Route across DRC in the rainy season
 

Hello,

I will soon depart on my trip across Africa. I am currently waiting for my motorcycle (F650 GS Dakar) in Cape Town and will head north as soon as I get it.

I am doing research on the best route across DRC. I will be coming from Angola and heading towards RoC and then Gabon. Most likely, I will be getting a one month visa for DRC.

The main issue is that I will be arriving to DRC in the middle of the rainy season:
https://i.imgur.com/OHLAOAV.jpg
(image from here)

As most of the reports I have read described the situation during the dry season, I have to ask: is it that bad? The worst situation I can imagine would be getting stuck so bad in mud that I won't be able to continue. On the other hand, my reasoning is that any road would be passable because the locals have to use them.

I made the list of options below based on:
* reading various blogs
* asking people that went there recently
* checking the DRC General Logistics Planning Map -- does anyone know if it is reliable?
* checking the Africa Road Atlas (2012) -- does anyone know if it is reliable?

I intend to cross the border from Angola into DRC at Kimpangu. If anyone knows better alternatives, do say.

Here it goes, in ascending order of adventureness:

-- Plan A ~525km
https://i.imgur.com/TzJjOI5.jpg
Get a multiple entry visa for Angola, cross the Congo using the bridge at Matadi -> Boma -> Moanda and then cross into Cabinda, then head towards Congo. No concerns, seems pretty straightforward, asphalt all the way.

-- Plan B ~759km
https://i.imgur.com/xes3SeS.jpg
Cross the Congo at Matadi, use the main roads N1 and N12 west and then north, Matadi -> Kisundi -> Lukula -> Loango -> Tshela. There should be asphalt up to Tshela. Head east towards Luozi, cross the border into RoC and head towards Boko. I am concerned about the condition of the road between Tshela and Boko and about the availability of gas.

-- Plan C ~232km
https://i.imgur.com/FkyE9Ov.jpg
Head north near Kimpese - Mpete and cross the Congo at Luozi, then continue to Boko. I am concerned about the road between the main road (N1) and Luozi, of which reports say that have ditches the size of an adult.

-- Plan X
Take the military plane from Luanda to Cabinda and avoid DRC altogether. No concerns here, other than it might be more costly and it might take more time to arrange.

At the present moment, I am inclined to go for plan B or plan C. I will probably get the multiple entry Angola visa and change to plan A when I get there, if the situation will look bad.

Any recommendations?

Hi this is how the road in Kamerun looks like in rainy season:

http://afrikamotorrad.de/mittel/westkueste_042.jpg

http://afrikamotorrad.de/index.php?report=en_westkueste

I don't know your off-road background, so it is harder to make recommendations.

I rode in Congo and DRC in May. So I can give you an idea of that time.

I entered DRC at the end of May. It is the end of the rainy season. I chose the dirt road from Dolisie (Congo) that goes south and directly into DRC. Then I went east to Luozi.

Expect to have to cross some pools. The worst one and unavoidable had a water level about 10cm above my airbox intake. It is no problem if you don't stop in the water. Mid season, expect deeper pools. Make sure to walk every pools too!

The main problem I see is riding on hills and all the 2 to 3 feet deeps corrogations or truck tracks. These will be wet hardpack. It means not much traction and expect to fall many times.

You will run into mud holes. Your bike low ground clearence (7" unloaded) and center stand won't help you.

You better be fit. It could mean pickup your bike every 200m for a while.

If you really go in the mid-raining season, you better bring a water purifier system. You will not carry enough drinking water with you.

For example, in Cameroon, locals don't always ride in the wet seasons. At the entrance and exit of villages, many times there are folding poles to block the road when dirt roads are not passable.

Your safest route if you don't want to take the plane is to enter DRC from Angola at Songololo. It will be all paved. Then you can follow pavement to Cabinda.
Use Google Earth to check where there is pavement.

You will have an adventure for sure. Be ready for locals to chase you. In Congo, I got locals chasing me with their eating plates and bowls yelling at me aggressivesily: " We have nothing to eat, give us food!". Same thing from villages to villages. I did believe them, 2 days without eating and your agressiveness level start rising. It was a really sad moment to witness. And me at the same time I had the time of my life riding in the mud with both wheels drifting under a heavy rainy day. Life is not fair.


Patrick.

hi!

I used another option in 2016: I crossed from Banana (RDC) to Soyo (Angola) with a small boat.
From Banana to the border with Enclave of Cabinda was sandy road...but not bad.

Thank you all for your replies. Most likely, I will stick to plan A.

I have two Sawyer water purifiers with me, one inside a 2-in-1 bottle I will be drinking water from and one I have for backup.

I am pretty sure I will end up on some non-asphalted roads along the western coast to satiate my hunger for adventure.

Hi! I will be starting my bike trip from SA to Morocco in late March. Do you have your facebook page or other social medias where you would post your travel info along your trip? Maybe it would be SUPER helpful for me!!

Hello,

I have a FB page, https://facebook.com/rtw.to and also a blog, https://rtw.to where I am posting updates.

Let's meet somewhere on the way, let me know which route you choose.

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