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Barge on the Congo River, DRC
Riding through the jungles of northern DRC
Children playing in the ballroom of former dictator Mobutu's palace
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THE 2 CONGOS:
JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME I recently spent one month traveling through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and another week in the Republic of Congo (ROC). Locally they differentiate themselves according to their capital cities: Congo-Kinshasa (DRC) and Congo-Brazzaville (ROC). It was one of the most difficult journeys I have ever taken because there is zero tourist infrastructure and limited mobile coverage.
In ROC, I visited the endangered lowland gorillas of the Lesio-Louna Wildlife Reserve and also took The Gazelle night train to Pointe Noire on the west coast of Africa. Both were wonderful experiences with locals in the heart of this great continent. In DRC, I spent eight days sleeping in the cargohold of a merchant barge down the Congo River, another two days on a wooden canoe after the barge broke down, then rode a motorbike through the northern jungles to visit the abandoned palaces of former dictator Mobutu. Though an incredibly poor and insular country, I experienced genuine warmth from the many strangers who assisted my solo journey. Oh, I also broke my wrist! Unfortunately, there was no doctor or hospital available in remote DRC so I just had to wrap it up and wait until I could catch a flight to South Africa for X-rays and treatment. All the pain was worth it to follow in the footsteps of Charles Marlow from Joseph Conrad's famous novel, 'Heart of Darkness,' fulfilling a lifelong dream. I can only hope the security and economic situation improves so those locals and families I met can thrive in the future, free from violence and corruption. If you are up for the adventure of a lifetime, I highly recommend traveling to the DRC. The experience will leave you changed - and with feelings that linger long after you have returned home. |