Congo Brazzaville

[nick duckworth]

About to leave Ghana via NW Nigeria to spend some time in the Cameroon region.

Am interested in Congo Brazzaville, especially the north.

Any information on the road conditions and the security situation is appreciated.

If anyone wants to team up through to Cape Town for Christmas, I'm on my own in a SIII Lightweight Land Rover, and it's all going well!

Nick D

[Werner]

Hi Nick,
I did the trip you propose almost exactly three years ago on a motorcycle. Gabon visa my be hard to get. I got mine before leaving Canada. Get your Angola visa in Libreville, Gabon, and your Congo (Brazzaville) visa in Douala, Cameroon. Road south in Gabon via Lambarene to Dolisie should be O.K. Ask for the new highway to Pointe-Noire. Should also be O.K. since this time of year is only the beginning of the rainy season. You can cross over from Congo (Brazz.) to Cabinda, Angola, and ship to mainland Angola, or get visa for Congo (Kinshasa) and take your chances crossing that screwed up country into Angola. Some have done it, I know. Angola should no longer be problematic, and Namibia is a piece of cake.
Enjoy and let us know how you are coping.

[Jef Imans]

Hi Nick,

I spent 4 months last year in Congo-Braza and country is great to visit - the coastal route up to Pointe Noire is gradually being built (very good asphalt), and last year it went from approx 60km north of Pointe Noire up untill the boarder with Kabinda.

For Gabon it seems to be easiest to get a visa in Equitoreal Guinea, so coming from Cameroun it might be best to pass through there (also visa for Eq Guinea seems to be easy to get in Cameroun).

I am also planning to go to Cameruon (currently in Nouadhibou), but wasn't sure about crossing Nigeria - how and where did you get a Nigerian and Cameroun visa? Would be nice to know after you crossed NW of Nigeria how the situation is over there...

Good luck and safe travel,

jef

[zr6fun]

Hi Nick,

I will be traveling to Cape Town (amongst others) from Pretoria by bike over Christmas. Lets get together for a pint! Cheers,
Herman

------------------
"Too much good traveling is Wonderful!"

[gozell]

Drove into Congo Brazzaville around May this year coming from Gabon. There is an alternative to the route which is going east from Franceville (riding on north bank of river) all the way until you hit the 'sealed' road going from north to south ending in Brazza.

This route was advised to us at the time because of security (this changes all the time), its also used by locals to get into Gabonand viceversa.

The route itself is do-able, lots of sand (its fun!) but you will get used to that. Also there are some beautifull recently Caterpillard sections of piste.

More of a problem is finding you way through in the begining as there are lots of tracks. The Michelin denotes one unmarked track but as usaual there are loads. It helps if you got a Garmin 3+ as there are some cross references between the michelin and build in map (not too many people to ask).

Another tip, dont go bushcamping just before the Congo border as we were ' ambushed' by border police with floodlights thinking we were merchenaries, not a nice experience.

Just before hitting the sealed road there is a 'pub' (cant miss it) which sells excellent roasted chicken, beautiful!

cu!

[zelpo]

Originally Posted by nick duckworth

About to leave Ghana via NW Nigeria to spend some time in the Cameroon region.

Am interested in Congo Brazzaville, especially the north.

Any information on the road conditions and the security situation is appreciated.

If anyone wants to team up through to Cape Town for Christmas, I'm on my own in a SIII Lightweight Land Rover, and it's all going well!

Nick D

I'll travel starting 25/12/2006 - 10/01/2007 from Douala to Brazza. with jong (22 years old) Landcruiser.
Zelpo