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Republic of CONGO (information)
stay: 2004/Nov/29..2004/Dec/3
general view **********************************************
There are two big impressions about this country. One is the road condition. There are plenty of unbelievable puddles on the road. They are very big and deep. Another is the police control. There are many police controls. Sometimes they require some money, though you don't have to pay.
I got a CONGO visa at Libreville (GABON) / CFA50,000, CFA20,000. (refer to 'Cameroon.doc','Gabon.doc')
climate **********************************************
Some rain were there while I had been. In that season the road condition was bad because of the rain.
money **********************************************
I hadn't found any ATM and money changer, as far as I visited (I didn't visit Brazzaville). You'd better prepare for CFA in advance.
(reference '$1=CFA500 or less' in CAMEROON)
prices **********************************************
Point-noire is very expensive. Dolisie is cheap but hotel.
hotel; (room) 3000.., petrol; 435/L, beer; 600../(big bottle), stand; 200.., Internet; 1000/h
food **********************************************
manioc (= cassaba / spell?) is popular. It's a little sour taste. They eat it with beans or fish and so on. You can enjoy them cheap.
There are some Cong beer which you can have only in Congo. The followings are them.
primus: Never forget to taste it. It is said King of Beer in Africa. The taste is clear, like soda. CFA600.
turbo king: dark beer. CFA700.
ngok: It's bitterer than 'primus'. CFA600.
accommodation **********************************************
They have enough parking space as long as there's no note in the followings. But the security is your own responsibility.
in Nyanga
This is a small town, but there are several hotels. If you have a time, you'd better compare with them.
BRIGADE EAUX et FORETS (near the centre circle of the town) (S02°54'49.1" E011°53'20.0")
W2000 (You may discount!) / shared toilet&shower(bucket, no roof) (You need extra charge, 1000 for water), no electricity, only lamp
The customs near the hotel keeps your vehicle inside (free). customs (S02°54'50.5" E011°53'21.6")
in Dolisie
There are many hotels. If you have a time, you'd better compare with them.
DOV HOTEL (S04°12'26.8" E012°41'04.5")
S5000 / shared toilet&shower(cold), fan, restaurant
You can park your motorcycle in the court, though it's small, especially the entrance is very narrow. (Big motorcycle is impossible.)
in Point-noire
Club-Nautique (S04°47'20.7" E011°50'53.5")
tent free! / shared toilet&shower, bar
This is a marina. But they permit you to pitch a tent inside. The watchmen are there.
town **********************************************
in Nyanga
no petrol, no electricity in this town. In the night you can enjoy the fantastic stars because the town has no electric light.
stand; (manioc) 400..800, beer; (regab) 600, water (1.5L); 750
in Dolisie
This is a gateway town to Brazzaville (capital). The transportation to Brazzaville; by air is popular. Few (freight) trains run. No buses run because no road is there. (refer to 'road')
Things are cheap except the hotel charge. You can eat enough meals a half $1 at a stand.
petrol; 435, engine oil; (bottle) 500/500ml, battery charging; 500, stand; (spaghetti) 275.., (chicken&bread) 400, manioc (cassaba) (spell?) 100, fish or beans; 100 (you can enjoy your meal manioc & another food with CFA200!), Internet; 500/30min, can of sardine; 375, bread; (like a French) 75, chicken; 200, beer; (primus) 600, (turbo king) 700, (ngok) 600
'Cyber Cafe OUVERT'(Internet-cafe) (line is slow, Japanese readable) (S04°12'05.9" E012°40'26.9"); 500/30min
'cafeteria ?.A.U'(stand) (S04°12'14.8" E012°40'37.8"), next door 'DIBIHA-Club'(bar)
in Point-noire
This is a resort city. There are only expensive hotels and restaurants.
restaurant; (fish&rice&bread) 5000, beer; 1500
(by hearsay) There is an ANGOLA consulate. But a tourist couldn't get a visa there in about Jan/2005.
border **********************************************
Nyanga (entry from Gabon);
5 controls (immigrations) and 1 customs you have to pass. They are on the 58km puddles way from GABON border to Nyanga town. Sometimes they require some money, though you don't have to pay. (refer to 'road')
PC: Police Control
PC 1st: They require CFA5,000, though you don't have to pay.
PC 2nd: They check in your luggage. You have to unpack your all luggage here.
In Nyanga, you have to pass 2 immigrations and 1 customs in the end. They are close to the centre circle in the town. customs (Nyanga) (S02°54'50.5" E011°53'21.6")
Point-noire (leaving for Angola)
About 30km between Point-noire and border. No money is required. I heard some were required CHOLERA CARD (certificate that not a patient or vaccinated). And they didn't have it, so required money. Be careful! Today nobody have to have it for entry into any country. Money changers are only in the Angola side.
road **********************************************
Many big puddles are there. You have to keep enough petrol. After leaving N'dende(GABON), next GS is in Point-noire[324km] or Dolisie[281km]. at Makabana there seems to be a black market for petrol. About 5..20km before Point-noire I watched bottle petrol for sale along the road (refer to the following).
PC: Police Control
N'dende(GABON)--Nyanga[96km]: N'dende(GABON)--(earth, flat)[38km]--(GABON border)--(earth, flat)[?km]--PC1----(earth, flat)[?km]--PC2--(puddles)[?km], (huge deep puddle, the surface is upper than your knees.)[7km from Gabon border],(puddles)[?km]--PC3--(puddles)[?km]--(immigration)--(puddles)[?km]--/[60km from Gabon border]/--(puddles become smaller, fewer)[?km]--Nyanga(immigration*2, customs)[58km from Gabon border]
Nyanga--(Milamila)--Dolisie[185km]: Nyanga--(earth, flat, puddles)[123km]--Milamila(PC)--(big puddles every 10km?)[62km]--Dolisie(PC*2)
The PC in Dolisie, they require some money, though you don't have to pay.
Milamila(PC) your map may not tell the town. But this is after Kibangou which has a big junction. (S03°42'58.4" E012°27'01.1")
Milamila--Point-noire[105km]: Milamila(PC)--(earth, flat, steep slopes, be careful! Not to slide down from the road and passing trailers)(PC*2)[85km],(joining R1?),(pavement but cracked, deep sand)(bottle petrol you may find)[15km]--/--(deep sand)[5km]--Point-noire--(pavement)[30km?]--(border)
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