed the boat and waiting up to a month for the next one! All I can find on the internet is river cruises costing thousands...

Also read this post, was thinking of going by road initially but the boat sounds cheaper, faster and a whole lot less hassle!

Oops, forgot to ask if it's possible to hop on the boat from somewhere in Congo-Brazza? I'm under a bit of a time constraint at the mo so need to start moving quick. Thanks.

I met this chap in Tanzania in 2007 he is seriuosly adventurous or mad, I hope it is of some use, have a good trip
to-adi - Adrian Guggisberg - Home

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You can be too careful

For all in this thread and wishing to travel to/through DRC, I live already for a while now in Lubumbashi (aid worker - and ex-overlander), so if you need some more info or a place to stay and shower, feel free to contact me...

As a general rule however already: avoid AT ALL COSTS if possible to travel in DRC around 30th of June... I can assure you, not a good time - and although nothing is sure in this country, the 50 years independance this year could all too well create some problems... don't say I didn't warn you

Jef

Hi

If you are planning on heading toward Uganda I'd be clear on who you are listening to. Until the early 1990's it was a popular route - but still dangerous and difficult. Since then about 5 million people have died due to the civil war, and over 10 million have moved to Kinshasa (it's worth asking why?). People will tell you they have been all over DRC. NGO's and UN etc travel all over DRC, but I'm guessing most go east by air, or enter from Uganda. China are building roads and railways to east DRC, but again from the east.

Has anyone done the route recently and got through?

I motorbiked in the west of DRC without problem - but be very clear on what you are taking on if you go east.

Where ever you go - best of luck.

PS. Don't take this advice to either go or not - I'm just saying ask the right questions to the right people.

I can only agree with that - UN and especially INGO's are often very good sources of information, and although they (we) tend to be on the cautious side, they usually know best about local situations in terms of transport and security. In certain area's you can even try to hook on to a convoy or something... in countries like DRC you should always try to hook up with INGO's - and apart from the info you get about the place you are (including the bars!), they can often hook you up with other INGO's in the area you're going through or to... and the nice thing is that you can always ignore their advice anyway

cheers/jef

Hi Trans-African, what experience have you got in northern DRC recently? I ask because we want to drive 4x4s from Sarh - Zongo - Lisala. So much to find out and very few sources of credible info. All the best, Alastair

Hi - I'm now in Kinshasa (liking it here!) and it's make my mind up time for choosing a route across to the east. Would really appreciate comments/thoughts/advice on options, taking into consideration current security issues and weather (onset of rainy season, esp. in north).

1. There is a boat leaving Kinshasa for Kisangani in about 1week's time. It should take 3 weeks to get to Kinshasa. From there, the road to Goma, via Butembo has been recently improved by the Chinese. But not sure of the security situation in this area. I would ideally like to cycle the route but if travel is by convoy for example then I would have to take a truck.

2. I could take the road from Kinshasa to Kikwit, Kananga, Mbuji-Mayi, Kabinda and across to Kalemie. From there I could take a boat to Uvira but then not sure if I could get to Bukavu. I am also aware of the recent UN report about mass rapes in eastern DRC which I believe occurred around Uvira. I may also be able to take a boat from Kalemie to Kigoma in Tanzania but then I would miss out Goma and seeing the gorillas/volcano which I would like to do.

3. I could follow the road from Kinshasa to Lumbumbashi into Zambia. Again, would miss eastern DRC for gorillas etc and rest of east africa. Also I would then be continuing the rest of my journey through Namibia etc when the weather's not great.

Or perhaps you have a better alternative....

Thanks, H

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Helen's Take On...

As Tourist, please forget about any trip to both kivus, Ituri or Haut Huele unless you have been there before and you have strong local contacts.

If you go by the south to Lubumbashi you will still have enough challenge to enjoy your trip...

Takeonafrica,

Hi im looking at doing a trip West Africa trip and want to cross West to East through DRC and have been looking through old threads on the forum looking for information.

I have been chatting to some guys in South Africa about it and have changed my mind about crossing in the northern part but im interested how you went crossing down in the south?

I wont be on a bike but in a very well set up 4x4. I use to work as an overland driver doing Eastern Trans trips so i know not to listern to everything i hear as a lot of people are scared of Africa and the unknown. Having said that i do know that DRC is not the most traveled place by tourist!!! I do know of a guy i use to know getting through DRC through the northern part and he said it was really hard and had some moments but its not as bad as people make out??

Any information you have from your resent trip would be much appreciated

Cheers

Patrick (travelingaustralian) patdavey78@gmail.com

My friends just crossed DRC from West to east on their motorbikes, first they tried the barge Kinshasa Kisangani, but in the end they drove to Lubumbashi:
Home is where we are

exellent video on travelling on the barge to Kisangani:
YouTube - ‪GBEMANI - RAFIOT DE L'ENFER 1‬‏

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http://tony-ontheroad.blogspot.com/

Hi, I crossed, by bicycle a few months ago from west to east - well north west (Zongo on the border with CAR) and exited from Bukavu into Rwanda. Many people on this forum gave me mostly negative advice. There are plenty of corrupt officials around, but overall the Congolese are positive people. There are some tracks I followed that would be impassable on 4-wheels, but if you stick to the main roads (still jungle tracks at times) you should be able to make it through. I blogged about the experience on my website - The Big Africa Cycle - from the UK to Cape Town If you need useful contacts then please get in touch before I delete their numbers from my phone.

All the best, Peter

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thebigafricacycle.com

Hi Peter,

If it would not be to much troble i would love those contact details. At the moment i am planing crossing in the South East to West. Ill have a read of your blog to get an idea of how it was for you. PM me with the contacts.

Cheers Patrick travelingaustralian

I am going to leave from Kinshasa to Kisangani tomorrow, if they dont tell me again to come back the next day because of the diesel that hasnt arrived yet, like they did the second time today.

Has anybody got recent informations about the piste Kisangani - Bukavu ?

greetings from Kinshasa

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Hamburg - Kinshasa - Nairobi - Khartoum - Beirut - St. Petersburg - Hamburg ( powered by a 1975 vespa 125cc ) 2011/2012