Congo is a land of legends and full of colorful characters, mystical sects and fascinating cultures. With its deep forest and strange creatures such as the okapi and the gorilla, it is a country which easily lets your imagination run wild. The forests and countryside are home to unique cults and tribes with mysterious rituals and customs. Because Congo is not an easy travel destination, most cities are located along a river. Kinshasa is the largest city and lies on the rapides of the Congo River.
Kinshasa is a hectic, lively city and is located on the other side of the Congo opposite to the smaller Brazzaville, making them the closests capitals in the world. The moment you leave the plane and enter the runway, you are overwhelmed by the humid heat and the penetrating smell of diesel. The drive to your hotel will be memorable, as it looks like you just entered an ant’s nest that never ends. You will see the most absurd scenes as you marvel your way through this huge city. There is always something happening and there are always people outside 24/7. Kinshasa is home to many colorful characters and the Kinois are known to be very photogenic with their flair and charm.
Photographing in Congo is a challenge and certainly in large cities. A permit is vital if you want to avoid troubles, and trust us, this will certainly happen without the proper preparations. Permits to photograph in Congo are expensive and can take several weeks to get. In Kinshasa we will hit the street with a police officer and a government agent to avoid problems. Many Congolese do not like to be photographed. If you’re with us, we’ll make sure you can shoot safely. Do not trust blogs where people boast about photographing in Congo. They will never tell you about all the troubles they ran into and don’t listen to the handful of European agencies (mostly Spanish) who claim they can set up a tour and just go and do whatever you want. They make claims such as bringing you to festivals such as Gungu Festival and Kinact which are notorious for being canceled. They do not have the network or knowledge to get permits and the right assistance. We have a group tour which includes the Gungu Festival, with a backup plan in case it is canceled, still offering you a wonderful trip. Please, have a look at our tour.
We have many years of experience with street photography and have already made numerous short documentaries and photo series for the government. In addition, we have already helped several crews and journalists all over the country. In Kinshasa we know how to find the best places to shoot. We must inform all local police stations in advance before we set off.
Our photography tour starts in Kinshasa, where we will go on the streets for three full days. We will meet the famous sapeurs who will pose in front of us and we also meet the ‘enfants serpents’, a group of acrobat children known for street performances. We will also attend a mass where we can admire worshippers in full ecstasy as they express their faith and will also go to some small markets and neighborhoods. If there is a voodoo wrestling match, we will ofcourse go there as well. We can also arrange a meeting with fashion models in trendy African textiles who can pose for us on the street.
After our street photography in Kinshasa we will go to the town of the Kimbangists: Nkamba: The New Jerusalem. We will have a stop on the way at the old train station of Mbanza-Ngungu, where we have perfect light for a shoot (we can ask locals or bring a model). Today we will stay at a guesthouse at the Kimbangists and for the next two days we will get to know their culture and we will photograph. After a day’s drive, we’ll arrive at our next destination: the village of the mythical sect of Tata Gonda, where we’ll have two days, camping and sharing simple meals with the members of the cult.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kinshasa
We will wait for you at the airport and bring you to your hotel.
Day 2, 3, 4: Kinshasa: Street Photography
Street photography during three days and meeting up with the sapeurs and the acrobat kids.
Day 5: Nkamba
We leave for Nkamba by 4×4. On the way we stop in Mbanza-Ngungu to see the old train station.
Day 6 and 7: At the Kimbangists
We’ll have these two days in Nkamba to photograph and explore the town.
Day 8: The Sect of Tata Gonda
Today we’ll drive from Nkamba to the village of Tata Gonda, we’ll arrive in the late afternoon.
Day 9 and 10: Tata Gonda
We have two full days to shoot and get to know the village. We camp and eat simple meals.
Day 11: Back to Kinshasa
Full day back to Kinshasa by car.
Day 12: Kinshasa
We have an extra day to explore and photograph on the streets of Kinshasa.
Day 13: Departure
We will take you to the airport, end of the tour.
Price: 3,499 usd per person (based on a group of 5 people)
Including:
– Professional local team with professional photographer fixer
– Photography permits
– Police Security in Kinshasa
– Transportation: regular car in Kinshasa, 4×4 outside Kinshasa
– Meeting with the sapeurs and street acrobats
– Meeting with the people of Nkamba and Tata Gonda
– Accommodation (camping near Tata Gonda, bring your own tent)
Not included:
– Meals and drinks
– Trips and tips
– PCR testing
– Visa
You can also add a few days in Kisangani to photograph the Wagenia fishermen at Boyoma Falls. We can camp with them on an island on the Congo River.
We also offer this trip as a group tour:
Duration: 13 days
Date: Tuesday, August 8 through Sunday, August 20, 2023
Thursday, August 8 to Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Minimum: six people
Price: 3,899 usd per person
Includes: Accommodation with breakfast in Kinshasa; Accommodation/camping en route with breakfast, transport; activities, professional guide (French, Spanish, English, Dutch), letter of invitation, entrance fees to parks, festival and sights. (other meals not included)
Tata Gonda
Deep in the bush in Bas-Congo we find the followers of Tata Gonda: an unknown mysterious sect. They claim to have had a dream in which God called them to join their guru Tata Gonda. There are already over 2.000 people who follow Tata Gonda. Every day they pray several times, every three hours. They mainly work on the land, often sleep under the open skies and it is forbidden to wash themselves. They therefore cover themselves with ashes every morning, which explains their strange appearance. Luxury clothing is prohibited.
Why choose Congo Voyages for this tour?
We are the only local agency with people who are actually on site, and apart from a “lost Belgian expat”, our team consists entirely of Congolese with years of experience in the field. We work closely with the authorities such as the Ministry of Tourism, ICCN, but also the military who help us to secure sensitive areas. Our tours will only take place if all safety conditions have been met and the necessary permissions have been granted and if we have been given the green light from the local authorities/chiefs if necessary.
Beware of (fake) travel agents who copy our itineraries and offer our tours for a lower price. Most of them are Ugandan, Rwandan and Spanish operators who have never been to Congo and recruit locals without knowledge of the field or a license on the internet to do their travels, often with disastrous results, with people being arrested or defrauded and put in jail. worst case no one even shows up.
