This is my first post after a few weeks' browsing. This appears to be an excellent, no-nonsense site.

I leave Monday for Libreville and will spend through early October getting to Windhoek by public transport and hitching. My main concern is the Angola visa, but previous posts cover this pretty well--i.e., hope for a transit visa at Matadi (turned down even for a transit visa in NYC last week).

So the issue I would like some help with is Gabon to Brazzaville. My idea had been to train to Franceville and then head across from Leconi to Oyo via what appears the most direct west-east route, and then down the good road to Brazzaville (from there ferry to Kinshasa, then to Matadi, then figure out Angola). There appears to be one post confirming that this route is doable (at least, saying that the road from Franceville to Brazzaville "should be good"--not sure of the exact route). But most people seem to take the coast road, though I think there is still a Ninja issue there. Any suggestions one way or the other? I am a very experienced Africa traveler, but this will be my first trip to Central Africa.

I would be doing this sometime between approximately September 10 and 20, and am not sure how heavily the rainy season kicks in around that area by then.

Thanks very much for any help.

CK