GABON, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC oF CONGO, REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
January 24 - February 08, 2023
Led by Professional Tour Lecturer Mohamed Halouani

Travel to some of the least explored parts of Africa on this journey visiting these beautiful countries: Gabon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo & Congo. Gabon features internationally celebrated masks, such as the n'goltang (Fang) and the reliquary figures of the Kota. A small population, as well as oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries. The country has generally been able to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity. the CAR consists of Sudano-Guinean savannas, but the country also includes a Sahelo-Sudanian zone in the north and an equatorial forest zone in the south. What is today the Central African Republic has been inhabited for millennia; however, the country's current borders were established by France, which ruled the country as a colony starting in the late 19th century.DRC has wonderful city Kinshasa which you will get to experience. Once a site of fishing and trading villages, Kinshasa is now a megacity with an estimated population of more than 11 million. Kinshasa has a flourishing music scene which since the 1960s has operated under the patronage of the city's elite. Congo, The Congolese culture has been influenced by a wide variety of natural landscapes, stretching from the savannah plains in the North Niari flooded forests, to the great Congo River, to rugged mountains and forest of Mayombe, and including 170 km of beaches along the Atlantic coast. The presence of numerous ethnic groups and various political structures once (Kongo Empire, Kingdom of Loango kingdom Teke, Northern chiefdoms) provided an enormous amount of diversity in the traditional cultures as well as in many ancient artistic expressions.

Can be combined with Ghana, Togo & Benin tour (January 08 - January 22, 2023), South Sudan tour (February 08 - February 15, 2023) AND Horn of Africa tour (February 15 - March 01, 2023)

Trip Grade:
II Active – Some hikes, slightly more demanding walks at or to sites, comfortable but busy schedule and some long rides. Many walks into villages require walking in muddy areas, over dirt piles, and/or unpaved paths. The trip requires reasonably good physical stamina in order to participate in all the activities. Some flexibility is also required in the event that we need to alter the program for any unforeseen reasons.

LODGING Level:
*** Superior: Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined service and comfort level acceptable to western standards. With a few exceptions you can expect properties to be suitable and matching western standards though a couple of smaller properties in towns and villages to be a bit simpler while still rooms with private bathroom and when necessary air-conditioning. In general, you will find your hotel has a restaurant and/or bar. We require that all the properties and transport we use comply fully with local regulations, but we do not guarantee the same standards as in your home country (3-4*).

Special Tour Remarks:
If you have any special dietary requirements you must notify us at the time of booking. While we will make every effort to cater for you, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible. Anyone in good health can join this trip. Many of the activities do not require previous experience and are not fitness related. Participating in this trip necessitates being in reasonable health and able to climb steps, walk on uneven terrain and handle sightseeing in warm weather.

Hotels: Hotel accommodation provided will be of moderate standard. Rooms will be en-suite with a private bathroom. Generally, hotel accommodation options are limited. Please note that on occasions you may not always be allocated a double or twin room, as some hotels have designated single rooms. These may be smaller in size. However, the supplement payable takes this into consideration. Services at such hotels can be rather inefficient at some hotels and should not be compared to western style properties.

Roads: There are lots of paved roads in Gabon, if you are staying in one of the major cities. Roads to outlying cities are usually unpaved and in poor condition, with large potholes. You will encounter unpaved roads throughout CAR with large potholes and degraded asphalt. In the Republic of Congo, most roads are dirt tracks and require an off-road vehicle. In DRC, outside of main cities, most roads are not drivable, even with an off-road vehicle. Road conditions are poor.

Photography: In Gabon, taking photographs of the Presidential Palace, airport, and military or other government buildings is strictly forbidden. In CAR, taking photographs of police or military installations, airports, or any other government buildings is prohibited. Unauthorized photography may result in the seizure of photographic equipment by the CAR authorities. Locals in the CAR may be very sensitive to all photography; you should obtain permission first. In the Republic of the Congo and in DRC, it is illegal to take pictures of government buildings, military installations, key infrastructure such as ports, train stations, and airports, and along border areas. Please be warned: you could be detained or arrested, fined, and have equipment confiscated. Do not take photos of Congolese, adults or children without their permission. If a confrontation occurs, it can be easily diffused by apologizing profusely and not engaging in the argument. Sometimes a small bribe might be needed to “grease the wheels”, too.

Health: In Gabon, malaria is common, so visitors should take malaria pills. Some areas of Bangui have clean and filtered drinking water, so it is safe to drink water served at some restaurants and bars. However, the purity of the water is not reliable and thus we provide bottled water in all countries. In DRC You will need a yellow fever vaccination in order to enter the country. In the Republic of Congo, the likelihood of contracting malaria is high if effective, preventative medication is not taken.

Government: Corruption remains a serious problem in all countries among the security forces, some members of which have harassed travelers for bribes. At night, the roads in the capitals are often manned with impromptu checkpoints, at which police or soldiers ask motorists and travelers for money. Police manning checkpoints will demand bribes; expect no less than US$5; in Republic of the Congo, armed soldiers or national police may conduct vehicle searches and check passengers for identity papers. These roadblocks often are poorly marked, and local authorities may target foreigners to solicit bribes.

Flights & transportation: Please note that the flights might change and we will have to rearrange the itinerary to fit the correct flights. Ferry service between Brazzaville and Kinshasa may close completely with minimal notice. A visa for the destination country (Republic of Congo or DRC) is required to cross the Congo River between Brazzaville and Kinshasa.

Participation: To participate in this trip you need to be tolerant and flexible and have an easy going attitude. We expect participants to accept any last minute changes and show an adventurous spirit. Anyone who feels they can easily get uptight and annoyed at facing any inconveniences should not join this sort of pioneering tour.