So, you’ve booked your trip to Congo, you’re looking forward to it and you’re all set for your adventure. You probably have a lot of questions about your upcoming trip, so it’s good to go through everything so that you are well prepared, and also have the right expectations for the experiences that await you. We don’t want to scare you, but it’s important that you realize where you’re going. Traveling in Congo is not for everyone, but those who come with an open mind, with the right expectations, patience and an open mind will be rewarded with an experience that cannot be beaten.
Congo is a unique and fascinating country. The name itself has something mythical, dark and even raw, which is all very true as Congo is one of the last great adventures in Africa (together with the Central African Republic) and is truly the Last Frontier of Africa. We don’t just say this as an advertisement slogan as this is a truly unique, very authentic, rugged and sometimes primitive place, where nothing is like you are used to. Except for a number of hotels in Kinshasa and lodges and hotels in the east, there is little to no tourist structure in the country, let alone any structure at all.
Congo has few “good” roads, a very poor electricity network and a general poor infrastructure (except parts in the Katanga). Heavy rain showers cause floods and destroy roads; corruption and poverty keep the country from moving forward; and certain regions are ravaged by rebels and civil wars; making traveling in Congo-Kinshasa extremely difficult and expensive. Travel can often be unpredictable and you’ll have to remember that planes can suddenly be canceled, authorities can seriously delay your travels, among other factors.
A trip to Congo is an unforgettable journey that will stay with you forever with many beautiful moments and interesting encounters, but can also be tiring and frustrating at times. For example, you can be stuck for hours in a traffic jam in Kinshasa; sitting in your hotel in Matadi after dark if there is a power outage; having to wait an hour and a half for your food at the restaurant; or having a delay due to heavy rain or annoying police checks.
It must also be said that Congo, along with a number of other destinations such as Angola, Central African Republic and Gabon, is one of the most expensive destinations in the continent (and even the world). Hotels, restaurants, renting a boat or car, everything is extremely expensive, which also makes it very difficult to do business or develop tourism. We also make sure that everyone who works with us also gets a fair wage, our people also get a good bed during the trip and enough budget to eat and use their phones. We refuse to pay the local population a starvation wage and take advantage of poverty. Everyone is entitled to a good salary and good conditions and the population has already been exploited enough.
We make sure that everything is organized as well as possible, we only work with the best guides, but certain factors are completely out of our control, such as lack of infrastructure, road works, road subsidence, rain showers, canceled flights, delays, cancellations, breakdown, power outages telephone traffic, corruption and extortion, difficult logistics, sky-high prices and poor service.
It is true that some of these problems exist in other African countries, but apart from the Central African Republic, these problems are not of the same magnitude as in Congo. Your safari in Kenya, your backpacking through Uganda and Rwanda or your bus trip through Ghana, … it’s all much tamer and easier than traveling in Congo. You can never and will never get the same quality for your money as in places like Tanzania and South Africa. It is important that your expectations are adjusted accordingly. Except for the Serena-Hotel in Goma and Rotana in Kinshasa, which come close to western standards, and the lodges in Virunga and Garamba, there are no ‘luxurious’ accommodations, only upper midrange at best.
For your trip in Congo, it is best to take the following items with you:
– DEET and possibly an extra mosquito net
– A cream against mosquito and insect bites
– Sun cream, sunglasses and a cap/hat
– A personal first aid kit containing certainly loperamide, antihistamines, antimalarial pills (to be discussed with your doctor), painkillers, etc.
– Closed shoes and long pants are still the best against mosquitoes, possibly with e
and long-sleeved shirt
– An extra towel
– Swimwear and flip flops/sandals
– A flashlight
– Chargers
– Sufficient batteries, power bank, etc.
– When camping: a light mat and blanket
– A roll of toilet paper
– Shampoo, soap, toiletries
– For trips in the jungle: good shoes, a hat with a net against sweat bees, clothing that breathes and dries easily (sport shirts, etc), zip locks to protect your equipment, possibly. a second flashlight, quick-drying towels, a small blanket and a light mat if you are camping.
And above all a portion of patience and optimism. We don’t want to scare you, but most of all we want to attract the right kind of people. This will be one of your most memorable and beautiful trips and you will have most of the country to yourself along with the locals. Welcome to Congo!
