Travel Answers

Democratic Republic of Congo

Hi Everyone, I need to travel to Goma on a business trip next week. I have heard news regarding clashes between M23 rebel and govt troops recently(may 2013) but iam not able to get any latest news(june 2013) for Goma. Is it safe to travel to goma at this time. Duration of trip would be around 2 months. Can anyone help me on this

Hi! I've heard that it is not safe to travel around the city of Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of Congo. But I'm still curious about it. Are there buses and taxis available in the city? How much is the fare for a one-way trip?

What is the cost of living in USD in Lubumbashi?

I need to travel from Johannesburg (or Pretoria) return to Lubumbashi by bus. I'm neither rich nor young - any advice fronm those who have done the trip? Once in Lubumbashi I think I'll be organised for accomodation. Many thanks. Martin Konstant.

Hi, My husband would be travelling to Kinshasa. I would like to know if Kinshasa is a safe & secure place in terms of crime, robbery, rapes & kidnapping. I have heard from lot of people that Kinshasa is not a right place to work. Can you please guide on what type of security measures he should take while living there? How can he travel safe while in kinshasa? How develope this city is? Thanks a ton. Regards.

what is it insterested about bunagana? what to visit and places to see and go? id like to know more,thanx

I am a philippine national residing in the Philippines. I will be travelling to DRC for a bussiness trip. I been researching on the visa requirement for so far I dont see any information. Any nearest embassy that I can call? Appreaciate your responds.

I am trying to locate a mountain 15-20 miles north of lake Kivu, which was named mount sharp by an explorer Grogan in about 1890. He wrote a book called "from Cape to Cairo" with his companion Arthur Sharp naming the mountain after him. Sharp is my great grandfather and my brother and I want to determine whether it can be safely climbed. Grogan describes six volcanoes north of Lake Kivu and this as being in a western section of two mountains, the other being higher. it as a mountain that has a crater several miles in circumference. Can you help me by identifying the modern name of the mountain, how I can obtain a map of the area and how we could climb it if this is safe? Mick Cole

Goodday I would like to know if there is a Democratic Republic of Congo Embassy in New Zealand...if not where is the closest one? Thanks

I will be in Lubumbashi with six others on a short-term mission trip. We were hoping to see Victoria Falls but we are very concerned about train travel between the two...it seems unpredictable at best. Does anyone know a tour operator for our trip or have other suggestions? We are trying to avoid airfare due to the cost. Thanks.

I am planning to go to Kinshasa in Jan.2012 for three weeks. It is part of a project I want to do with Congolese teachers from Christian schools. All government agencies warn against non-essential travelling. Hence my question(s), what are hygiene conditions, money/banking/atm conditions, safety conditions like in Kinshasa, and, yes, what should be my main health concerns, e.g. Malaria etc.? Part of this project would (hopefully) entail a stay with local teachers in their homes and at their workplace. What are local conditions like? Anyone out there with experience, anyone there who lived or lives in Kinshasa? Would love to hear from you! Ta Dr. Nawdy

A friends of mine lives in Uvira and I would like to visit him. Europeean governmemts do not suggest any trip. What is the real situation at present ? Merci Marco

This sounds strange but.. has anyone had their hair cut in Goma, particularly men? The locals here all seem to shave their head so I'm afraid of what will happen if I walk in with a full set.. the expats seem to grow it out long or wait to get it cut back at home. Thanks! Lam

Hi, We are about to travel with a group 4 guys and 3 girls to Congo. We are going for 3 weeks to see te gorillas, climb the volcano and travel down the river. What is the status in Congo regarding the safety here now? Are there still many guerilla troups, crime, killings in Congo? We are going around september. Will the elections cause trouble? Thanks, Yannick

I'm on the hunt for the best kept secret restaurant in the Congo! A real hidden treasure serving the kind of five star food you'd expect in a top city hotel. Maybe staffed by a European chef gone bush. Any cool suggestions?

I am an american going to visit my boyfriend who works in the DRC. I will be there for two months and since he is working, I would like to use the free time to volunteer. I am still a college student and my french is okay. Where can I find a program for volunteering? And, which ones are most accomodating to short-term visitors?

I am travelling with my wife to Kenya in February. This is our first time in Africa. We would appreciate any advice concerning places to go, and to stay. Shall we fly to Mombassa or to Nairobi? Are they any promotional airfares? Where to look for them? We are on quite limitetd budget but no particular restrictions timewise. We'll very much appreciate your suggestions. Many greetings from snowy Poland Marek

Hi together, does anybody know if there is a public transport (no flight) from Kinshasa to Nairobi? Cheers, best wishes, Al

Going to Kinshasa this Fall. How safe is it to walk city streets and shop? Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks

I am proceeding for Lubumbashi and would stay in a clean hotel in a good locality where I also need good vegetarian Indian food. Please suggest a hotel with vegetarian Indian food and its cost per day in US dollars. Best wishes, Vijay Sanger

I can't seem to find a map which includes the village of Tapli which has been in the news today. We have two large atlases and neither has it. Wonder if it is near Bunia. We were in Epulu in January and want to know where it is in relationship. We are the only ones we know who have gone there to see the okapis and had a wonderful time. Very few people other than scientists visit.

Is anyone familiar with this as lodging?

does anyone know about a safe yet affordable and centrally located hotel in Kinshasa? The hotels I find seem to start at around 200, or they are too far away (I knowe, the UN people are spoiling the prices). Travelling on business. so I need to know chances to find my laptop in the room when I return must be in my favor. Any advice/recommendation?

Anyone who knows about the general attitude towards Norwegian travellers in Kisangani and Congo now? There is a reather rough trial against two Norwegians for the time being.

Hello! I am wondering if anyone has any advice or info for a tourist crossing from the DRC into Zambia. Is it feasible? Should we expect difficulties? Also, is it possible to travel by bus from Lubumbashi to Victoria Falls? Many thanks!

Hi everyone! This is my first post on LP so please bear with me for my ignorance about certain topics and such... Anyway, I'm going to be volunteering in Kinshasa through a non-profit NGO for 6 weeks and will most likely be residing in Gombe district near the INRB/school of public health. My mentor (who will be accompanying me for 2 weeks to help me get settled) has put me in touch with an expat something to the tune of1500/month and from what I've read that should be expected so I'm not unhappy, just disappointed since everything is really adding up. Are there cheap places to eat in/around Gombe?? I'm a volunteer and will basically be funding this whole trip by myself so other than the occasional splurge, I'm not really looking to spend a lot of money. I've read that the groceries are expensive, but since I am of Indian heritage, I will have no problem eating other types of ethnic food. My main question (and sorry for this long post) is what tips you all have for my stay? Whether its simply items to bring or places to eat, I will gladly accept anyone's advice as mine is limited to any and info I can find online. For instance, I don't know whether I should bring 6 weeks worth of soap and shampoo if I can find it there for cheap, although it would seem beneficial to bring 6 weeks worth of cereal since the prices for western groceries seem to be exorbitant. Again, any and all advice is appreciated and hopefully, I could even meet up with you as I should be having a fair amount of free time. Thank you in advance, and I look forward to your responses.

I LIVE IN USA MY HUSBAND HAS ACCEPTED A JOB IN LUMBABASHI I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN HIM THERE WE HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN IS THIS PLACE SAFE FOR ME AND THE CHILDREN HOW IS THE SCHOOL SYSYTEM HELP?

Can anyone tell me the logistics of visiting a pygmy village from Kinshasa? It seems that some villages can be visited by a cruise on the congo river? If so what is the duration and level of comfort of this cruise?

i am a business man in anti-malarial medicine from China. Aim to get a sole agency and expand our business in DRC market, i plan to go to DRC and would stay in Kinshasa city at least 6 months. but the problem is, i speak English only and have never been to DRC before. so, i wonder that if there anyone can give me some suggestions about the trip in Kinshasa? what price is for a house in business centre? for the first several days, i plan to stay in the hotel and then i will try to get a translator to help me, further, i would go to rent a office house, i can live in it as well. if there anyone can recommand some hotels to me? it is affordable rate range USD50-70 pernight? thank a lot! my email: ray1503@gmail.com Msn:ray_leigh@126.com

Hi, I am traveling to a bunch a different countries with no time table. Am I able to obtain a visa upon arrival? If so, is it difficult? I am a U.S. citizen. Thank you, globetrotter