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Morocco to South Africa via Gabon Morocco to South Africa via Gabon
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 17 Nov 2009
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Originally Posted by steve.lorimer View Post
All the reasearch I did suggested otherwise. I'm sure that you could wing it on the DRC border, perhaps with a fake letter of invitation, but if you can go through Abuja and get your visa there, it's both easy and you have all your ducks in a row for when you do eventually get to the DRC border.
Agreed, it's a good idea to get the Angola visa in Abuja if you can, but people shouldn't be thinking it's an absolute necessity to enter DRC. And agreed too, the Angola visa is one of the bigger headaches of the west side...
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Old 17 Nov 2009
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Most interesting Steve. Will keep the tip about the Zambian letter in mind.

Does anyone think, a plane ticket from South Africa onwards, dated around 6 six weeks in the future, would suffice to get a visa in Matadi?
There's always talk about letters of invitation but a ready plane ticket should be ample proof I don't intend to become an illegal immigrant and live off the Anglan welfare system ;-)

Julian
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Old 30 Nov 2009
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Mmmmm, that may be overstating. Is anyone aware of travelers who could not get into DRC because of lack of visas (or other evidence) of onward travel ... stonewalled so badly they flew over DRC instead? I'm not ...

That said, it's a good idea to have evidence of onward travel, visas or otherwise, when attempting to enter DRC. Expect to be asked for it. In our case in February 09, entering DRC at Kinshasa, a letter of invitation from an outfit in Angola sufficed. A fake letter would have done as well.

So yeah, securing an Angola visa in Abuja is a good idea. The crazy Angolans could stop issuing visas at Matadi tomorrow. Get it when and where you can. But if you don't, just have some evidence of onward travel when entering DRC and you should be fine.
We should have go our Angolan visa in Abuja but instead we didnt want to wait the extra day and sweated it when we got to DRC. They asked us for our Angolan visa in Kinshasa and the only evidence we had for onward travel was a letter from our government internal affairs that had Angola and our names written on it and that seemed to be sufice, so I would if I were to do it again make a letter up with you name and a bogus company on it. We ended up getting our visa from Angolan Embassy in Kinshasa for US$30 and it took 4 hours to issue.
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Old 30 Nov 2009
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angolan visa
I will make a pit stop for a visa in Abuja. Just in case the Angolan embassy/consulate is closed for the holidays by the time I get to Gabon. Not even sure if it still open but my Gabonese friends seem to think it is still there in Libreville.

Rick
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Morocco - Gabon - South Africa
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Old 16 Nov 2009
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Gabon..
Hi,

Im going to be in Gabon for Xmas and New Year too, im leaving in a couple of weeks for there, so any ideas whereabouts you will be?

Mandi.
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Old 17 Nov 2009
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Hi,

Im going to be in Gabon for Xmas and New Year too, im leaving in a couple of weeks for there, so any ideas whereabouts you will be?

Mandi.

I know that Rick is in between Barcelona and Valencia today on his way to Morocco.
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Old 22 Nov 2009
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on the way to Gabon via Morocco
Mandi,

Stuck in Malaga with Carnet issues and blown fork seals. The Fork seals are the easy part. the Carnet from Canada is the nightmare part. The cost just went through the roof. Working on an alternate means to acquire a carnet.

When I get to gabon, I will be staying near the Louis Quarter with friends. If you are looking for a nice clean place that is inexpensive, try the Lotus Bleu. It near the top of the hill (Mont Sante) immediately behind the Presidential building. I am not sure if they have secure parking yet. I can get you their contact information if you want. There are some other hotels with beach front but as of last christmas they were just starting renovations and nothing happens fast in Gabon.
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Old 25 Nov 2009
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Post South Africa via Gabon Update
Mandi and others on west coast trail of Africa. I think the gods are starting to smile on me. I should have my carnet from Canada in hand & ready to leave Malaga on Saturday 28 November. Need to stop in Rabat, Monday, for visas (Mauritania & possibly Gabon).

Four weeks to get to Gabon. Hopefully it will not be too rushed.
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