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Republic Democratic of Congo, is it safe?
Hi, I'd like to visit the Republic Democratic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), do you
know if it is safe? I'd like to sail Congo river by motorboat. Do you have this experience? Thanks bye Jones |
#2
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Republic Democratic of Congo, is it safe?
"Jones" wrote in message ... Hi, I'd like to visit the Republic Democratic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), do you know if it is safe? I'd like to sail Congo river by motorboat. Do you have this experience? Thanks bye Jones Hi Jones: Google "life in Congo" under deja.news and you can read 5 or 6 reports about living in Kinshasa. Likewise, there's a recent thread here about Brazzaville that has another installment. I lived there for 3 years until this past June. Its safe enough, if you have some good common sense and know when and how to avoid trouble. The city can shut down ("ville morte") during times of strife, and if you're white....stay indoors. Avoid uprisings or unrest like your life depends on it (it does), keep your mouth shut about the government or military, don't go wandering around at night, and keep your money and possessions hidden. Expect to pay endless bribes and be approached daily by dozens and dozens of people asking to do little things for you for pay, and dozens more asking for handouts. Kids are the worst; they are ruthless and homeless and desparate. Its a city in turmoil and poverty, but its also a fascinating time to visit. Its best if you know someone there, otherwise you can feel pretty lost and possibly get into trouble. Its definately still a hardship place and constantly on the verge of civil unrest, even coup. There's a tour group called 'Go Congo' (google them) who offer trips on the river, and it would be safe with them as they can provide translation, protection, evacuation, etc. Certainly its safer outside the city, but if you go too far into the woods you can encounter rogue soldiers who can, and will, rob you. The general jungle folk aren't a risk until you get about halfway to Kinsengani where there are cannibals/ Really. Kin is safer than it was a few years ago, and just beginning to open up to the most intrepid travellers. --riverman |
#3
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Republic Democratic of Congo, is it safe?
Hi dear friend riverman,
thanks a lot for your news. I am a lucky man because I have met you. In July I'd like to depart from Kisangani to Mbandaka by motorboat. I am a solitary traveller and I like to travel alone. But when I will arrive to Kinshasa I will need a travel agency for finding a local guide and a motorboat in Kisangani. In fact in Kisangani will start my sailing on the Congo river. Do you know this expanse of river? My greatest passion is to know ethnic groups. I have some contacts of people in Kinshasa, they are normal people surfing in Internet and they have just told me will help me when I will arrive there. I hope they will be fidate people. I already know cameroon and this year I'd like to visit Democratic Republic of Congo. I will read "life in Congo" but I'd like to know if in your opinion it is possible that trip on Congo river. Thanks a lot again, Jones Hi Jones: Google "life in Congo" under deja.news and you can read 5 or 6 reports about living in Kinshasa. Likewise, there's a recent thread here about Brazzaville that has another installment. I lived there for 3 years until this past June. Its safe enough, if you have some good common sense and know when and how to avoid trouble. The city can shut down ("ville morte") during times of strife, and if you're white....stay indoors. Avoid uprisings or unrest like your life depends on it (it does), keep your mouth shut about the government or military, don't go wandering around at night, and keep your money and possessions hidden. Expect to pay endless bribes and be approached daily by dozens and dozens of people asking to do little things for you for pay, and dozens more asking for handouts. Kids are the worst; they are ruthless and homeless and desparate. Its a city in turmoil and poverty, but its also a fascinating time to visit. Its best if you know someone there, otherwise you can feel pretty lost and possibly get into trouble. Its definately still a hardship place and constantly on the verge of civil unrest, even coup. There's a tour group called 'Go Congo' (google them) who offer trips on the river, and it would be safe with them as they can provide translation, protection, evacuation, etc. Certainly its safer outside the city, but if you go too far into the woods you can encounter rogue soldiers who can, and will, rob you. The general jungle folk aren't a risk until you get about halfway to Kinsengani where there are cannibals/ Really. Kin is safer than it was a few years ago, and just beginning to open up to the most intrepid travellers. --riverman |
#4
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Republic Democratic of Congo, is it safe?
"Jones" wrote in message news Hi dear friend riverman, thanks a lot for your news. I am a lucky man because I have met you. In July I'd like to depart from Kisangani to Mbandaka by motorboat. I am a solitary traveller and I like to travel alone. But when I will arrive to Kinshasa I will need a travel agency for finding a local guide and a motorboat in Kisangani. In fact in Kisangani will start my sailing on the Congo river. Do you know this expanse of river? My greatest passion is to know ethnic groups. I have some contacts of people in Kinshasa, they are normal people surfing in Internet and they have just told me will help me when I will arrive there. I hope they will be fidate people. I already know cameroon and this year I'd like to visit Democratic Republic of Congo. I will read "life in Congo" but I'd like to know if in your opinion it is possible that trip on Congo river. Thanks a lot again, Jones Yes, Jones. A trip on the Congo is entirely possible. The river is HUGE...just upstream from Kin it opens up to about 5 km wide. But after that, it narrows down to about 2000 meters wide for much of the distance to Kisingani. There are some large cargo/transport boats that go upstream and down, and take about 3 weeks to a month to get from Kisengani to Kin, but the trip is very uncomfortable, hot, cramped and risky. These boats get stuck on sand bars, people get sick, people fall overboard and disappear, etc. There are no comfortable accomodations, and you will live among animals, open sewage, etc. All cooking is done by the passengers on deck over open fires, and people eat all sorts of bizarre foods. The boats carry far more people than they are rated for. I think your best bet would be to either hire Go Congo, or else try to make some sort of connection before you get to Kinshasa for berth on one of the vessels along with the crew on a return trip. Tough, if you don't know Lingala. Try to make some contacts among the missionaries....they are well connected. People used to do the trip to/from Kisengani regularly, but about 10 years ago almost all of the vessels were scuttled (there are thousands of boats sunk around Kinshasa, clogging up the shore and docks) and AFAIK, there is only one or two boats going up to Kisengani semi-regularly now. But I hear that its opening up a bit more, day by day. If you're a world-class traveller, you might make an adventure of a lifetime out of it. Probably boring, but interesting. Its definately NOT like Cameroon...and July is hotter than hell there. --riverman |
#5
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Republic Democratic of Congo, is it safe?
Dear riverman,
thanks for your news. Could you give me your email? I'd like to ask some questions, please. However I have not explained fine you. I don't like to travel in a group but alone. Therefore in Kisangani I will need a local and trusted guide and a fast motorboat because I will not have many free days. In your opinion will it be easy to find a good and fast motorboat in Kisangani? How many days will I need to reach Mbandaka? How many flights are there from Kinshasa to Kisangani and from Mbandaka to Kinshasa (every week)? I have to plan well my trip because I will not have many free days. Thanks, Jones Its definately NOT like Cameroon...and July is hotter than hell there. I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean precisely. I know Cameroon. Is Congo more interesting and hot than Cameroon? Yes, Jones. A trip on the Congo is entirely possible. The river is HUGE...just upstream from Kin it opens up to about 5 km wide. But after that, it narrows down to about 2000 meters wide for much of the distance to Kisingani. There are some large cargo/transport boats that go upstream and down, and take about 3 weeks to a month to get from Kisengani to Kin, but the trip is very uncomfortable, hot, cramped and risky. These boats get stuck on sand bars, people get sick, people fall overboard and disappear, etc. There are no comfortable accomodations, and you will live among animals, open sewage, etc. All cooking is done by the passengers on deck over open fires, and people eat all sorts of bizarre foods. The boats carry far more people than they are rated for. I think your best bet would be to either hire Go Congo, or else try to make some sort of connection before you get to Kinshasa for berth on one of the vessels along with the crew on a return trip. Tough, if you don't know Lingala. Try to make some contacts among the missionaries....they are well connected. People used to do the trip to/from Kisengani regularly, but about 10 years ago almost all of the vessels were scuttled (there are thousands of boats sunk around Kinshasa, clogging up the shore and docks) and AFAIK, there is only one or two boats going up to Kisengani semi-regularly now. But I hear that its opening up a bit more, day by day. If you're a world-class traveller, you might make an adventure of a lifetime out of it. Probably boring, but interesting. Its definately NOT like Cameroon...and July is hotter than hell there. --riverman |
#6
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Republic Democratic of Congo, is it safe?
Hi Jones:
My email is a yahoo.com address, and my username is myronbuck. I'm no longer in Kinshasa, but I have lots of info and some recent experience, so maybe I can help. What I meant by the comparison to Cameroon is that Congo is much hotter, much more disorganized, and MUCH more dangerous. There used to be a regular ferry to Mbandaka years ago, before the wars. AFAIK that ferry hasn't run for many years now, and I haven't heard that its started up. Occasionally, a boat will go upstream to Kisengani, stopping along the way, but again I haven't heard of anything regular. Also, the entire fleet of boats is pretty much decimated, so whatever boat is going now would be a seriously compromised vessel. I did see one boat working its way upstream during the 3 years I was there, but its seemed pretty derelict. HewaBora airlines flies to Kisengani regularly, and on to Goma. For a brief time while I was there, there was a lull in the war and I was able to fly to Goma, but since then it has become very unsafe for travellers, and there have been several incursions by the militaries into the region. I know several NGO workers who had to be evacuated under gunfire, and I cannot think of any 'tourists' who went there (Goma) after I was there. Nonetheless, there ARE westerners all over Congo; in Kinsengani, Goma and Mbandaka. Most of them are UN peacekeepers or their associates, some are NGO workers, and many are Missionaries who have lived there for years and have contacts. The missionaries have a flight service that makes scheduled flights to several bush communities, and are available for private transportation, but they aren't cheap. If time is an issue for you, I'd reconsider. Congo does NOT run on any sort of timetable....its still a country in disarray. Flights are cancelled for days on end, leaving people stranded. Military incursions flare up regularly, changing plans and itineraries. Distances are huge: from Kinshasa to Mbandaka is several days by fast motorboat, over a week by slow ferry. Kin to Kisengani is impassible on land, and up to a month on river. You can fly in a matter of hours, IF the flight goes through. However, things there change fast, and my info can easily be out of date. I think you could make use of these resources: Go Congo travel. They are based in Kin, and know all the most recent info...however they will try to sell you a trip. But they can make all the arrangements and provide protection and security. Hewa Bora airlines (www.hba.cd): they used to be AirCongo, and they fly all the interior routes. When I flew to Goma, no one was allowed off the plane in Kinsengani, but maybe thats changed. They are definately a 'duct tape and bailing wire' airplane. MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship: www.maf.org) this is the missionary airline, that has a few smaller planes for hire. The contact person is Mr. Greg Heller: I think his email is For local boat rides around Kin, the Kinshasa Yacht Club has boats for hire, but they are extremely expensive, and will not take you more than a few miles upstream because of the danger of theft, or worse. I'd also contact your embassy in Kinshasa to see what the modes of travel available are. But mostly, I'd give it another few years before you went wandering around there on your own. --riverman |
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