Kenya to the west coast (Congo, Gabon ??? )
 

Has anyone got any information on heading from Kenya through Uganda and DRC to the west coast , i am riding up next may from Jo'Burg through Zimbabwe,Mozambique, Malawi ,Tanzania into Kenya , I did the bottom 12 countries 3 years ago ,so looking to get back into it,
I will prob be on a Honda 125 scooter

Doesn't mean it's not possible, but because of various security problems in east DRC, I don't believe anyone has done this route for many many years.

I have managed to track down some info , looks like if i go back to Rwanda , i might be able to get across to Kisangani then take a boat ride down the Congo River for a few weeks to Kinshasa then head to the coast , still gotta find out a bit more info though

Rwanda-Goma-Kisangani sounds the most likely (or perhaps least unlikely) option. Points north (Uganda/DRC border) are still held by ADF and various other armed groups. Points south (Kivu South) have their own issues and will be further destabilised by spillover from the troubles in Burundi.
But Kisangani only makes sense if the river boat is running. If not you may have to come back the way you came. The road west from Kisangani doesn't go anywhere other than Bangui and CAR is probably not a safe destination for now. The road south from Kisangani (via Ikela) may only exist on maps. I've never heard of any travellers going that way. Though soldiers did during the Congo wars. If it is passable and safe it would be a very very long and hard way. There used to be river boats running between Kinshasa and Ilebo but getting to Ilebo from Kisangani would be quite a feat.

Bike storage Lusaka?
 

Hi,

My plan was similar ( from Uganda, where my bike is parked, to the West) but seems impossible.
Other option is going via Tanzania, Zambia and back up again but have no time to do it in 1 go.
First leg Kampala to Lusaka, 2nd from Lusaka to Douala.
For that I am looking for secure long term bike storage in Lusaka. Any advise?
( lusakabackpackers already contacted but negative)

Thanks,

Marcel

Recent fighting between Government forces and (mostly) FDLR around Masisi and Walikale (Operations Sokola 11) probably mean the route to Kisangani is closed -if it was even open beforehand.

The road from Goma to Kisangani through Walikale is a very dangerous one and talking to many people with NGO background who work in that region I can say it is a foolish idea to attemp this trip. I was in Kisangani 2012 and even back then "doctors without borders" strongly (!!!) advices against taking it, can cost your life.

The other way from Goma heading north to Bunia is also not possible at the moment, I have talked with people living in Goma and around "Beni" and further north on that road there is ongoing fighting.

You can take the border at "Goli" in Uganda and then drive "Bunia" --> "Mambasa" --> "Kisangani" !!!

Thats a trip people I know have done recently with small indian 100cc motobikes and its doable in 3 days from Kampala all the way to Kisangani. They didn´t encounter any problems on the way apart the normal corruption with officials !

These infos are not years old but from this month !


Greetings from Kampala,
Chris

There is some really great info here.

I'm researching going from Kinshaha to Rwanda (provisionally via Kikwet, Ilebo, Kananga, Mbuji Maya, Kasongo, Bukavu) and it seems very dificult to differentiate between rumour, myth, legend, fact and opinion, so hearing this up to date info is brilliant - Thank you!

If anyone has any info or advice or suggestions on my provisional route that would be great?

Also if anyone would be interested in joining me then that would also be great - I should be in DRC March/April time

Thanks again

There is a new book - published September 2016 - "Crossing the Congo" by Mike Martin, Chloe Baker and Charlie Hatch-Barnwell. It tells of their very intrepid trip from Kinshasha to South Sudan in 2013. They were lucky to get through - alive and with their Land Rover.

Here is a YouTube video link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWORlge9Mks

I went from Kenya into Congo the long way via South Africa: Adventure experience - motorcycle trip riding across Africa I thought about the direct way as well scince i did not get the Visa for Angola for many months but scipt the idea because it seems tooo wild with no petrol stations etc.

A friend of mine Pat Davey did the trip West Coast - DRC-Kenya by bike (KTM690) mid last year. By all accounts it was tough but he got through. search for him on facebook and you should be able to find some details. If not drop me a PM and I'll dig out his contact details (away from home at the moment so it might take a couple of weeks)

Thanks. Just found him and dropped him a message :)

thanks for some info , this is a positive step

Congo
 

I was in Rubavu recently and spoke to Congolese friends. Its possible to cross the Congo. But not Congolese side from Goma. At present the open Route is transiting Rwanda and Uganda via Bunia and from there to Kisangani. Then on a Congo boat down to Kinshasa. There is a daughter company of I believe Nestle they operate 2 barges where you can hitch a ride. To ship a car cost around 700 $.

Thank you for sharing! This is highly interesting. I am hoping to cross the DRC from the Goma-area to Kinsasha by motorcycles in February. As of now, the barge sounds like one of the more doable options! Would you have any more information regarding the barges, the costs for motorcycle and the estimated duration of the trip.

Any information on routes from Rwanda/Uganda towards Kisangani is also appreciated.

Furthermore, if someone is planning to cross the DRC around February, hit me up.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...-by-ferry-boat
There's a good info which is not too old. I think its these wholesale companies my friend was talking about running barges. A motorcycle should be considerable less than a car. But in DRC is the price dependent on your negotiation skills... A trip like Goma-Rubavu-Kabale-Mbarara-Fort Portal-Masindi-Pakwach-Goli-Bunia-Mambasa-Kisangani and then by barge down the Congo should be doable. By that route cars get shipped to Goma my friend told me. Thats the route I am planning but from Kampala using public transport. According to the information I have from congolese traders they use these route.

I have been out of action for a while due to a few things , I like this newer information , I will hopefully be back on board for May June 2018 and still keen to do this route

I'm currently in Botswana sorting out visa for the DRC. I'm now looking at barging from Kisangani to Kinsasha around mid March.

I'm getting a 3-month visas so I have enough time to wait around for a barge in Kisangani, and have some playroom if it would take longer than anticipated!

sounds good
 

I would be very keen to see how you get on , is Botswana a good place to get the Visa

We didn't manage to get it in Botswana. There's no embassy there, but we got to meet someone who knew someone. Will try again in Dar Es Salaam in about a month! Any new info on the safest entry points in the east?

How are you? Have you done any preparations yet?