Congo, DRC & Angola Cabinda Tour – 2nd departure

Sunday 6th December – Kinshasa (DRC)

• Arrive at your leisure into Kinshasa. The capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is well connected with many East African countries, including Addis Ababa, and also from Paris. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• A pre-tour meeting will be held at the hotel lobby at 6:00pm to discuss the tour details and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Dinner and drinks in the bustling capital.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Monday 7th December – Kinshasa (DRC)

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll start our visit of Kinshasa, one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world! It was formerly known as Léopoldville during its colonial period.
• We will begin the morning at Limete Tower, one of Kinshasa’s most recognisable landmarks. Conceived under Mobutu Sese Seko as a tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the tower began construction in 1969 under architect Olivier-Clément Cacoub. Work is visibly unfinished, as construction halted in 1974.
• We will continue to Stade des Martyrs for a photo stop. Inaugurated in 1994 and built by the Chinese, the stadium is the country’s main national arena, with capacity for roughly 80,000 spectators. Next to it, we’ll see the Tata-Raphael Stadium. This was the very spot where Rumble in the Jungle took place – the famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Also the “Godfather of Soul”, James Brown, performed here in 1974.
• We will drive through the governmental quarter, in the area around the Palais de la Nation and the fair-trade centre facing Parliament. Completed in 1960, the palace has been the seat of the colonial Governor-General before becoming a national symbol after independence; today it serves as the official residence and working seat of the Presidency.
• We will plan a visit to the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MNRDC). Should it be open, the museum will offer insight into the heritage of the country’s many ethnic groups. Opened in November 2019, it is the country’s flagship institution, although unscheduled closures occur periodically.
• We will pass by Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Congo and the Académie des Beaux-Arts de Kinshasa (ABA). The cathedral, built in 1947 under colonial rule, remains one of the city’s most notable religious buildings.
• Next, we will stop at the Mausoleum of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, inaugurated in 2002 by Joseph Kabila following his father’s assassination in 2001. The mausoleum houses the former president’s remains and commemorate his role in national history, particularly his leadership in overthrowing Mobutu in 1997 and restoring the country’s name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we’ll go hang out with the famous La Sape group – the Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People -, also known as the Sapeurs. They are today’s version of their colonial predecessors, the Dandies, and have kept their fashionable lifestyle and distinct mannerisms. You’ll have a unique experience meeting them and will take time to learn about their way of life.
• After a busy day, we’ll check into the hotel to relax and freshen up before we head out to our favourite restaurant for dinner.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Tuesday 8th December – Kinshasa

Morning

• A bright and early start with breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll depart Kinshasa and head for the Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary. The Bonobo is a highly intelligent and sociable species of the chimpanzee family, sometimes referred to as pygmy chimpanzee due to its small size. The sanctuary keeps bonobos that were rescued from local markets, doomed to be sold for bush meat. We’ll learn more about these beautiful animals and see how the locals try to give them their life back.
• The sanctuary cares for seventy-four bonobos, most of them orphans. Newly arrived youngsters spend their first months in a nursery, where Congolese caregivers provide constant attention and bottle-feeding.
• We will learn about the broader conservation picture as well. Bonobos live exclusively in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with an estimated ten thousand individuals surviving in the wild. Overpopulation at the sanctuary eventually pushed Claudine André and her organisation, Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo, to create a long-term reintroduction programme. Once rehabilitated and old enough to form stable groups, animals are released into Ekolo ya Bonobo (“the land of the Bonobos”), a 480-square-kilometre natural reserve in the equatorial forest, roughly 700 kilometres north of Kinshasa.

Afternoon

• We’ll return to Kinshasa, having a lunch stop along the scenic route.
• Depending on traffic, we may have time to visit the Parc Ngaliema, where you will learn about how the exploration of the Congo basin led to a vicious bloody period in the history of the region. Statues of King Leopold II and Henry Morton Stanley once stood here.
• Dinner and drinks in Kinshasa.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Wednesday 9th December – Kinshasa  

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Our in depth exploration of the Kinshasa area will continue with a day trip to the Mbanza Nzambi, south of Kinshasa, where the Tata Gondo followers live.
• Tata Gonda was a religious leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo who, in 1989, claimed to have received a divine call to adopt a life of humility and spiritual devotion. He began wearing sackcloth as a symbol of humility before God. Following his example, his disciples, numbering over 2,000 from Congo and Angola, also don sackcloth and adhere to a lifestyle marked by communal living, rigorous prayer schedules, and self-sufficiency. They abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and luxurious clothing. Notably, they refrain from washing with water, instead performing a daily ritual of covering themselves with ashes, which they regard as an antiseptic.
• You will be able to witness their intimate prayers and have the opportunity to ask questions and take pictures. The ceremonies usually involve collective prayers where participants engage in acts of humility, such as covering themselves with ashes, symbolizing penitence and purification.
• The drive to the Tata Gonda village takes about six hours each way: it will be a long but rewarding day, discovering one of the most fascinating religious organizations but also seeing DRC’s diverse landscapes on the way.
• Dinner and drinks to celebrate our final night in the DRC.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Thursday 10th December – Kinshasa – Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo)

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out of the hotel and drive to the Kinshasa harbour.
• We’ll go to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, taking the short journey by boat. While the crossing lasts only 20 minutes, the whole transfer from Kinshasa to Brazzaville will take around 2 hours, due to the border formalities on both sides of the river.
• You’ll have the opportunity to exchange money at the border. Your guide will also assist you with immigration.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant in Brazzaville with views over the Congo river.
• With our local guide, we’ll set out on a city tour of Brazzaville.
• We’ll visit the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazzaville Memorial. The memorial is dedicated to an Italian-French explorer who founded Brazzaville. What makes Brazzaville unique compared to other former colonized African republics is that they kept the French capital’s name.
• Another highlight will be our meet and greet with the Brazzaville Sapeurs, locals dressed up in flashy clothes as they walk down the streets to be seen. We’ll meet several of them and make sure that we have plenty of time for photos. What’s great about this opportunity is that you can interact and ask more questions about their culture.
• During our city tour, we’ll also see the Nabemba Tower, the highest building in the country. The tower is quite controversial from its construction to its maintenance cost. We’ll continue to the St Anne Basilica, a beautiful catholic church in the centre of the city which was constructed in 1943, and the Monument de la Piste des Caravanes, marking the point where slave caravans halted after crossing from the opposite bank. It is one of the rare remaining public reminders of the river’s role in the regional trade systems of the nineteenth century.
• No visit of the Congo would be complete without a stop at the handicraft market, with many masks, Tintin statues and – yes – fridge magnets.
• We’ll head out for dinner at a local restaurant, and for those inclined, a few refreshments at a local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Brazzaville.

Friday 11th December – Brazzaville – Lesio Luna – Brazzaville

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We’ll depart the capital and head north, towards the Lesio-Louna Reserve. The road trip is a great opportunity to capture the scenic landscape and see local villages on the way. Lesio Louna Reserve was established in the 1980s as part of a wider effort to protect both savannah and forest ecosystems on the plateau. It later became the centre of the country’s gorilla rehabilitation work. Many of the gorillas here were confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade or obtained from foreign zoos. The project teaches them to climb, forage, build nests, and interact with other gorillas, skills they lost during captivity. Because they are still in this transitional phase, before being released in the wild, we will have the rare chance to observe them up close.
• Upon arrival, we’ll take a short walk along the Luna River to take in the surroundings of the jungle and meet the park rangers.
• Probably one of the best experiences of the trip is seeing the mighty silverback gorillas. The duration of the visit depends on where the gorillas are located in the park. It’s important to listen to our ranger’s advice so we can get the most out of seeing them in their natural environment.
• The river is the organising feature of the reserve, dividing the plateau into corridors used by gorillas and other wildlife. We’ll thus be visiting the reserve in small boats, without needing to hike.

Afternoon

• Picnic lunch at the Lesio-Louna Reserve
• We will head back to Brazzaville after this emotional visit at the nature reserve.
• Dinner and drinks in the capital city.
• Overnight in Brazzaville.

Saturday 12th December – Brazzaville – Pointe-Noire

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Group A members: tour concludes with airport transfer. YPT can arrange additional nights in Brazzaville or advice on ongoing transport. If you prefer to finish in Pointe Noire, the transfer – including the cave’s visit – is 90€.
• Full tour members: we’ll continue on the scenic journey to Pointe-Noire, the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo. The drive is around 500 kilometres and will take the full day.
• Along the journey, we’ll take rest stops at small villages to pick up supplies.
• We’ll break the day with a visit of the Nkila Ntari Cave. This historic site, located in the Bouenza department, once served as a refuge during the transatlantic slave trade and the colonial period, offering shelter to local communities seeking protection from persecution, slavery and forced labour – such as when the railway was being built.
• Accessing the main chamber of the cave will require slipping into gutters barely a metre wide and climb down with ropes before emerging into vast halls with ceilings rising dozens of metres above us. If you prefer not to enter the cave, whether for physical reasons, a fear of heights, or claustrophobia, you can simply relax by the river and enjoy the calm setting and the views of the surrounding hills.

Afternoon

• We’ll continue towards the Atlantic Ocean, stopping for lunch along the way.
• On arrival at Pointe-Noire, we’ll check into our hotel.
• Group B members: Arrive at your leisure into Pointe-Noire. The second biggest city of the country is well connected with Paris, Istanbul, and many African countries. Meet your guide and driver at arrivals and transfer to the hotel. If you prefer to arrive in Brazzaville, the transfer to Pointe Noire – including the cave’s visit – is 90€.
• Dinner and welcome drinks at a local restaurant.
• Overnight stay in Pointe-Noire.

Sunday 13th December – Pointe-Noire

Morning

• A leisurely morning starts with breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll head out to the Diosso Gorge, famously referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Congo”. Within the gorge is a beautiful rainforest surrounded by striking pink cliffs.
• Many Congolese cultural artefacts have been taken to Western countries. We’ll visit Mâ-Loango Regional Museum which still has many artefacts from the ancient Congolese people.

Afternoon

• We’ll head back to Pointe-Noire, having lunch along the journey.
• Our most important stop will be at the Pointe-Noire Railway Station. A true gem, especially for the railway enthusiasts. Designed by the architect Jean Philippot, it was influenced by the Trouville-Deauville station, which reflects the style of Arts décoratifs.
• No trip in Pointe-Noire is complete without visiting the harbour, a perfect place to grab a beer and watch people on the beach.
• Dinner at a local restaurant in Pointe-Noire and, for those inclined, a few drinks at a local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Pointe-Noire.

Monday 14th December – Pointe Noire – Cabinda (Angola)

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• We’ll head towards the Congo and Angola border and get into Cabinda, making stops along the way.
• Tour Highlight – Cabinda is of special interest to YPT as both an exclave and having had an independence movement for quite some time. The area is rich in oil and is one of the wealthiest parts of the country.
• At the border, your guide with assist with immigration formalities and money exchange.

Afternoon

• On arrival in Cabinda, we’ll stop at the beach where the Chiloango River meets the Atlantic Ocean, a striking estuary bordered by dense mangrove forests. These mangroves form vital ecosystems, supporting local fisheries and helping to protect the coastline from erosion.
• We’ll continue to the historic São Tiago Maior Church in Landana, established in 1873 by Portuguese missionaries. One of the earliest churches in the region, it became a centre of Catholic evangelism. Heavy rains in 2018 caused part of the structure to collapse.
• After getting to Cabinda city, we’ll begin our city tour with a visit to the Cemetery of the Nobles, the resting place of many dignitaries and figures of local historical importance. We will continue to the Monument to the Treaty of Simulambuco. Signed in 1885, the treaty placed Cabinda under Portuguese protection separately from Angola proper, a distinction that still shapes local political debates.
• We’ll move into the city centre to explore the Park of the 1st of May, overlooked by the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The group is likely to appreciate the “EU <3 Cabinda” sign, always a good photo opportunity.
• After a busy day, we’ll check into our hotel and freshen up before heading out for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight stay in Cabinda.

Tuesday 15th December – Cabinda – Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo)

Morning

• Early morning starts with breakfast at the hotel.
• You have the opportunity to explore and interact with locals in the small villages we’ll be visiting in Cabinda. Although a part of Angola, there have been vocal protests for independence.
• We’ll then head back to the border and cross into Congo-Brazzaville again.

Afternoon

• Back in Pointe Noire, we’ll continue our exploration of the city, stopping at the post office, the souvenir market, and the Musée du Cercle Africain (African Circle Museum), a cultural center in a historic building showcasing Congolese ethnography (masks, sculptures, daily life) with contemporary art in its courtyard,
• Check in to our hotel to freshen up before we head out.
• Dinner and drinks at a local restaurant to celebrate our last night on the tour.
• Overnight stay in Pointe Noire.

Wednesday 16th December – Pointe Noire

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• End of tour – airport transfer. YPT can advise ongoing transport and extra accommodation in Pointe Noire.