Congo (Democratic Republic Of) Travel Guide - Getting Around

There are connections from N’Djili Airport (Kinshasa) to over 40 internal airports and 150 landing strips. Small planes may be available for charter.

Over 1,600km (1,000 miles) of the Congo River are navigable and, in normal circumstances, there are services from Kinshasa to the upriver ports of Kisangani and Ilébo. Services at present, however, are unreliable owing to political instability and fuel shortages.

The main internal railway runs from Lubumbashi to Ilébo, with a branch to Kalemie and Kindu, and from Kinshasa to the port of Matadi. Rail services are generally subject to disruption. There is no air conditioning, but there are couchettes and dining cars on the principal trains.

Traffic drives on the right. Owing to poor maintenance, the roads are among the worst in Africa and only achieve a fair standard around the main towns. It is wise to check that bridges are safe before crossing. Vehicle thefts, including hijackings at gunpoint, occur.

Bus: Services run between the main towns but are crowded and unreliable.

Taxi: Available in Kinshasa but unreliable.

Car hire: Available on a limited basis at the airport.

Documentation: International Driving Permit required.

Conventional bus services in Kinshasa can be severely overcrowded. Minibuses and converted truck-buses also offer public transport, and are known as fula fulas. Pick-up trucks are known as ‘taxibuses’. A better standard of transport is provided by shared taxis, which are widely available. There is little or no public transport in most other large centres.