Is it true - as one post suggestes - that visas are issued at the border coming from Cameroon, at the border coming fom Kinshasa and at the airport in Brazzaville?

Thanks for your help!!

Not sure about the entry points you mention but we (British and German) came across from Gabon (Franceville - Bongoville - Lekoni - Republic of Congo ) in summer 2009 and visas were available in the first hut (beautifully woven like a basket) we arrived at. Visas were 70000 CFA for 1 month or 35000 CFA for 1 or 2 weeks (can't remember which). Very friendly guy...
We already had bought our visas in Yaounde (50000 CFA) as we didn't know about this but I asked out of interest and the guy showed me the visa sticker sheets...

Micha

Hey micha

That's v interesting - wasn't sure if I had to get Angolan visa in advance. I read elsewhere that the Franceville > Okoyo road was deep sand? Were you on a bike (what?) and what route did you take Gabon > Angola?

I have concerns about the Doilisie > Brazz "road" (heavy mud, solo on a 1200GS), and if there's a better route which ALSO has Angolan visas, that must be the way to go!

Whereabouts in Devon are you? I'm up in Minehead.

Ian

EDIT***************

Ahhhh - found this post searching for ANGOLAN visas! But think you're talking about Congo! Sorry - but did you get you Angolan visa in UK or en-route? (Assuming that's where you were heading!)

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Hi Ian,

We got our Angola Transit visas (double entry, $100 US per person) in Abuja. Took 3 or 4 days I think.

Regarding the Franceville > Okoyo "road": yes, it is sandy in several places and there is plenty of new road construction going on, especially the further you get away from the Gabon border... We were in a Bedford MJ 7-ton truck and got through fine. It hadn't rained much so there were only a few puddles. I think it would be very different after the rains.
I only remember one place going up a relatively steep hill where several locals were waiting for us to get stuck (it looked as if many had before us) - we just about managed to get through in 4x4 :-)

On a 1200GS it will be hard in some places but definitely doable - even if that's with the help of the locals. I know of a couple who went through on this road with a two-wheel drive camper van (and some towing help)...
We also met a guy on a heavily modified 800GS who did this route.

When are you planning to go?

Micha (near Exeter)

Thanks for the info micha. I'm hoping to leave early March, but not 100% confirmed just yet.

So think we could be there in April, in the rainy season! Not really sure which is likely to be worse, this or the Dolisie>Brazzaville Road. Difficult to know because I doubt many people have done both, certainly not in the same conditions. Is this one pretty quiet/remote? And am I right in thinking more sand than clay/mud?

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Franceville > Okoyo "road" I have made on Nanfang 150 (localy bought chinese bike), after (and during) rains. Sometimes knee-deep mud, but doable.

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Janusz
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congo brazza visa at the border 20 000 CFA 15 days, they dont have a fixed price, you can try to go down but dont pay more than 20k. Entering from Gabon, at Ngongo; crossed just 3 days ago.

No problems unless they run out of visa stickers.

Hey Tango Mango!

A local looking woman paid 5,000 when I crossed on the Franceville > Okoyo border a few days ago. So negoiate and have the money you want to pay in your pockets and say but this is all I have etc.

Franceville > Okoyo road: Great tarmac road from Franceville to the border, then a sandy track with a few muddy holes for 214km. The Chinese are all over the road looking to seal it and there is some cross border trade. Hence most of the traffic are trucks, thus the ruts are quite deep.

On a bike you will be fine going slowly in one of the ruts, meet two guys on pushbikes slogging through.

In a Land Rover the ruts mean your diffs are constantly scraping - mine have had the waxoil and paint stripped off. I got grounded quite often, reversed, tried a lower gear, then low range, then diff lock and always barged through somehow.

If it has rained then there are a few mud holes you can't avoid, but nothing too bad for a biker. I almost when over in one pool because of the truck ruts (nowhere to go around them) and had to turn sharply and floor it to stop the momentum. Sadly there was a brick wall of all things there which I smashed into. Damaged front wing and lights, nothing serious.

Border people were fine on both sides, and great to meet such super friendly people in the Congo after the generally unfriendly Gabonese.

If the Congolese keep this up they may surpass the Nigerians as the friendliest of the trip so far!

Hardly any police checks in Congo on this route and the sealed road to Brazzaville, another welcome relief. The one customs guy who stopped me was friendly and polite. Nobody questioned the smashed in front of the landy ;-)

Most or all of the piste will be sealed this time next year - much of the time I was driving on pistes below the newly built up piste waiting to be sealed (blocked off with tree trunks etc)

Lovely route right from Lope to Brazzaville. There is a Gorilla project in the reserve on the way down - 20,000CFA to see a Mum and babies, you can also camp there for free as well etc

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak