democratic rep. of congo (zaire)

area
population
capital
head of state
official language
currency
exchange rate

(source: lonely planet)

2,345,410 sq km
49.7 million
kinshasa
joseph desire kabila
french
franc congolese
check out oanda.com
for current exchange rates

this information comes from a visit to the country in ocotber 2002. things might have changed since then. these are my personal impressions and it's well possible that other travellers will not share my views.

from yaounde, cameroon: a 60 day single entry tourst visa costs cfa 62'000 (72'000 for double entry and cheaper for 30 day visas) and will be issued within 24 hours (two photos).

getting in and out

from brazzaville: there are about two ferries to kinshasa per day. (there are also pirogues going, but they might not bring you to the main harbor where there is an immigration service.
the ferry costs cfa 6'500 per person. to transfer a motorbike should cost around 6'000 - 10'000 cfa (this price includes the driver). cars will cost about 25'000 cfa (including one passenger).
officials on both sides were surprisingly nice and didn't ask for money.

from kinshasa to luanda by air:
TAAG flies every wednesday and saturday evening to luanda. one way tickets cost 227 dollars. you can transport your motorbike for 2 dollars per kilo plus about 100 dollars for airport and freight fees. if you fly on a saturday you'll have to wait until monday to get the bike out of the airport (leaving the bike at there costs about 10 dollars/day). book at ICARE travel on boulevard 30 de juin, close to the general post office. ask for urbaine. it's a great agency with european standart service.

from matadi (DRC) to northern angola via noqui:
(i didn't take this route. this information comes from olli and corina who are probably the first tourist who have taken that route. thanks for the info, hope to see you soon!)
the border into northern angola via noqui is open. it might be time consuming to get over the border as the angolans are not used to the paperwork which is involved when dealing with europeans. the officials are said to be nice and there should be no problems. after the border follow the road to the coastal town of n'zeto.

places to stay

kinshasa: try the centre d'accueil protestante on rue kalemie 8. they have rooms for 25 dollars. you can also sleep in your car for 3 dollars per person. it's in the city centre, close to the US embassy. (ask for the way). try to get a reservation, as it's often full: jean-robert: 0 812 502 426

matadi: try the guesthouse at the lycee lisanga. it's close to a intersection with three roads, one going to the centre of town, one to boma and one to kinshasa. rooms cost about 4500 franc congolais.

other

there are men with fake police-id cards, asking for documents and subsequently for money. there are also real policemen abusing their id-cards for the same reason.
they can be a pain in the ass! but there is not much you can do... (better to pay a phony policeman than insult a real one...). don't leave without a passport, or fake a receipt that sais you have left the passport with an embassy to ask for a visa.

you can get cash advance against your VISA card at BCDC on boulevard du 30 juin in the city centre. there is also a western union office on the ground floor.

travel agency: ICARE travel building rwindi - boulevard 30. juin in gombe (between the GPO and the sabena offices). great staff with european service. tel: 46 767 - 88 07 608 / 89 64 475 - 89 77 000 / 98 301 027 and here are the mobile numbers of urbain, a good employee: 98 57 000 / 99 942 65 // email: icare@generalco.cd