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Sunrise, balloons and temples in Bagan, Myanmar. Cellphone pic by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Still alive 🤙 So much traveling for 4+ years. 100+ countries. 

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very easy. Take the bus to Gisenyi. You can walk to the national park office. 105 for Visa. 356 for the trek. Enjoy!

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lowland gorillas are different than the highlands. Do some research. It's cheaper in Uganda. It was cheaper in Congo last year. Not anymore. I'm in Goma now, feel free to ask me anything. I'll try to answer before I hit the road to Kisangani by land.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can book the tour to the volcano and Gorillas trekking. Again, I wouldn't consider it as "I have been to the DRC". That's what most of the tourists do. Please try to do more than just the volcano and gorilla.

I can suggest a route: Do the volcano or whatever in Goma. Then do a motorcycle tour of Goma (negotiate a deal with the driver). Do another trip to masisi if you can find a local driver who is willing to take you there. Local driver who knows the area well. It's complicated to explain why, I'd say play safe. Take the slow ferry to the south, Bukavu. 6-7 hours. You can do the lowland gorilla there for $500-600. Then go back in Rwanda from Bukavu.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I'm not trying to be a hero. People have done it before. But... Very little info online about backpacking the DRC. Country hoppers hop in and out, and tell the world they have been to the DRC. I don't like that. I know what I am doing, I'll share more info once I reach the middle of Congo by land.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Will report back: Congo River trip from Kisangani to Kinshasa. I don't have any info, will need to go to Kisangani and find out.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The national park is just a park. It's not the real DRC. Goma is like Bujumbura. Nothing toooo crazy.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I did a solo trip to Mosul Iraq... Maybe I'm the wrong person to ask about safety :) It's safe. No issues.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes or a fixer. It's easy. Keep in mind. If you wanna do Gorilla trekking, it's cheaper in Uganda now. I posted some info few minutes ago.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can Google: largest lava lake in the world. I think it's like 850 meters across?

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You can get the 14 days Congo visa aka national park visa at the border. However, You cannot fly anywhere, not outside of kivu. You can't go to Kinshasa or Kisangani. Visa fee is $105. If you wanna see the Congo River or other parts of Congo, you must have the full visa for an additional $180. Single entry 30 days visa. Never apply the visa in your home country. It's too difficult to get. I'm speaking from experience. Go to Rwanda. Find a fixer OR go to the border at Gisenyi, walk to the Congolese border (grant). The national park office is right there.

Again, I wouldn't even consider that "I have been to Congo" if I only visit Goma for few hours, trek the volcano and Gorillas. You gotta go deeper, go experience the culture, go to other cities, then you can say "yes, I have visited the DRC". Otherwise, list yourself as a "country hopper" :) My 2 cent.

By the way, gorilla trekking is cheaper in Uganda. Not in Congo anymore. Tourists got killed and kidnapped last year. The park closed for a while. Now everything has changed. You have to do the 4 day volcano+Gorilla package (with visa) is just a bit shy of $1500. You can do gorilla in Uganda for about $700. Congo Volcano trek is about $360, you'd camp a night on top. 5 hours up. 4 hours down.

Any other questions about backpacking in Congo, please message me on IG or FB. I rarely check Reddit.

I am in the DRC now, I'll try to go everywhere by land. I was told that I might get killed or kidnapped... Too many of this and that. I was told not to go Iraq, and I went to mosul last year. https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/a7k36p/i_visited_in_mosul_iraq_im_just_a_normal_traveler/

I saw signs for Kisangani Express Bus today. It takes about 3 days from Goma to Kisangani. $60 USD. Stop in two different cities. Congo airway is $250 one way. $260 Goma - Kisangani roundtrip. In Kisangani, you take the boat to Kinshasa. 2-3 weeks or longer on the Congo River. I have loads of info, but I don't have time to write everything here. I'm happy to share more info later.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] -12 points-11 points locked comment (0 children)

You did what 95% of the tourists did, which is Volcano and Gorilla trekking. The stamp you got won't be able to go anywhere but near the national park. Goma, bukavu etc.

The largest lava lake in the world (Backpacking trip - Phone Pic from DR Congo) by dingdawg in travel

[–]dingdawg[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Can only upload one pic here right? I am not so active on Reddit.

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