Driving Through the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Table of Contents

• The Road Less Traveled
• The Beautiful Main Road
• Challenges with Visa
• Traversing Rough Roads
• The Wrong Turn
• An Unexpected Trail
• The Final Hurdle
• FAQ
• Conclusion

The Road Less Traveled

When we crossed the border from the northern enclave of Angola Kabinda into DRC, the road immediately changed from tar to dirt. We had two options: either travel the main corrugated dirt road and pay up to 100 US dollars in tolls, or take a secondary road which was free. Welcome to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Beautiful Main Road

We spent the night at the border on the Angolan side, which was very nice. Now, we are on the Route National 11, the beautiful main road from northern Angola to mainland in Germany. Northern Angola is Kabinda, the main city, and DRC needed a bit of access to the sea, so they organized this little territory. The road sucks but we were very happy to get into the DRC because if we had issues with our visa, it would have been a big problem for us.

Challenges with Visa

The visa situation was different for us compared to most foreigners. While they could have applied in their home countries, we haven't been home in years. There was no way for us to apply for a visa in our home country. So, when we got to the border, it was a big deal for us. The poor land is working a lot harder than I expected her to work. I wasn't under the impression that it was this kind of road deep sand. But we made it through and now we understand that there are more road taxes that you have to pay to drive this crap for 200 kilometers.

Traversing Rough Roads

After several hours of traversing through motorbike tracks, badly maintained dirt roads, and haggling at toll booths, we finally reached paved roads. With the sun setting, we were racing against the clock to reach the port city of Mathuri before dawn, but sadly we didn't make it in time. After resting for two days, we set off to Angola but immediately hit heavy traffic.

The Wrong Turn

It turns out we had not taken the right turn. It was a newly paved road to the border just 500 meters ahead of where we took it. We had stopped to ask the locals if there was another road, but because of the language barrier, they misspoke and said 500 kilometers instead of 500 meters. By the time we realized that mistake, it was too late. We were already three quarters down the track.

An Unexpected Trail

We believed that there was a road to the border, and now we're driving on this freaking motorbike track. It's like when you think you're over the bump, there's another bloody mountain ahead of you. All you want to do is get into Angola, and we're almost there. The trail we took joined the new road a couple of kilometers from the border. It was absolute chaos and at times seemed impossible for this to be an international border.

The Final Hurdle

After crossing into Angola, we rushed to the beach and spent a relaxed evening, knowing that we had finally overcome the last major hurdle in our West African adventure.

FAQ

Q: What was the condition of the roads in the DRC?

A: The roads in the DRC were mainly dirt roads, poorly maintained, and often filled with deep sand. It took us several hours to traverse through them.

Q: Did you encounter any challenges with your visa?

A: Yes, we had a unique situation where we couldn't apply for a visa in our home country. It was a big deal for us when we reached the border, as we didn't know what would happen if they didn't allow us entry into the DRC.

Q: How long did it take to reach the paved roads?

A: After hours of driving on dirt roads, we finally reached the paved roads. It was a relief to have a smoother ride.

Q: Did you face any difficulties finding the right route?

A: Yes, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a motorbike track instead of the road to the border. It was a frustrating experience, but we eventually found our way back on track.

Q: What was your overall impression of the journey through the DRC?

A: Despite the challenges and rough roads, we were amazed by the natural beauty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country's untouched landscapes and the determination of its people left a lasting impression on us.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading about our journey through the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was a challenging adventure, but we made it through the rough roads and reached our destination. If you enjoyed this blog, please subscribe, like, and share. Your support means a lot to us.

DR MISBAH ULLAH KHAN OFFICIAL