Congo River Expedition Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
PURPOSE: To learn and experience the trading routes of the Congo River
This Trip is available all year round
Day 1 – Fly to Kinshasa via Brussels or Paris
Airport transfer to the hotel where we will meet for a trip briefing.
Overnight Residence Mutchimba or similar
Day 2 - Sightseeing in Kinshasa
Tour of Kinshasa, the capital city of the D.R.Congo. The tour offers you the opportunity to visit, photograph and learn about the major historical, cultural and natural highlights the city has to offer. Kinshasa, the capital of the D.R.Congo, used to be referred to as "Kin La Belle" - meaning "Beautiful Kinshasa". Some of the major sites include the "Grand Marché", the tomb of former President Laurent Kabila, the "Academy des Beaux Arts" for those who like African art, the rapids of Kinsuka just downstream from the city and the Bonobo Reserve, a sanctuary for orphaned bonobo-monkeys, one of the five Great Apes, and the closest to mankind. Overnight Residence Mutchimba or similar.
Day 3 - Kinshasa to Kisangani
Airport transfer for scheduled flight to Kisangani
Overnight Kisangani hotel
Day 4 - Sightseeing in Kisangani
Kisangani was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in January 1877. Memorable sites include the Tshopo River Falls and the Wagenia Fisheries, set up in the midst of river rapids. Lianas attached to cross poles act as stretchers for the nets submerged in the foaming water. The fishermen go about their business in pirogues, plying among rapids and rocks. Their agility and boldness are a real source of amazement.
Overnight Kisangani hotel
Day 5 - Travel by boat: Kisangani – Yangambi ( 90 km )
Our River Cruiser is a 34-meter long, wooden boat, equipped with two powerful outboard motors. This traditional type of boat is equipped with safety equipment, sanitary installation, a generator, lighting and freezers. The boat is operated by a licensed experienced captain, we are also accompanied by a mechanic, a sailor, a cook and an experienced guide. Evenings are spent ashore, enabling cultural interaction with the locals. Overnight tented camp
Day 6 - Travel by boat: Yangambi – Lokutu (95 km)
The Yangambi Biosphere Reserve is a centre for research of secondary forests. Pycnanthus angolensis and Fagara macrophylla, semi-deciduous secondary rain forests, rain forests with Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, climax forests with Brachystegia laurentii and marshland forests dominate the biosphere reserve. The site is very important from a biodiversity point of view since it hosts about 32,000 tree species. Elephant, the river hog, and monkeys are among the most threatened species.
Although there are no figures on the number of inhabitants of the area, some economic activities take place within the biosphere reserve boundaries such as agriculture, hunting, fishing, the production of canoes as well as some gold mining.. Overnight tented camp
Day 7 - Travel by boat: Lokutu – Mombongo (83 km)
We visit the Lokutu Oil Palm Plantation. We arrive in the region of the Lokele, a tribe living on the banks of the river. Overnight tented camp
Day 8 - Travel by boat: Mombongo – Bumba (106 km)
In Bumba, the Congo River broadens out to its widest point, some 20 kilometres across. The River is covered with water hyacinths and paved with several islands, the hyacinth is thought to have been introduced into Congo in 1960 by a South-American Missionary.
This innocent gesture has produced incalculable results, since the river hyacinths have become a real hazard to navigation. The region of Bumba is also the home of the Bafoto Pygmies.
Overnight tented camp
Day 9 - Travel by boat: Bumba – Lisala (117 km)
Lisala is the birth place of former President Mobutu Sese Seko. A broad trunked tree - a "Libanga" – commemorates his birth with a plaque: "This tree commemorates the birth of the Father of the Zairian Revolution, Mobutu Sese Seko, born on 14 October 1930."
Overnight tented camp
Day 10 - Travel by boat: Lisala – Iaté ( 109 km)
A beautiful fishing village Overnight tented camp
Day 11 - Travel by boat: Iaté – Moleka ( 95 km )
The river expands, either by flowing around countless islands, or by spreading out into what settlers call “pools”. Stanley met some cannibals here. Overnight tented camp
Day 12 - Travel by boat: Moleka – Bolombo ( 121 km ) :
Overnight tented camp
Day 13 - Travel by boat: Bolombo – Malonga ( 77 km ) :
Makanza is formerly New Antwerp. Overnight tented camp
Day 14 - Travel by boat: Malonga – Mbandaka ( 105 km ) :
The Congo crosses the Equator shortly before Mbandaka. Mbandaka is the biggest town between Kisangani and Kinshasa. It is the region of the Mongo tribe. Overnight tented camp
Day 15 - Travel by boat: Mbandaka – Malanga (90km):
Mbandaka is the capital of the Equatorial Province, on the left bank of the Congo in the angle formed by the left bank of the Ruki River and the bank of the Congo. Mbandaka was established in 1883, by Stanley and Van Gèle. Slightly north of Irebu the Congo forms a vast delta about 14 km broad. This is the point at which the Ubangi joins the Congo. Overnight tented camp
Day 16 - Travel by boat: Malanga – Lukolela plantation (101 km) :
This area is known as the Liranga Narrows. Visit of a cacao plantation. The plantation has suffered from the isolation due to the civil war.
Overnight tented camp
Day 17 - Travel by boat: Lukolela – Croissement (99 km)
At Lukolela the river narrows and is bordered by high cliffs. Lukolela was established by Stanley on in 1893. The river maintains a width of 6 – 9 km and is studded with islands. Overnight tented camp
Day 18 - Travel by boat: Croissement – Kalengé : ( 110 km )
Yumbi : Early catholic mission. There are rock outcrops at the bottom of the navigation channel. At Bolobo the width of the river is reduced to less than 2 km. Overnight tented camp
Day 19 - Travel by boat: Kalengé – Epuna (155 km )
Epuna is not far from Kwamouth. Kwamouth is on the left bank at the confluence of the Kwa, the name of the Kasai River where it joins the Congo. Overnight tented camp
Day 20 - Travel by boat: Epuna – Maluku (89 km )
The river runs through what has been called the channel or passage, where the banks are steep and the river is wedged in between the foothills of the Crystal Mountains. We arrive in Maluku where the Congo becomes the Pool Malebo. Transfer to hotel in Kinshasa.
Day 21 - Kinshasa
Hotel to airport transfer
departure
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