Many thanks for that informative post. Just found Bolobo on the map - it is way down the river! If I was going to take river transport it would be upriver from Lisala, which is the first place I would come into contact with the River Congo assuming I came on the road from Gemena and Zongo. By the sounds of it this may take 1-2 weeks? It is the dry-season until March, I think?

Well it would appear from your map, which is great and I'd very much like to copy and share on my website if OK? that my intended route is the hardest. Over the past few days an alternative route has been brought to my attention by an aid-worker who knows the region. This is basically to reach the junction town of Lubutu, east of Kisangani, then head south to Kindu and possibly connect with the train line to Kabalo and on to Kalemie on Lake Tanganika. This is much further south than I planned to go, but it avoids the troubled Kivus (Maniema province reputedly much quieter and safer) and provides me with an option of lake transport across to Tanzania.
Whatever route I take I rather get the impression that my mode of transport will be a combination of cycling, pushing the bike, river and rail transport and possibly motor vehicle. I am hoping for a 60, if not 90 day visa for DRC. Time needs to be on my side. Thanks again

Peter

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Listen to everyone here- It's just not worth the risk. The DRC is in a category all its own as a result of its exceptionally bloody and brutal past not to mention the vastness of the country, diverse topography and warring tribes that make it ungovernable. The military are not paid, (their pay is also stolen from them) so everything operates through bribes and robbery. Travelers are fair and good game for anyone wanting to support their family.

I was in the Ituri Rain Forest off and on over a 2 year period (thus my name here and Nduye was the closest outpost with a mission run by Italian nuns, since closed) 20 years ago. Even then, Zaire was a dangerous place, full of arms dealers, poachers, rebel training camps and other hazards for the innocent traveler, (still the case but much worse). Many, many travelers have "disappeared" there over the years. There was a French film crew just a while back that disappeared. I kept up with friends over the years who have projects there and sadly Carl Ruff who founded the Okapi Reserve was killed in a car crash after trying to negotiate with the rebels not to kill off his animals a few years ago. His co-founder flies in and out and can't say what's going on 10 miles away. It's a place where you will be vulnerable, isolated with no rule of law or anyone to help you if you get into trouble. It is 1000 miles from anywhere in any direction. I at least had the Pygmies who protected and sheltered me. Let us know what route you decide to take.

Ituri, Have you been back in the last 20 years? That's a long time in Africa. When you say 'many many travellers' - are these confirmed/reported killings of foreigners. And where? You say yourself that it is vast and ungovernable. One region may be different, worse or similar from the one you spent time in. This French film crew that recently disappeared. I can't find anything on the net, other than this, which is quite interesting: Mokele-mbembe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Was it reported? And when you say 1000 miles from anywhere in any direction, where are you thinking? I'm not going to live with the Pygmies. I will be a long way from Kinshasa if that is where you mean? I take on board everything you say. I have not been to DRC, but your post lacks the name of specific provinces, towns, villages, dates you were there, and roads and their conditions. I am possibly planning to head south from Lubutu (east of Kisangani) and enter Maniama province, which is reputedly much calmer than north and south kivu, and from there proceed south east towards Kalemie and L Tangankika. I am making good contacts with people who are both there now and have been there recently

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Yes.. I am in Africa almost every winter for a month (leaving again in a few weeks) or two or more, since 1986. I know it very well, especially since I reside mostly in remote areas. Re DRC.. it is far worse now than before. I keep up with what is going on there, but you seem determined to make this trip. You will probably survive it.. most do-- with a few moments of serious regret.
Good luck to you.

I would agree with Ituri -if you go, you'll probably make it but with a few serious regrets along the way. DR Congo is a facinating place, but not a decision to be taken lighty I must say.

Regarding my map, sure it would be great to post onto your website. If you inbox me your email address I will send you an original copy, plus any other things I have or find that may be relevant. Feel free to pos any of my information, or copy a link to this thread.

From Kalemie, assuming you get there all right, you should be able to fin a boat going to Kigoma, Tanzania, from where you can get a train to Dodoma and Dar. It was about £30 last time I used it. I am not sure of the frequency of passages from Kalemie to Kigoma, but I know more tend to head north to Bujumbura, Burundi if that helps you. Easiest to just Rrive and ask around at the docks.

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TRANS-AFRICAN

I'm not an African expert either and in terms of East-Congo there is none. The situation changes too quickly and plenty of informations are not coming out ( no (slow) communication, no roads, not enough people reporting...)
Ituri describes the situation pretty well, its a failed state or even worse.

With my brother I crossed CAR and DRC in 2007 on a bicycle. (Route:to-adi - Adrian Guggisberg - Through Africa by bike
Tips:to-adi - Adrian Guggisberg - Country Infos and some photos:to-adi - Adrian Guggisberg - Gallery - Category: Bangui - Kampala)

It was impossible to get accurate informations. We contacted NGO's in Kisangani (searched skype for people living there) and every body said it's not possible. Almost all foreign people fly in because of security reasons and no roads. There are not many who travel over a longer distance and therefore the informations are seldom first hand. In huge areas there are no NGOs at all, because there are only tracks for bikes but no petrol and plenty of mud. In some bigger villages or small towns there are missionaries (mostly Italian Catholics) if they didn't fled during the wars. They new about security and the condition of the road in their area.

The biggest problem are the unpredictable officials. They take away passports, want briberies and find plenty of reasons to stop or even arrest you. We avoided towns and even villages, sped through them or tried to go strait to the missions. Before we were in DRC we thought we can hide in the rainforest but it's impossible. The tracks are like tunnels in the rainforest. With out machete and hours of serious work, there is no way to leave the channel... and then every body will find you because of the track you made. The advantage is, once on the right track navigation is easy. The best Map I found is Landkarte Kongo (1:2.000.000) although the informations about the roads are at least in north east useless.
Every couple of km there are some huts along the track. We haven't had problems with locals, could buy some food (cassava, banana and cassava-banana-biscuits and sometimes rice) and often they even have a roof and fireplace for the guys transporting goods on their push-bikes.
For safety I recommend which-craft.

If the northern route CAR-Sudan-Uganda is open I think I probably would chose this. The official in CAR are horrible as well but DRC was worse. In 2007 it was blocked by the Darfur conflict and the LRA raiding villages in CAR.

@peter
I'm still in contact with David Rouge, the guy mentioned earlier in this thread. He crosses as well in 2007 by 4x4. I doubt he has new informations from the route Kisangani - NiaNia - Mambasa he took. But maybe he knows about Missions or the worst pitfalls...

Adrian

Hi Peter,

Me and my partner are travelling overland on motorbikes and are planning to go from West to East Africa through DRC, if possible. Our plan would be to take a barge from Kinshasa to Kisangani and then head south direction Kalemie to find a ferry to take us across Lake Tanganyika to Tanzania. Sounds a bit like the last route you were thinking about.
I don't have a lot of detailed on the ground info right now, but I'm trying to get in touch with MSF aid workers. We're soon leaving Ghana and planning to reach Congo-Brazaville end february, beginning of march. After that things will get more unpredictable, but since we're on motorbikes it might be that we get to DRC before you do? We'll keep you posted...
I did find this very interesting website: Congo War. Especially the part 2009-, which gives as detailed info about specific events with dates and locations as I've been able to find.

Good luck!

Isabel

MissJBZ,
It would probably be much easier and safer to cross from Kisingani to Goma and exit DR Congo to Rwanda rather than chance it to find a boat to take you across to Tanzania. Besides, from Rwanda, you can cross into Tanzania, maybe explore it for a bit and then from Kigoma, catch the weekly steam ship to Mpulungu in Zambia, about 5 days sailing. It is a far simpler and relaxed journey, and you can view the beautiful scenery from the boat. It is about $55 per person for this trip in 1st class on the ship (MV Liemba). When I lived in N.Rhodesia/Zambia my family would use this boat often, and it was a fantastic journey to make. If you really want to go to Kalemie (nothing much there), the boats going to Tanzania should be able to take you no problem if you are willing to pay the ridiculous fee they demand. Also, more boats sail northwards towards Burundi than those heading towards Kigoma (TZ).
Happy travels in the Congo!

Thanks for the tip about boats heading to Burundi. We don't specifically need to be in Tanzania, as our journey goes up afterwards instead of down to South Africa. We would choose to go to Kalemie because of security reasons, though I agree the road will probably be more difficult.
On what basis would you consider the route from DRC to Rwanda safer? Going from Kisangani straight to Goma would take you through North Kivu, one of the hot spots of DRC...
Well, we'll see how it goes.

Neither was it my intention to go to Kalemie, but it is a route from Kisangani which avoids north/south Kivu. I did/still do want to follow the road east from Kisangani to Bukavu, from where I could cross into Rwanda, but am being advised to avoid it. I will make a more definite decision in Kisangani.

Miss JBZ (Isabel?)- I am now in Yaounde. I'm sure you'll catch me up and overtake. Please contact me through the website/facebook so as we may arrange possibly meeting.

Peter

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