We finally got our Angolan visa! Life is good. We are taking a break for the next two weeks. We fly to NYC tomorrow. We fly back to Johannesburg on the 9th and up to Brazzaville on the 11th to start all over again.
A number of people have asked us about visas for central african countries so here is our experience.
You can get visas for Gabon and Congo at the border. I think Gabon was about $70 and Congo $100. (As an aside we got all our visas for the trip at borders except Mali, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon...and now Angola).
The big problem is DRC and Angola. The DRC embassy in Brazzaville will give you a visa very easily, but it is of no use, because the DRC authorities on the ferry from Brazzaville to Kinshasa won't let you in unless you have a visa for either Zambia or Angola. It is no use saying you don't need a visa for Zambia - they need to see a visa in your passport. There is no Zambian embassy in Brazzaville and the Angolan embassy doesn't issue visas. (They did make an exception and issue visas to a group just before us but then refused to make any further exceptions.)
So, if you are travelling overland down to Brazzaville make sure you have either an Angolan or Zambian visa before you arrive in Brazzaville or you will get stuck. The Angolan embassy may start issuing visas again but don't hold your breath.
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6 comments:
Miss Wendy,
Very long time no speak, but I have been quietly enjoying the blog and yours and Rob's adventures now and again. Just noticed you've hit the East Coast. Not sure of your planned trajectory, but my big sis lives in Bagamoyo Tanzania for years now, and you two should definitely look her and her husband Caito up if you plan to head to TZ (Bagamoyo is a stones throw from Zanzibar for a more well known landmark). You can contact Terri and see what they're up to here www.tzkids.org
Meanwhile, all the best on the trip. Looks like the journey of a lifetime!
Michael
Thank you for this information; I'm just about to head down into Central Africa and was wondering if you could clarify the problem at Brazzaville/Kinshasa for me: I've got a tourist visa for the DRC (obtained in Cameroon), and plan on picking up a Congo visa at the Gabon/Congo border. I don't have an Angolan visa, but can still go to Libreville and apply there if need be--I can get a letter of invitation. Do you think I would be turned back at the ferry if I don't have an Angolan visa, even if I have a DRC tourist visa? Hope you can help, thanks for the info you've already put up,
Seth
Just to follow up on this: the problem at the Braz/Kin ferry seems to have been resolved. We passed through there without any questions asked. No idea what the problem was that affected so many people, whether we just got lucky etc. I can recommend crossing in the faster boats on a Sunday morning though--it was very quiet, none of the hustle and bustle that others have reported, DRC immigration very friendly indeed. We didn't mention Angola--said we were flying to Jo'burg from Kin with SA Airways--and weren't asked about it. Happy travels!
Hi Rob
Planning to ride Niger>Nigeria>Cameroon>Gabon>Congo>DRC>Angola soon. Just wanted to ask you - if I get an Angolan visa in Abuja (as seems to be favourite), then I should be able to get the DRC visa in Brazzaville OK, as I have proof of onward travel?
Happy Travels!
Ian
hello , I also plan to pass from angola to DRC , so the problem to me is how to get the DRC visa easily ?
my route is Namibia- Angola - DRC - CONGO -DRC -GABON -Cameroon- Nigeria - Benin
QUESTION about VISA
where u can apply DRC visa and Gabon visa and Nigeria visa ?
PLEASE ...
THANK U SO MUCH
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