Hey folks,

Well, after hanging out in Abuja for 3 days waiting for the election to finish I'm sad to say that the Angola embassy there no longer issues visas for overland travel. The apparently have a 'new rule' that means you must apply at the last country before crossing the border. In practise, this means Pointe Noir, though they say I should try in Librevile too.

This post is just for information in case you are headed South. If anyone knows of any other ways of getting through Cabinda and Angola, please post here too :-)

Cheers,

Andy

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AndyBee
(04 KTM 640 Adv 'Naartjie'/11 KTM 990 Adv 'Tsumeb')

Hi!

You know about the Transit Visa in Matadi? From Libreville you can take a train(i heard it from Leo and Derek..) to Franceville. From Franceville to Brazzaville the Road should be good. Brazzaville Kinshasha and than to Matadi.
There you can get a5 Day's Transit Visa. We need from Soyo to Namibia 6,5 day's . From Matadi the Cardriver's we meet need 9 day's At the Border they got no problems with the Visa..... Everyone know's that it is not possible in 5 Day's


Greetings from Capetown Werner+Claudia

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Just traveling
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/longwayhome

It is probably possible to make through Angola in 5 days in a car, if not going to Luanda. I took a few more days in Luanda and hurried though the country afterwards as visa was only 5 days. Officials earlier had told me that even the visa says 5 day transit visa you can legally spend more time -- no problems! They also told me that for Cabinda and Angola mainland you'll only need 1 visa -- no problems! This all is big BS so don't believe anyone! The result was that I was charged fine when exiting Angola (to Namibia), I was staying 8 days instead of 5. I was told I need to pay fine 8 dollars for each overstayed day. I tried to talk them away but not possible as they had good reason to take my money as I had actually overstayed. We settled on some 20 euros as that was all I had left in my wallet. BTW, other guys who went a few weeks earlier got through clean.

Now, if I had to do Angola again, even I only have transit visa, I'd take it slowly, look around, and later when exiting if I have problems then pay some money. That is actually the only way to stay in Angola as they won't give you any longer visa and every official is full of BS (in Point-Noire they refused to issue me Angolan visa for Cabinda as they told they need a page in my passport that was blank from both sides, even I had 4 empty pages but none of them was empty on both sides -- I was basically forced to fly back to Europe to make a new passport!).

Anyway, the hassle with Angolan visas was the most unpleasant in my trip -- although some people try to look friendly and helpful they actually do and know nothing. In Matadi I'm sure overlanders pass every week but they make it as you are the only one this year, this all is very scarce request and takes time... And what is name of your mother's sister?

Sorry to interrupt this thread...I am also in Cape Town at the moment and will be for a couple of days. Staying in Cat and Moose on Long Street.

Martin

this will come probbably too late to people en-route but...

in Madrid ..(that's Spain) you get the Angolan visa for 100 Euros ! !!!

Embajada de la República de Angola en el Reino de España*******

and -being Madrid - on the way to Africa for most people toing the TransAfrican .. is very convenient.

have a nice day

Javier

I got one Angola-Cabinda transit visa from Paris, France. The cost was EUR 55 for 4 day service or EUR 110 for 1 day "express" service. They refused to give me longer visa there as well and inside consulate ambience, service and attitude was real african (in bad sense).

BTW, the visa I got in Europe was only valid for 2 months, so basically if you get one on route to Africa it does not make sense as it will probably expire before you get into Angola.

Just out of interest how did you get an invitation letter, required for the visa?

I did not need invitation letter in any of the places where I applied (Paris, Pointe-Noire & Matadi). In Pointe-Noire you need to write a form free visa request letter (a la please issue me visa...) and this must be written in Portuguese *only* and not hand written but typed or computer printed! I got this translation and printing done in an Internet cafe. Note the staff seems not to understand English, only Portuguese. I guess if you speak Portuguese that may do wonders there (or maybe not)...

That was in June 2006, maybe now there is something different.

Hi folks,

Thanks for all the useful info. The Angola visa situation really is pretty wretched huh?!!

Given that things seem to have improved a bit in Kinshasa (and the ferry is running again) Im planning to head down to Brazzaville by road, get the ferry to Kinshasa and then head along to Matadi for (hopefully) a transit visa. Currently in Yaounde geeting Congo and Gabon visas (maybe DRC here too, or maybe Brazza). Applied for the Congo visa this morning. Its a whopping 70,000 CFA - I couldnt believe it. Still, you cant really argue with them, can you?!

Cheers,

Andy

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AndyBee
(04 KTM 640 Adv 'Naartjie'/11 KTM 990 Adv 'Tsumeb')

Hi Andy B-H, how's the ride?

I was talking with Lois P who also could not do the Cabinda thing and so tried to ride to Brazza but being solo was compelled to take a train packed with drunken/stoned soldiers - apparently a preferable option to risking the rat run with the prowling Ninja (not making this up).

She got the 5-day in Matadi but admited that with a little 250 Yam on Angola roads, she was seeing things by the time she got to Namibia border. Sounds like a Nick Sanders stunt.

So like matey suggests, for only $8/per day I'd take it easy much like I'm doing now.

As the dollar's cheap right now I'll pay for Day 3

afn

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

As it is with visa info this may be outdated but we got our visa in Libreville without problems (Feb 2006). They only take application on Mondays and it is $90,- (if I remember correctly). Remember that the Cabinda route requires double entry visa.

As mentioned above, a 5 day transit will cause a big challenge. It took us 5 days from Luanda to Namibian border by car. At one point I was so tired and frustrated that I did not know how to continue. Days of 10 hours driving doing 120 km are rule, not exception! Bikes can be quicker but require more concentration. Bare in mind that the roads south of Luanda are HELL! I do not know what the progress is of the 500.000 chinese workers who are restoring the roads, but recent travellers reports indicate that there is not much improvement compared to march 2006.

Cheers,

Noel Di Pietro
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

Was just wondering if you might have an example of that document you had created, could save a bit of hassle along the line?

I've just been to Angola outpost in Lome, Togo, they have practically shut up shop as far as visas are concerned. They said visa situation is "saturated" and will only issue for official business.

Timoto

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GLOBALTIMOTO
http://www.globaltimoto.com
"One man, on a motorcycle, around the world, in A Quest For Gameplay"

just been to the Angolan Embassy here in Libreville this morning to ask for a Visa.

I wasn't told no exactly, but they are asking for (on top of the usual stuff) 90,000CFA and an invitation letter from Luanda. plus it will take 7days. Ill take my chances at Matadi.

Andy,
have you got one yet? you've got to be nearly home by now.

Paul

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www.onabikeinafrica.blogspot.com

We ran the same gauntlet of trying to get an angola visa from anywhere we could, and ended up getting it at Matardi.

We took the same route as Lois from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville. The Ninja guys turned out to be no problem really, although we didnt stop that often. A bigger problem was the road was really bad, and there were loads of stuck vehicles blocking the route.

When we went to get the Angola visa we ended up waiting around for 7 hours, and even though we asked repeatedly for the visa to start the next day it started the day it was issued, so effectively we only got a four day visa.

It took 9 days to cross Angola by 4x4 although that did include a couple of days in Luanda. At the border into Namiba there was not really a problem, we just stood there, smiled a lot, and eventually they just let us through.