From the airport to the city centre Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Ndjili national airport is located 30 km from the center of Kinshasa. There are two options for leaving the airport: private transfer (hotel shuttle) or cab. If it's a community cab, you can negotiate for a few thousand francs. If you take a private cab, expect to pay between $20 and $30, but always negotiate the price before you get in. During the day, the road is congested or even very congested, so when leaving Kinshasa, allow a safety margin in relation to boarding time. You can order a cab via smartphone with Yango.

Domestic flights are either from Ndjili, or from Ndolo airport, which only handles small aircraft. Other international airports are Lubumbashi and Goma. CAA and Congo Airways fly to the major cities, but it's not unusual for flights to be cancelled due to breakdowns or because the aircraft has been requisitioned from above... Alternatively, four private companies (Lisalisi, ACS, Air Kasaï and Kinavia) fly to smaller towns. But here too, cancellations are possible if the aircraft is not full.

Go-Pass. The airport departure tax was introduced in 2009 to finance airport rehabilitation. 15 ($30 return) to fly to another city in the country and $55 to fly out of the country. Yes, it's expensive to fly in the DRC.

Arrival by train Democratic Republic Of The Congo

For a long time now, it's been impossible to enter the country other than by car or plane. "Without railroads, the Congo wouldn't be worth a penny", said explorer Henry Morton Stanley. A solid network of railroads covered a large part of the country, transporting both goods and people. Today, only a few lines remain more or less operational. The one that runs from Kinshasa (Gare Centrale) to the province of Kongo-Central as far as Songololo, on the Lubumbashi side.

Major projects are well advanced to redeploy a thousand-kilometer rail network worthy of the name. Primarily for the mining sector, but with extensions for other sectors and for passenger transport. A TGV project linking Banana to Kinshasa is also on the table.

Arrival by boat Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The Congo River is navigable from its mouth to Matadi, and then from Kinshasa to Kisangani. It is used to transport goods and passengers. However, the passenger fleet is obsolete (mostly whaleboats, or overloaded barges that become dangerous floating villages). This means of transport is hardly recommended, except for the truly adventurous... Yet river transport of people and goods is an essential parameter in the country's revitalization, and its development will be one of the priorities of the next few years. Fundamental in a country where water and land are symbiotic.

By Beach Ngobila. Facing Brazzaville, Beach Ngobila is the gateway to Congo Brazzaville. The Office National des Transports (ONATRA) and other private operators provide the crossing for passengers and goods between the world's two closest capitals. The crossing takes between 10 and 45 minutes, depending on the boat used. Beach Ngobila is the border post between Congo Brazzaville and the DRC. A visa is required to enter Congo Brazza.

Public transport Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Most Congolese have no means of transport. On a day-to-day basis, therefore, the population travels mainly by community cab, car cab, motorcycle cab(wewa) or bus. Community cabs(fula fula) are rather spartan... They're generally our old vans, downgraded and customized here as minibuses with planks for seats, and in which at least sixty passengers can squeeze in. If you don't have a rental car, we recommend a cab. You'll recognize them by the slogan on their sides, "Esprit de vie" (Spirit of life), which replaces the "Esprit de mort" (Spirit of death) that characterized the old vehicles, which were veritable hearses on wheels...

In Kinshasa, Transco is the bus company that manages public transport. Mercedes buses. Inexpensive, but often overcrowded and slowed down by appalling traffic jams. Trans-Academia's mission is to transport students from institutions of higher and university education, with dematerialized payment via the Mobile App.

In Lubumbashi, the excellent Mulykap company serves a large part of the former province of Grand Katanga. Clean, always on time and well-trained staff.

Bike, scooters & co Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Few, if any, bicycles in the DRC. Let alone electrically-assisted scooters! The cause is the state of the roads and the chaotic traffic. The only two-wheelers on the road are Chinese and Indian motorcycles, as well as motorized and non-motorized tricycles. On the other hand, a growing number of mountain bike tours are available throughout the country. You can also rent a bike.

With a driver Democratic Republic Of The Congo

It's very easy to find a chauffeur-driven car. Most cabs are yellow, but many drivers improvise themselves as taximans on demand. The relentless rural exodus that drives many young people to the big cities and into the cab business means that some are unfamiliar with the city outside the main roads. Try to find the right driver who understands French well and can act as your guide. Negotiate a daily rate (between $60 and $80 in Kinshasa, a little less elsewhere). Several car rental companies, and sometimes even private individuals, provide vehicles ranging from the most basic to the most powerful 4x4s. Rental is usually accompanied by a driver (recommended). Prices range from $70 to $200 per day, depending on the route and type of vehicle chosen. Travel agencies such as Congo Travel Services, Excel Voyage and Jeffery Travel also offer vehicle rentals.

By car Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The road network remains one of the country's weak points. Much of it is impassable, and a 4x4 vehicle is often indispensable. Since Mobutu, the absence of a policy of investment and prolonged maintenance of roads has resulted in a network in serious disrepair and the isolation of many parts of the country.

When Kabila Jr. came to power, one of his "five projects" was to rehabilitate road access. But the scale of the task is enormous, and not helped by the difficult climatic conditions. However, several strategic axes have been rehabilitated, helping to improve the flow of goods and people, especially in the vicinity of major cities. In the rainy season, some areas become practically inaccessible. What's more, some roads are littered with spontaneous, unofficial checkpoints... Especially after dark. We strongly advise against driving at night. On the whole, the Kinshasa-Kongo-Central axis is well maintained, as are the roads around Lubumbashi (Likasi, Kolwezi). The best way to find out about road conditions (including safety) is to get local information before you leave.

In town (especially Kinshasa), you'll have to deal with the local way of driving, which is characterized by little respect for traffic rules and other road users. The main rule is that priority is given to the strongest or fastest, a rule slightly tempered at certain crossroads by the presence of police officers ("roulages"). Traffic lights and robot roulages are a thing of the past, one-way traffic lanes are often used in both directions by motorcycles and sometimes even cars, and the horn is omnipresent.

An international license is required. Even so, it won't be enough to avoid having to pay the bill in the event of a "rolling" control. Their motivation is more to earn a little extra income than to ensure safety. Always negotiate, never lose your temper. Outside the cities, some roads are toll roads.

Tourist traps Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Don't be offended if you're addressed as Mundele (in Lingala) or Muzungu (in Swahili). The white tourist is more recognizable. All to the advantage of the Ivorian or Kenyan tourist, who is more likely to go unnoticed! Whether it's for a cab, at the market, when buying a mask or jewel, at the entrance to a natural site, or simply because you've photographed a "strategic" location, people often try to charge you "a little something".