Flying a Bike Kinshasa to Lubumbashi

[brendanvanson]

Hey guys/girls,

I've started my cruise through down Africa to Cape Town with the scooter I bought in Mali and am starting to figure out Angola. I'm thinking of skipping it by getting to Zambia via Lubumbashi.
1) Is it possible to ride to Lubumbashi, or are the roads too bad (keep in mind I'm on a cheap asian made scooter)?
2) Has anyone flown a bike to Lubumbashi? If so, what were the costs?

Cheers!!!

B.

[Titbird]

Hi Brendan,

I would definately recommend flying, I drove that stretch in june, but that was dry season, in the wet, it become near impassable.
Africa: DRC
Some Belgian friends of mine flew to Lubumbashi a bit later and it turned out cheaper, faster and a LOT easier, driving will take weeks and fuel and water will be a problem, I would never do it alone.
This is my friends blog (in Dutch)Kin-Lubum: Ready for take off! |
and this is the airline they used, led by a Belgian
Trans Air Cargo Service (TACS) Fleet Details and History - Planespotters.net Just Aviation

Are you still in Burkina? In Ouagadougou, check out 'Le pavillon vert' , nice place, owner is a french biker.
Also, please keep us informed how the border crossings go with this Malian bike, I also bought a little chinese bike in Mali for my friend, but we didn't take it over the border. These bikes drive relatively well, don't they.

Have fun.

[brendanvanson]

Originally Posted by Titbird

Hi Brendan,

I would definately recommend flying, I drove that stretch in june, but that was dry season, in the wet, it become near impassable.
Africa: DRC
Some Belgian friends of mine flew to Lubumbashi a bit later and it turned out cheaper, faster and a LOT easier, driving will take weeks and fuel and water will be a problem, I would never do it alone.
This is my friends blog (in Dutch)Kin-Lubum: Ready for take off! |
and this is the airline they used, led by a Belgian
Trans Air Cargo Service (TACS) Fleet Details and History - Planespotters.net Just Aviation

Are you still in Burkina? In Ouagadougou, check out 'Le pavillon vert' , nice place, owner is a french biker.
Also, please keep us informed how the border crossings go with this Malian bike, I also bought a little chinese bike in Mali for my friend, but we didn't take it over the border. These bikes drive relatively well, don't they.

Have fun.

Thanks for the advice... I'll have a look.

Yeah, the Jaykarta's (KTM fakes) actually drive really well... mine is names Ann Murray and she is my new best friend. If I ever move somewhere permanently I want one with me ahah

[ozranger]

check out my post in shipping bikes
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Website Motorcycle Shipping Search Results page
it has the shipping guys number who speaks good english.
i shipped with CAA. it cost me 130 bucks for me and $200 for the bike. (could have been 300 can't quite remember) they charge per kilo, so your scooter would be a lot cheaper! i was riding a KLR650 with a heavy load.
they made me pour out my battery acid, which was odd. but i just gave a guy a couple bucks at the lumbumbashi airport to go buy me some.
they will also wrap up you bike in card board for a couple dollars.

the shipping depo is not at the airport, so don't waste your time going out there. its on Rte des poids lourds. near the intersection with boulevard lumumba. you can also buy your tickets there.
CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation - Kinshasa - R.D.Congo

hope this helps. hit me up if you need more info.

ps watch out for shifty folks at kin airport. police and employees, they will tell you your bags weigh too much with their finger or foot on the scale.

[brendanvanson]

Originally Posted by ozranger

check out my post in shipping bikes
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Website Motorcycle Shipping Search Results page
it has the shipping guys number who speaks good english.
i shipped with CAA. it cost me 130 bucks for me and $200 for the bike. (could have been 300 can't quite remember) they charge per kilo, so your scooter would be a lot cheaper! i was riding a KLR650 with a heavy load.
they made me pour out my battery acid, which was odd. but i just gave a guy a couple bucks at the lumbumbashi airport to go buy me some.
they will also wrap up you bike in card board for a couple dollars.

the shipping depo is not at the airport, so don't waste your time going out there. its on Rte des poids lourds. near the intersection with boulevard lumumba. you can also buy your tickets there.
CAA - Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation - Kinshasa - R.D.Congo

hope this helps. hit me up if you need more info.

ps watch out for shifty folks at kin airport. police and employees, they will tell you your bags weigh too much with their finger or foot on the scale.

Thanks, that's brilliant news mate! I'm definitely going this route when I get there. How much notice did you need to give them? AKA, how early did you book this before flying? I'm stoked to find this out as it will be cheaper and allow me to check out Zambia as well!!! Cheers!

[ozranger]

i went around to all the different cargo guys for a couple days. rang CAA about 2 days before i wanted to leave. pack the bike up the day before. made sure the bike was going to be on the same flight as me. then bought the ticket at the cargo depo that day.
when i arrived in lumbumbashi i just walked around to the other side of the plane. they passed me my bike and i just set it up in the car park

[brendanvanson]

Originally Posted by ozranger

i went around to all the different cargo guys for a couple days. rang CAA about 2 days before i wanted to leave. pack the bike up the day before. made sure the bike was going to be on the same flight as me. then bought the ticket at the cargo depo that day.
when i arrived in lumbumbashi i just walked around to the other side of the plane. they passed me my bike and i just set it up in the car park

Brilliant! Thanks again mate!