Going to the Congo! Advise?

Add as much mosquito repellent as possible, but prepared yourself to be bitten, because you will.
Do not flash expensive electronics, clothing or other pieces of kit. The per capita income of the Congo is less than 1,000US$ per year, so be mindful of the risk to be perceived as a rich tourist.
Don’t forget your hat and poncho, lots of sun and lots of rain in the area.
Practice your French; it is always a good idea to be able to communicate without the need of others.
Enjoy your time.
 
Ex Officio and a few other companies makes clothes that have permetherin embedded in the fabric. It lasts much longer then the do-it-yourself sprays.
 
Okay, I updated my original post (#8 on the first page) as the advice in it was several years old.

I have considered writing an adventure travel guide and have boiled down a bunch of advice for travel to the 3rd World to a 10 page document for friends. Email me if you want it.

Africa is beautiful and you'll have a wonderful time. The Congo River Basin is one of the most beautiful places in the world and the Congo River is full of wonders. Enjoy yourself!
 
For heaven's sake, stay away from these!:
congo1.jpg


Did anyone mention bringing a good hat?
 
rwc53 said:
Gerberblades, I respectfully disagree about the syringes and needles. In that part of Africa, were I to have an injection, I would want to supply my own syringe and needle. I am basing this on first-hand experience with medical clinics in that specific region of the continent.

Regards,
Ron
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Hi Ron- My concern was with customs and any possible problems that can come with that equipment. If there is worry about contamination of needles, the same may apply to any injectables found there as well.

Years ago, a good friend went overland from Jo'burg to Cairo. Returned home to Zim. with some incredible stories and pics. He also worked several months in the Central African Republic. His take was simply that Africa is a dangerous place to be. At the time, he ranked Angola as #1 on his list of dangerous places to visit.
 
tabeeb762 said:
Kind of off-topic, but which edition of the book do you think is worth getting? Have you read Adventure Travel In The Third World by Jeff and Mike of RAT?
The reviews on Amazon aren't helpful at all.
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Well some of the book is tried and true sort of wisdom for travel in shaky areas. That can be universal. The country specific stuff is very time sensitive, so get the most recent edition for sure and also browse the State Department's site right up until you depart to watch for any changing events.

A google news 'alert' can be configured to search any news sources for Congo references too. Always good to have an ear to the drum beat before you leave to go somewhere.

As an example, I had a free trip to Acapulco given to me, set up the above alerting and searches on Google news and cancelled a week before the cartels started killing all the journalists and taking hostages there a couple years back. It had been accepted as a safe part of Mexico until that point.

All that said, I would *love* to go to Africa, several places in fact, but one needs to keep track of what is going on over there for sure.

The Dakar Rally was outright discontinued in Africa after years of running because it was so politically volatile they couldn't maintain any long range plans for the course it took.
 
+1 on www.state.gov site. I don't travel anywhere overseas without consulting the State Dept. site regularly up until the point I leave. It's saved me some heartache a few times.
 
I was at fair less dangeruous places - South Africa and Ghana, but the only thing what I was a bit paranoid about in Ghana was bilharzia. check out the area. and be careful in warmwaters. have a safe trip.
 
GB,

I fully understand your point. I found that syringes and needles were reused without what we would term proper sterilization, which is why I recommended taking them. If they are bundled with other medical supplies, and, particularly, if you are a medical professonal, which Truelove is, then there will probably be no problem with Customs (but that is always "iffy", at best).

I was in Angola (and the Cabinda Enclave) in 1995 & 96, then returned in 1998 & 99. It was dangerous in that part of Africa at that time...still a lot of conflict going on. I was in Cameroon on two occasions in 2004, and found that much more safe, from a conflict standpoint. Folks just need to realize that Sub-Saharan Africa is not to be taken lightly. While I truly enjoy National Geographic specials on that area, they don't truly prepare the neophyte traveller very well!

Regards,
Ron
 
As far a safe water goes have you blokes seen these.
http://www.lifesaverbottledirect.com/
We saw them at a camping show they were scooping water out of a filthy moss covered fiberglass pond putting it through the lifesaver bottle and handing cups of water out to the punters as they walked past (pause a second and think of the public liability if it didn't work as advertised)
No pre-filter, no tabs after and medically sterile, 4000lt capacity.( no good for dissolved salts so no marine water or urine sorry Bear)
Carl
 
When you are in town don't take any photo's of gov buildings, it's illegal, don't swim in slow running water (Bilharzia) as said before stay away from the local women, don't smile at the military as you pass by, if you do be prepared to do time in the local goal until you pay a fine. Never pay the asking price for anything, and NEVER hand your luggage to a local at the airport .
Have a good trip.

Richard
 
I strongly advice that you consult your state department and the Congo office in your country to ask them questions. It is a time consuming but necessary process.

I have a family friend that is there for the following two weeks helping with infrastructure development. Good advice he gives is:

1) Always let someone know where you are going to be.

Contact tourism firms close to the river etc and tell them when to expect you. Tell them what to do when you do not arrive.

2) Get one of those spot tracker things you can use in case of emergency.

The rest of the people gave some good advice in this thread, medical care, maps of the area you will travel,learn those maps! Number them so you can know what map is necessary for what day, navigation, water purifying all are important, one thing to consider to take with you is a mosquito net. It keeps all critters off you and I highly highly recommend that!

Other then that remember that we in Africa have different animals and trees each with a specific purpose as with other countries. It is one of the most difficult skills to learn what trees and animals can be used for what purpose. Get a book on animals, insects and woods of Africa, or specifically Congo. It is a useful skill and will also make the trip more enjoyable.

Congo is recovering from civil war, they are currently employing many South Africans in the development sector and farming so as far as I know they are turning a corner.
 
My suggestion is NOT to go after a semi-insane trader who has set himself up as a demi-god among the natives. That way, darkness lies.
 
Don't think he will come across many animals there, they have eaten most of them, cane rats are the local meat source.
Was there for a month in the 70's, lucky for me I stayed on a Anglo American mine.

Richard
 
From a Belgian:
1) Local people are extremely friendly with foreigners.They will show a lot of interest and give you a present even if they are poor.Have something with you to give back: sunglasses, Pens
2)Medical care is non existent (almost) last time everything that could be needed was send to there: needles, anti biotic, blood
3)The police and army have not been paid for decades, have allways your "matabish" with you, some money (€ or $)
4) Get all the necessary vaccins, here we have the best in the world: Antwerpen Tropisch Instituut
5)Drink never water nor take a bath in "nice clean" pond, lake etc
6)No fire arms, and for a knife a simple fixed(stainless ,micarta) will do.
7à I prefer Browning high shoes, Goretex ,Kangourou light leather.
And if they know you are from Belgium they consider you even as family.
 
Tinbasher said:
Don't think he will come across many animals there, they have eaten most of them, cane rats are the local meat source.
Was there for a month in the 70's, lucky for me I stayed on a Anglo American mine.

Richard
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You still get pesky flies and other insects that lay their larva in ones clothes, when you sweat they go into your skin and start to eat your flesh. One should still know how to deal with these things and it is a skill one can use.

A lot have changed since the 70's, but it does still have its problems agreed, as do every country on this blue marble we live on.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1104.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2198.html
http://kinshasa.usembassy.gov/wardensystem3.html
 
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Plasma Expander (s) - if any of the party needs blood, the local sources can be suspect with the extraordinary high rate of HIV in Africa.
 
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