Kigali to Kinshasa Cross-Congo Overland Tour (Requires Flexible Schedule and a Total of 1 Month)

*Exact route is subject to change for weather and political safety and stability and logistical evolution along the infrastructure development of the country(!)

Day 1 Depart from your home country

Day 2 Arrival in Kigali (Rwanda) and drive over Butare and Nyungwe to the Ruzizi River. Overnight/ Breakfast at Hotel Du Lac (shower, warm water and internet)

Day 3 Drive over the border to Congo – continue to Kahuzi-Biega-Nationalpark to visit the Chibati Falls and the Lwiro Scientific Research Centre to see Chimpanzees if they are in the area, with packed lunch on the way. Overnight/ breakfast at Plamedi Hotel (Shower, warm water and internet)

Day 4 Boat ride to the Idjwi Island. Motorbike to the guesthouse. Afterwards tour around the island – Village, Quinquinas and pineapple plantations, king’s museum. Overnight/ Full board at Congoman Hotel (no shower, no warm water, no internet)

Day 5 drive with the motorbike to the harbor and boatride to Goma. Overnight/ breakfast in Caritas Guest House (shower, warm water and internet)

Day 6 flight from Goma to Beni. Drive around in Beni. Overnight/ breakfast im Vyahe Hotel (bucket shower + Internet)

Day 7 drive to Ituri Forest near Epulu via Komanda and Mambsa. Dinner and overnight/ breakfast in the Okapi Reserve Lodge (no hot water, no internet)

Day 8 Ituri Forest Trek to the village of the pygmies. Overnight in a tent with the pygmies. The day can be long and relatively exhaustive depending where the pygmies are.

Day 9 Interaction with the village people. After lunch back to Epulu. Overnight/ breakfast in the Okapi Reserve Lodge.

Day 10 Drive via Nia Nia and Bafwasende, mostly though Forest, to Kisangani. Overnight/ breakfast in the Ramela Hotel at the River Congo (shower, warm water and internet)

Day 11 visits of Kisangani – Wagenia Fishery, drive in a pirogue to the island for a visit of the chiefs, Tchopo Rover, overnight/ breakfast in the Ramela Hotel.

Day 12 Flight to Kinshasa on CAA. Overnight/ breakfast in the Auberge de Kinshasa (shower, warm water and internet)

Day 13 Drive to Bas Congo/ Zongo falls. Overnight/ breakfast in the Seli Safari Lodge (shower, warm water)

Day 14 visit of the Botanical gardens in Kisantu (author's and CTT's favorite) – here you see the endemic plants and trees from Congo. Continue the drive to Kinshasa. Overnight/ breakfast in the Auberge de Kinshasa.

Day 15 Trip to Lola ya Bonobos-reserve, the Lukaya Waterfalls, and Kinsuka Overnight/ breakfast in the Auberge de Kinshasa

Day 16 departure from Kinshasa 

WE WILL NEED A NOTE FROM YOUR DOCTOR TO CERTIFY THAT YOU ARE PHYSICALLY FIT AND IN GOOD HEALTH ENOUGH TO DO THIS TRIP. IT IS VERY TIRING AND ROUGH, AND SOME DAYS WILL BE DELAYED AND NEED RE-WORKING.

HOWEVER, IT IS A STEADY AND AMAZING ODYSSEY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AMONG THE MOST REWARDING TRIPS AVAILABLE ON THE CONTINENT TODAY.

Is this expensive? - No. Here is why: Try to calculate and plan this trip out for yourself before you ask for any discounts. This is the price and sorry upfront we will not entertain versions of this trip you have heard on Lonely Planet Thorntree or TripAdvisor from self-styled travelers with multiple claims and stories, some of which are great, and some of which are exaggerated or unverified. Any traveler is free to attempt this trip on their own and we wish them luck. Please note we get asked everyday, and stick to what we can do, and this is a route we know can reliably get you across. This is the minimum viable cost of the tour with a guide and organization. If you want to get the tour cheaper, we can put you on a ferry to Kinshasa from Kisangani after day 10 that takes 1 additional month, without any food at all included on a sweaty insecure river barge covered with mud, for $300 plus $40 tips for the captain. If you have 2-3 months to spare, we can also set up portions of this trip for you to aid in you self-organizing for $5-7,000 of your own money per person. If you want a complete guided trip you must book at the rates and routes prescribed on this page.

*You will need a minimum of 1 free month to undertake this trip. If you miss any flights or fail to make it back to your country on time, you are 100% responsible for paying the extra costs incurred and CTT is not. (You have been warned. Please budget 1 month) 

**That said, this is one of the most adventurous and fascinating routes through the Congo and we highly endorse this kind of trip for adventurers and backpackers coming for the right reasons.

***Please budget minimum $2,000 extra for food, drinks, tourist souvenirs, and incidentals for this trip. 

Includes:

Visa Support and Documentation
Accommodation listed in the program
Guide for the duration
Internal flights (Kisangani to Kinshasa)
Ground transport (all modes and methods and public and private!)
Entrance fees for all attractions, parks, and sites.
Camping Gear and Kit for when necessary
Gratuities and Tips 
The safari and odyssey of your life, and the most real and raw in Africa - guaranteed...