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  #1  
Old 6 Nov 2008
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Congo / DRC Border
Does anyone know if there is a possible crossing at Londela-Kayes? Looking on google maps there are road networks both side of the border. I was wondering if this was a feasible route to Matadi rather than via Brazaville.

Also, the Pointe Noire to Brazzaville road is flagged as dangerous on the FCO website. How valid are these warnings? Anyone travelled these roads recently?

Cheers,
Will
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  #2  
Old 7 Nov 2008
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Hey Will,

I assume you are going south, but I don't know exactly how far you are at the moment. The road PN-Brazza is far away from being in good condition and there is a lot of traffic. Thats why there are certain road blocks by people demanding for money in a serious way. If you pay them they are satisfied. Don't count on help by passing vehicles. To avoid this road you only have two possibilities:
- Going via Cabinda-Boma-Matadi or and thats my suggestion to you
- Going via Franceville/Gaboon-Obouya-Brazza like described here

Don't know about your visa hassle in this region but if you like to obtain the angolan visa in Matadi you can not enter DRC with a transit visa.

Cheers Peter
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  #3  
Old 7 Nov 2008
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Cheers for that. Yes, we are going south, still in the UK at the moment though, leaving in just over a month.

I'm working on the assumption that we'll need to get the Angolan transit visa in Matadi, and then we're hoping to extent it in Luanda. So basically I'm fishing for a route into the DRC that's west of Brazza and east of Cabinda.

I don't really understand what you're saying in your last sentence. Please can you clarify.

Cheers,
Will
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  #4  
Old 7 Nov 2008
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Hey Will,

several travellers were rejected at the DRC border cause they didn't obtain a valid angolan visa. This might only be happen if you try to cross DRC with a transit visa. If you enter the DRC with a regular tourist visa they don't mind where you are going to leave the country. So you are able to go to Matadi where you will receive the angolan visa.

I was looking for a similar solution. When we were preparing this section I had contact to some NGOs living in Boma and they told me the smugglers use these roads (west of Brazza east of Cabinda) and he won't go there. But who knows what is the reality if nobody goes there. So maybe you are the first one ;-).

What is your resentment against the route via Franceville?

Cheers Peter
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Old 8 Nov 2008
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Thanks for the info.

I've got nothing against the Franceville route, I'm just trying to establish all the possible options.

I've heard about not being able to get into the DRC without an Angola visa, and not being able to get an Angola visa without getting into the DRC. Seems like a bit of a chicken and egg situation to me!

How / where did you get your Angola visa in the end?

Cheers.
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Old 8 Nov 2008
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We went the Franceville-Obouya route earlier this year, and had no probs at all.
We got to Brazza, and tried to get Angolan visa at angolan embassy there, they would not give us a visa but did give us a covering letter to say that we could only obtain the transit visa in Matadi. This letter sufficed for both the congolese and DRC immigratopn officials.
I have since heard from a friend that they managed to get the transit visa from the angolan embassy in Brazza.

Hope that helps
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