REPORT TRAVEL ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (Kinshasa and Sanctuaire des bonobos).

Flight of the TAAG Angola Airlines Company from Luanda (Angola) to Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, with technical stopover, without getting off the plane, in Brazzaville in Congo. (Price of the single ticket: 68,879 Kz).

Time zone: same time as in Italy, -1h when Italy has daylight saving time.

Entry visa: necessary, to be requested at the Angola diplomatic / consular offices present in Italy or abroad. At the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Rome, they do not issue Transit Visas.

To obtain the tourist one for the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, at the Embassy in Rome, it is necessary to present the following documentation:

1. Dem. Congo Rep. Visa Form - filled in all its parts and signed below (I can download it from the internet)

2. Passport valid for at least 6 months

3. Two recent photo cards on a white background

4. Confirmation of hotel booking, stamped and signed by the Hotel located in the Democratic Republic of Congo and attested by a local authority in the DRC or an original letter of invitation from the person / organization / company / NGO located in the Rep. Dem. Of Congo, endorsed in loco by the Directorate General of Immigration.

5. Air or operating tickets for return flights

6. Photocopy Health card proving vaccination against yellow fever

7. Consular fees: Euro 117

Timetable for issuing a tourist visa: 10 days, for the normal procedure.

Obtain a confirmation of the hotel reservation, stamped and signed by the Hotel located in the Democratic Republic of Congo and attested by a local authority in the DRC or an original letter of invitation from the person / entity / company / NGO located in the Rep. Dem. Of Congo, endorsed locally by the Directorate General of Immigration, is really difficult. I tried to contact several hotels via the "Booking.com" website, but only one of them replied to me, namely the Hotel Poor Vous in Kinshasa, which replied in English: "Legalizing of the reservation is done by Hotel de Ville (City Hall) which they charge as well $ 80 USD. Just to make sure, last time they did the legalized reservation. To avoid expenses I would prefer if you CAN get the Prize en charge (letter of invitation) from the DGM immigration DRC (with 5 business days) for a safe 100% confirmed route of the visa on time at your country. It's your choice though the costs are involved in it $ 150 for Prize en charge and Legalized document for $ 80 USD, with a payment in advance payable by PayPal ”.

In the end, however, I decided to take a visa for the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO abroad, which is less expensive and easier.

So I went to the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Yaounde in Cameroon in Cameroon, because here is one of the easiest places in the world to get a tourist visa. And in fact I showed up at 12.00 in the morning and upon presentation of 1 completed and signed form and 2 ID photos, I would be issued a tourist visa in 2 days, but I refused as I had no time to wait that long. For the payment of the Consular Rights I honestly did not ask how much I would have had to pay to get it.

So I went to the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Cotonou in Benin, located in the Cadjehou district, on Rue 12.279, not far from Cadjehou International Airport because here is the easiest place in the world to get a transit visa . And in fact I showed up at 8.45 am and presented 1 completed and signed form, 1 passport photo, Hotel booking and 15,000 CFA in cash. This is the price for obtaining a transit visa valid for 8 days from the date on which you declare that you wish to enter the country. At 14.30 I returned to the Embassy and I withdrew my Passport with my transit visa affixed.

Languages: French is particularly common in large cities;

Other (local) languages: Lingala (Kinshasa and North-West); Swahili (east); Tshiluba (Western and Eastern Kasai; Kikongo (Lower-Congo).

Religions: Mostly Catholics with animist, Protestant, Kimbaguist, Muslim minority.

Currency: Congolese Franc (1 USD = 1740 FC). The US dollar is commonly used for commercial transactions. You can use it to pay for anything: hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, taxis, buses, etc. Often the rest is given to you in Congolese Francs.

Once arrived, at 4.00 pm, at N'djili Airport, located 24 km north-west of the Center of Kinshasa, after showing the Yellow fever booklet, you must immediately go to the border staff desk. Since I had a transit visa, this time too they filled me with questions and finally they wanted to see the Air reservation that brought me from Brazzaville to Italy.

From N'djili Airport, located 24 km north-west of the Center of Kinshasa, to reach the Hotel Pour Vous, you can take a taxi. They asked me for 40 USD, even though contracting the driver would have accepted 20 USD. Then I crossed the airport car park to reach the main road where I took one of the many minibuses heading towards the center of the capital. The same ends the race at about 10 km from the center, where I took a private taxi that took me to the aforementioned Hotel for 10USD. Due to intense traffic, the entire journey took about 2 hours.

In Kinshasa, I stayed at the Hotel Pour Vous, located on Avenue Rep du T'Chad 22, in the center of Kinshasa, for the price of 50 USD, for a double room with air conditioning, private bathroom and wifi. The staff speaks a few words of English.

Through the Hotel Pour Vous I rented a car with a driver (who speaks only French) at a cost of USD 80 per day (from 6.00 to 18.00), including fuel, to visit Kinshasa and to go to the Sanctuaire des Bonobos, located 30 km south of the Capital City Center and Lac Ma Vallée. The road to reach the Sanctuary is almost entirely paved but in very bad condition, except for the last 5 km that are unpaved.

The Sanctuaire des Bonobos, founded by Claudine Andre in 1994, is the only Sanctuary of the World for Bonobos Orphans. Bonobo is a primate of the hominid family. It is also known as pygmy chimp or dwarf chimpanzee. It was recognized as a distinct species from the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in 1933 and subsequent genetic studies confirmed this taxonomic classification, estimating a difference of 0.3% among the genetic heritage of the two species. The bonobos are distinguished from the common chimpanzees for the black color of the whole snout except the lips and the tufts of hairs at the top of the head.

The Sanctuaire des Bonobos located south of the suburb of Kimwenza, at the Petites Chutes de la Lukaya, in Kinshasa. It is possible to visit it only with scarce 2-hour guided tours, which are held every day, except Monday, at 10.00, 11.30, 13.00 and 14.30. The entrance fee is 10 USD. The guide also speaks English.

From the Sanctuaire des Bonobos, a dirt road of about 5 km leads to the beautiful Lac Ma Vallée, whose entrance costs 5 USD.

Later I reached the Serpen du Congo in a private house in the Cebo district in the municipality of Mont Ngafula. My driver first phoned the following telephone numbers: +243/0899460477, +243/0823620634 (Watshap), setting the appointment to watch the show in which Mr. Monsieur Francois showed me poisonous snakes and also gave them to me put on the neck. I also held non-poisonous snakes in my hand. Cost: 10 USD.

Later I visited the center of Kinshasa and precisely:

1. President Kasa Vubu Monument in Kasa Vubu;

2. Palais du Peuple (Parlement) in Lingwala;

3. Musee National in Lingwala (it was closed for renovations);

4. Eglise du Crist au Congo in Lingwala;

5. Cathedrale Notre Dame in Gombe;

6. Jardin Zoologique in Gombe (entrance fee 5 USD, if you take pictures with your smartphone, otherwise 10 USD if you take pictures with the camera;

7. BCDC Tower in Gombe;

8. Monument du Soldat Congolais in Gombe;

9. La Citè du Fleuve;

10. Place du 30 Juin in Gombe;

11. Cathedrale Sainte Anne in Gombe;

Be careful in taking photographs in Kinshasa: even if it is not forbidden, try not to be seen by the Police who could create many problems for you.

From the Hotel Pour Vous, in the center of Kinshasa, to reach Brazzaville, the capital of the Congo, I took a motor taxi that took me to the River Port called "The Beach" for the price of 1,000 Fc. A taxi costs 4,000 Fc.

Once I got out of the motor taxi, a policeman took me in to follow all the procedures. I then handed over my passport and 25 USD to the ferry company desk. Then I was accompanied to check the Yellow Fever certificate. The policeman asked me for a USD 25 tip for this assistance he lent me, but in the end I gave him 5 USD + 1,000 Fc. Then you enter a room where they check your luggage and ask you how much money you have. Even there they wanted a tip. I gave him 800 Fc. Then wait in the waiting room until they call the passengers by name and give you the ferry ticket and passport with the exit stamp from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Then for 2 more times they check your passport and the fast ferry ticket until you finally reach it. You have to put on your life jacket. The first ferry leaves in the morning when it is full and this usually takes place between 8.30 and 9.30 am. The crossing takes about 10 minutes. Keep in mind that there are several guys who change money before leaving the country.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link: http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2019/10/travel-in-angola-luanda-miradouro-da.html