DR Congo Overland

23/06/2011 - Democratic Republic of the Congo

“I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.” – Steinbeck 

Everyone I had met or read about told me that crossing the 2500km route southbound through the DRC would be either too dangerous, due to regional conflict and corrupt officials, or simply impossible, due to bad roads and lack of vehicles. Walking came to mind as a possible solution to the latter problem, but then I met a military major who had walked the entire route from Lubumbashi to Kinshasa (at the time Mobutu was chased from power); It had taken him seven months. In order to cross the country in time with my one-month visa, I would either need a miracle, or a flight (southbound via Angola was ruled out after a quick glance at their visa procedure). Needless to say flying felt too much like a cop-out, so I went with the miracle. 

Full article is hosted at my old blogging website: Travelblog.org