I just bumped into a guy who did it two years ago in a 4x4.
He said the Lumbashi to Kinshasa run is totally doable in a 4x4. Seriously nasty mud and sand, and expect vehicle damage, etc. etc. but actually doable.
The last 600 or 800 kms coming into Kinshasa are paved highway.
He said the bit from Goma down to Lumbashi was seriously, seriously, seriously F***ed. They had water up to the bottom of the steering wheel multiple times, got held up at gunpoint on day 1, etc. etc. They were stuck in the mud for days, absolutely impossible to get through on their own steam - they had to wait for massive trucks to come and pull them out. Said it was wild.
They bought a Defender 110 for 4000 euros before the DRC, and when it got to Namibia nobody would give them a cent for it. The route totally destroyed it.
I also know a guy that just rode a motorbike Nigeria->CAR>DRC->Goma.
His photos and stories made it extremely clear any vehicle with 4 or more wheels would not get through. Trucks blocking the roads that have been there for years, monster trees blocking the way, etc. etc. He was *just* able to squeeze by on his africa twin.
All in all, sounds like a riot, and a lot more fun than my crossing from Congo to Angola through Dolice, Londela Kays, Lwozi
-Dan
|