how to get from Gabon to Angola
 

hey,

I'm planning to cross Africa overland from Gibraltar to Cape of Good Hope. I will start in January 07, finish hopefully around September.
My plan: Marocco - Mauretania - Senegal - Gambia - Senegal - Guinea Bissau - Guinea - maybe Cote d'Ivoire - Mali - Burkina Faso - Ghana - Togo - Benin - Niger - Chad - Cameroon - Equatorial Guinea - Gabon - ????? - Angola - Namibia- Botswana - Zimbabwe - maybe Mozambique - Swaziland - SA - Lesotho - SA
Unfortunately I don't have info how to get from Gabon to Angola. For safety reason I rather don't want to go via Democratic Rep of Congo (Kinshasa) .
Any sea transport along the coast? I don't want to use any airplane.

For any help - thanks
Michael from Poland

Don't worry about DRC
 

I wouldn't worry about DRC. Going from Pointe-Noir in Congo Brazaville to Matadi is just fine. You'll pass trough the oil rich Bas Congo where stabillity is in the interest of the American oil companies operating there. So you don't pass trough Kinchasa or the always in the bad news east of the country (have a look at the map, DRC is huge country!). And if you happen to feel insecure over there, you can get accross DRC in a day and half or so.

It's advisable to get your Angola visa as soon as possible though (Preferably Liberville, alternatively in Pointe-Noir)

I estimate chances of being robbed in Spain or SA much higher then being robbed in DRC. Really, if you're prepared to travel trough Africa, and deal with everything that is involved, passing trough the extreme west of DRC is not something to worry about.

Heading to Angola via the Congos
 

We are in Yaounde right now heading to Liberville in a week. Have just heard today from another traveler in LIberville now - the Angola Embassy in Liberville is no longer issuing visas, the only other alternative is to 1) get one b4 u leave Europe IF you can or go to Matadi (5day transit, $80US issued in 3hrs). Another group of friends who were eventually sucessful and who are in Luanda now, waited in Pointe Noir for a total of 2wks and eventually gave up.

As for the route - they were told the Cabinda route was not the best option and took the Kinshasa route which they recommended we do as well - had no problems.

hope this helps
slobo

Thanks for reply

That helps me a lot.
The only question I have now is how to get from Pointe Noire to Matadi? On the map the only road is via Brazzaville-Kinshasa. Is any other option?

And write me when you pass Kinshasa, maybe you will have any tips.

Thanks
michael

to matadi
 

That's Braza - Kin or trough Cabinda (means you'll need an Angola visum for that part as well).

I had massive bureaucratic problems on the Madingou - Brazza road because of issues in the pool region, so you might need to approach Braza from the North.

Just to confirm...
 

Hi all,
I am in northern Cameroon at the moment, heading for Yaounde and eventually Angola, Namibia, SA in the New Year. I called the Angolan embassy in Libreville this morning and they confirmed that they are not issuing visas 'for tourists'. They said Point Noire was the only place to go, but from the previous posts, it doesn't sound like a goer.
I will post info as I find out more and is anyone else has any recent news regarding how to get into Angola from Gabon, can they please drop me a line or post it here.
Cheers,
Lois

'recent' info
 

Hello kozisyn and Lois,

Try contacting the Hubb-member 2cvfred on radiobaobab.be.
The last update on their site is about this puzzle (in dutch).
As far as I can tell by a quick glance at their amuzing adventures, they planned to go from Brazzaville to Point-Noire, in order to go from there to Cabinda and Matadi. They reached Point Noire but didn't succeed in getting visa's and returned to Brazzaville, to go from there to Kinshasa.

Good luck

BAd news
 

Sorry all,

While all these things could change daily, we were in POinte Noire before Fred and Josephine for a week ( although with crap french ). Another week with F&J trying everything, but gave up.

Spanish cyclist behind us gave up, and flew.

Good news is that transit visa at Matadi is easy. BAd news is that 5 day transit is very difficult and no fun. ( final good news is that exit officials did nt care that we were 4 days late )

Other hope is that some cyclists got help from an angolan priest at MAison Leiberman, Libreville, and got a proper visa. Worth a try.

All these stories and more soon on http://africa.alanjoans.com

JT

Matadi it is then!
 

Hi JT,
Thanks for the lowdown, sounds like it's into DRC for me!
I'll be in Yaounde tomorrow (9/12/06) and heading into Gabon in early Jan. If anyone's going the same way, drop me a line.
Cheers,
Lois

Angola Visa
 

Hi!

We stay now in Lome and we find the Angola Embassy here.
The Embassy opend at the 5.1.2007 after the Holliday. We try to get the Visa here in Lome!

If it is not possible we take the transit visa in Matadi.....

Greetings from Togo Werner+Claudia


P.s. If anyone is around we stay at the camping Chez Alice in the east from Lome!

Hi there.

I am currently in Cape Coast - not too far from Lome. Did you 2 come from Kumasi to the coast of Ghana a couple of days ago? A policeman said that a German couple on bikes came through the day before us.

I also saw a lone biker between Tamale and Kumasi, but I was eating at the time and he didn't see us. I tried to catch him up, but he was going at least as fast as me, as after 160km, he was still 10mins ahead, according to a friendly policeman.

Let me know if you can get the Angola visa in Lome and if there are any time constraints/multiple entry available.

Thanks, Martin

Hi Martin!

The Angola Visum in Lome is not so funny..... they want a letter from our tourist-minister... whatever ;-((

Some of us try it with the Embassy from our homecountry, have a look i don't know.

May be we see us in Lome??

Harmatan greetings from Lome Werner+Claudia

Okay, so it sounds like wait until Gabon/Congo before getting too worried about it?

I have been refused the Nigerian visa in Accra, being told that I have to get it in Benin - anyone else had this/done this?

Martin

Update from Luanda
 

I am in Luanda, Angola now. The last week or so since entering the Congo have been er... challenging! An update of the Congo section is on my website now www.loisontheloose.com in the Trans-Africa Journal section.

I took the Brazzaville/Kinshasa route and then went to Matadi (DRC)where I got an Angolan transit visa at the Angolan Consular in town. A 5 day transit visa is all they will issue and it costs 80USD, but it is all very straightforward and the border is fine. I took me about 2 and a half hours to get the visa, but I have heard of other people waiting for up to 5 hours. The route from Kinshasa to Matadi is smooth glorious tarmac, so make the most of it, because you won't see any again until Luanda!

Cheers,
Lois

Mini HU meet at Chez Alice, Lome?
 

I should have been surprised, but after thinking about the KTM reliability and the fact that there is a KTM dealer and workshop in Lome, Im not. I arrived to find 9 other overland bikes (5 of them KTMs) and most of the people riding them are members of this site.

Anyway, someone said you can maybe get Angola visa in Abudja? Will keep you all posted on developments (I have sent out 2 scouts to report back, before I get there).

Ride safe and if youre near Lome, come and visit.

Martin