Has anyone got any information on the route heading south through the DRC to Zambia in a 4X4? What are the roads, security like and any way points would also be helpfull.

With the Angolan visa chaos, it would seem that this might be the only option to get through.

Hi,

several travellers were reporting that they got 5 days or more transit visa in Matadi at the border to Angola. I would say this option would be easier than travelling through DRC to Zambia.

Anyway, I am in the same situation travelling from north to south and I am also looking for Angolan visa. When do you travel and when will you be there?

Hi,

I am sitting in Lope National Park, Gabon, at the moment and will be heading to Libreville tomorrow.

Ok then you are a bit further than me. I am planning to be in Gabon in about 1.5 month. By the way, how is Lope, is it worth to go there?

Hi there
I can't help you on the route to zambia bit.
I can share my Congo, DRC and Angola experiances.
We travelled in a Landrover 110.
Don't even try to get your Angola visas anywhere else but Matadi.
We were at the Angola consulates in Abuja, Libreville and Point Noire. We didn't even bother in Brazzaville and Kinshassa.
Both Congo and DRC were quite ok as far as safety goes.
A good tip: If you are looking for somewhere nice and safe to stay in Brazza Ask for Hotel?restuarant Hippocampe. I's run by a French guy who has done his share of overlanding on a bicicle. We camped for free in the car park.
Once youve crossed over the Congo river instead of staying at the mission head out on the road to Matadi. After 30 kms you can turn off for Lukaya Chutes. It's a Bonobo ape park where you can camp away from the hussle and bussle of the big cities. From there it's about 5 or 6 hours to Matadi.
We drove through Angola in 60 hours and were there for 8 days on a 5 day transit permit. No troubles leaving Angola what so ever.
Our route from Matadi via Tomboco to Nzeto then via Luanda down the coast to Lobit. Just south of Benguela we took the inland road via Chongoroi to Cacula then to Lubango. From there via Xangongo to the Namib border.

My site is up to date in Dutch but I am way behind on the English translation.

Greetz
Ian

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www.overlanding.nl

Hallo,

This route is possible. I've done half of it in 2005.
The best way to go is from Kinshasa to Ilebo, and then to Mbuji-m. Kolwezi, and Lobumbashi. 2000Km, of adventure. You are on your own out there, so be prepared. It should take 3,4 weeks to cover this route. Food and fuel can be found, in the markets of major towns.
You need a Special permit that can be bought in Kin. To pass Kassi Oriental, and Occidental provinces. There are some check points around, so ether get this permit, or pay your way thrue.

Good luck!
Adam

Hello,

we did the route Kinshasa, Kikwit, Tchikapa, Kananga, Mwene-Ditu, Likasi, Lumumbashi in July 2007. We were driving 4x4, two people, it took us a month. It was a part of trans-Africa. From Mwene-Ditu to Likasi we took a train.

Kinshasa-Kikwit: moreless no problem, only it is difficult to find the correct way

Kikwit-Tchikapa: the worst part, this route is at many places passable by big trucks only, we needed to avoid the "main road", not easy, Louange river has no bridge, boat does not operate in dry season, locals can sail you on canoes (even a 4x4), we got stuck many times.

Tchikapa-Kananga: sand, we did it with a guide on a motorbike, showed us the way avoiding the deepest sand.

Kananga-Mwene-Ditu: no problem

Mwene-Ditu-Likasi: we took a train because we were running of time, but I think it was actually slower and more risky than driving. The road is similar as Tchikapa-Kananga, problematic is only passing of the hills.

Likasi-Lumumbashi: no problem

In mining areas you need to present "seuf conduir" if I spell it correctly, usually requested by "immigration police", which is good to be a friend with.
If you don't have it you must pay after neverending discussions, the highest price they requested in M. Ditu - I think 115 USD or similar for new "immatriculation", which we refused to pay and got in trouble for couple of days.

Another favorite request (road police) was the insurance of the vehicule, they didn't or didn't want to accept ours. Be careful about it.

Bonne chance,

Matus

hi matus great info on the inland congo route i hope to do a similar route next year by motorbike,what fuel range would you recommend,ok for food on the route? did you need a permit to visit this area? i would have plenty of time,also did you need insurance from the border?thanks ron.

adamiko has some of my answers,angola transit visa 5 day can be renewed in luanda and province capitals,check also lonelyplanet.com go to thorn tree for new info.ron

In general it is more likely to pass it by motorbike, you will not need to do so many deviations as with 4x4. Fuel is often only at the black market, more accesible is diesel than petrol. Food you can get in any village, but it would be very simple and it depends on you if you can eat local food all the time. I was appreciating instant soup with local onions, bananas, kasawa bread and pienuts, by rivers dried fish.
The only permit is the mentioned access permit to mining areas, that you can not avoid.
We were not asked for insurance at the border in KNS, but by road police on the way.

Matus

hei matooch thanks for the info,i'll try and carry as much fuel out of ksa as possible,see how it looks from kinshasa,ron.

Hi,

I am travelling on a bike, Yamaha Tenere and plan to reach Kinshasa in about 3-4 weeks. Anyone wants to join up forces to try the above route?

Currently I am in Burkina Faso and going to Ghana tomorrow and then Lome, Benin, Niger, Cameroon, etc. Travelling quite fast as plan to finish my journey to Cape Town by end of December.

Anyone else out here at the time?

See you around,
Witek

I'll be trying that route next july love to hear how you get on,ron.

We are going from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa in April 2008.
Our biggest concern is the permit. Where does one apply for it? What does it take? Price?
Most sources seem to claim that it can only be obtained in Kinshasa... that's a bit bugger for people going the other direction. There must be another way?

Second concern are bridges. Matooch, you seem to talk about just one bridge missing. Is that correct? What did they charge you to get you across?

July must have been pretty wet, no?

We are travelling by 4x4 btw.

__________________
2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be

We plan to be in Lubumbashi in a week or two and drive up to Kinshasa.

We still haven't got the permit (hell... we still haven't find out where to apply for it!) nor do we have any recent information besides matooch post.

Does anybody have any contact details of matooch? I tried contacting him but mails bounce.

Any information is welcome though...

__________________
2006-2007-2008 : Brussels - Cape town - Tokio - Lubumbashi - Brussels

http://www.radiobaobab.be