Congo is a unique and incredibly beautiful and fascinating country, but also very difficult to travel. There are only a handful of good roads and it is therefore difficult to cross the country by car, some parts are even impossible. The road from Kinshasa to Mbuji-Mayi is now in good condition (for local standards that is) and you can now drive between these two cities. We are super enthusiastic about this and therefore want to offer this unique trip to our clients. This trou can be booked starting from one person, but as this is pretty expensive, we offer it as a group trip, offering everyone a chance to see this wonderful country.
We thought it would be a good idea to integrate the Gungu Festival into our program, but please know that this festival is notorious for being canceled. This is why we don’t focus our trip entirely on this festival. We will still try to enjoy a dance afternoon with the Pendé as a back up. Please, be careful with (Spanish) agencies from Europe who promise you a spot at the Gungu Festival without a back up programme.
Programme: (may vary)
Day 1: Arrival in Kinshasa (July 14)
Transfer from the airport to hotel.
Day 2: City visit Kinshasa (15 July)
We start with a visit to the rapids on the Congo. We also explore the harbor area and textile market, followed by a visit to St-Anna’s Cathedral. The Académie Des Beaux Arts and the mausoleum should not be missed either.
Day 3: Congo River Lodge (July 16)
After breakfast, we will leave for a beautiful and serene site on the Congo River north of Kinshasa. All we have to do here is relax, enjoy the view, and have a barbecue and campfire!
Day 4: Bombo Lumene (July 17)
After breakfast we go to the small, yet beautiful reserve of Bombo Lumene. After lunch we’ll take a walk in the reserve, and will then swim in the river. In the evening we enjoy a nice barbecue by the campfire under the stars.
Day 5: The road to Kikwit (July 18)
We have a long day’s drive to Kikwit. On the way we will cross the Kwango River in Kenge. We will arrive somewhere in the late afternoon.
Day 6: Gungu (July 19)
After a short visit in Kikwit, we continue to Gungu where the Gungu festival will take place. We will install ourselves at our accommodation and get a first introduction.
Day 7: Kabobola Waterfalls (July 20)
Visit of the Kabobola Waterfalls. Afterwards we’ll go back to Gungu for the first festivities in the evening.
Day 8: Gungu Festival (July 21)
Today we have a whole day of festivities at the Gungu Festival. We enjoy the dances, the masks and the costumes and will try the local specialties.
Day 9: On the way to Tshikapa (July 22)
Today we have 250 km to drive towards Tshikapa, where we check in at our hotel.
Day 10: Tshikapa (July 23)
We will visit a diamond mine near Tshikapa and will also go see how people breed edible caterpillars. Those who dare can also taste one!
Day 11: Camping (24 July)
We camp en route between Tshikapa and Kananga. We will be introduced to the hunt for cane rats, which are a real pest, but a delicacy. So, those who’d love, can taste some in the evening.
Day 12: Kananga (July 25)
We’ll drive towards Kananga, where we visit the center, the church and the local market. We will stay in a local hotel.
Day 13: Kananga to Mbuji-Mayi (July 26)
Long day driving to Mbuji-Mayi today, full of new impressions.
Day 14: Mbuji-Mayi (July 27)
Visit to the impressive cathedral and the city center of Mbuji-Mayi.
Day 15: Plane to Kinshasa (July 28)
We take the plane to Kinshasa and check in at the hotel. We’ll have dinner together.
Day 16: Kinshasa (July 29)
Today we’ll go shopping for souvenirs, go to a restaurant and laze around a bit (free afternoon). In the evening we will go to a nice restaurant.
Day 17: Lola Ya bonobo (July 30)
Visit to the bonobo reserve south of Kinshasa. Free evening.
Day 18: Flight back (July 31)
We will take you to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Price: 6,950 usd (based on a group of 8 people)
Including:
– Transportation
– Participation Gungu Festival
– Accommodation / Campsite with breakfast for 17 nights as described
– Meals at Bombo Lumene
– Professional guides
– All activities and entrance fees
Exclusive:
– Tips
– Meals and drinks
– Visa
We also offer this trip as a group tour:
Duration: 18 days
Date: Wednesday, July 14 to Saturday, August 1, 2023
Sunday, July 14 to Thursday, August 1, 2024
Minimum of: eight people
Price: USD 6.950 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)
It is important that you realize that traveling in Congo is not your usual experience and sometimes it requires some patience. You may have decades of experience with safaris and cultural tours in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda or Ethiopia, Congo is truly something else. Heavy rain showers, sinkholes, electricity blackouts, overbooked hotels, canceled flights, monster traffic jams, .. there are plenty of factors which can alter our programme. It is vital to be prepared for this, to be flexible for changes and not to worry. Be sure to bring a power bank, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, a cap, extra towels, medicines, wet wipes and a flashlight with enough batteries to avoid a lot of frustration. Don’t forget a good dose of humor and patience!
Accommodation is in midrange accommodation. A few places such as Kinshasa can be upgraded. Please, let us know. Be sure that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever and have your vaccination proof with you, have also been vaccinated against COVID and if necessary have the necessary PCR test results with you if requested by the airline. We recommend flying with Brussels Airlines and are not responsible for delayed or canceled flights. We try to follow the program as closely as possible, but keep in mind that this can always change and some flexibility is needed.
All prices are based on a shared room. If you want a single room, there will be an extra charge. Please note that apart from the lodges in Garamba and Virunga (with single beds) and Zongo it is not allowed to share a room with someone of the same sex in Congo. We are of course very sorry and do not agree with this, but have no influence on this. We are not responsible for the consequences if our customers do not comply with this.
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.
