Sunday 30th November – Kinshasa (DRC)

• Arrive at your leisure into Kinshasa. The capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is well connected with many East African countries, including Addis Ababa, and also from Paris. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• A pre-tour meeting will be held at the hotel lobby at 6:00pm to discuss the tour details and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• Dinner and drinks in the bustling capital.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Monday 1st December – Kinshasa (DRC)

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll start our visit of Kinshasa, one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world! It was formerly known as Léopoldville during its colonial period.
• Explore Tata-Raphael Stadium. This was the very spot where Rumble in the Jungle took place – the famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Also the “Godfather of Soul”, James Brown, performed here in 1974.
• We’ll also see Independence Square, one of the main squares of Kinshasa, and the Mausoleum of the Late President Kabila, including his statue designed by North Korean artists. You’ll see how it looks like Kim Il Sung’s statue!

Afternoon

• Tour Highlight – We’ll go hang out with the famous La Sape group, also known as the Sapeurs. They are today’s version of their colonial predecessors, the Dandies, and have kept their fashionable lifestyle and distinct mannerisms. You’ll have a unique experience meeting them and will take time to learn about their way of life.
• After a busy day, we’ll check into the hotel to relax and freshen up before we head out to our favourite restaurant for dinner.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Tuesday 2nd December – Kinshasa

Morning

• A bright and early start with breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll depart Kinshasa and head for the Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary. The Bonobo is a highly intelligent and sociable species of the chimpanzee family, sometimes referred to as pygmy chimpanzee due to its small size. The sanctuary keeps bonobos that were rescued from local markets, doomed to be sold for bush meat. We’ll learn more about these beautiful animals and see how the locals try to give them their life back.

Afternoon

• We’ll return to Kinshasa, having a lunch stop along the scenic route.
• On arrival, we’ll continue our city tour visiting another key figure in Congolese history, the Statue of Patrice Lumumba – an African politician, nationalist, and Prime minister who played a vital role in the independence movement for the DRC.
• Explore the Palace of the People. The Palais du Peuple was commissioned by President Mobutu after being inspired by the Great Hall of the People during his trip to the People’s Republic of China. It cost a whopping $100 million.
• Visit Parc Ngaliema, where you will learn about how the exploration of the Congo basin led to a vicious bloody period in the history of the region. Statues of King Leopold II and Henry Morton Stanley once stood here.
• Stop by the Marble Palace (Palais de la Nation). It currently serves as the residence for the president of the DRC, including the former leader Mobutu. During the colonial period, it housed the colonial Governor-General.
• Dinner and drinks in Kinshasa.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Wednesday 3rd December – Kinshasa  

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Our in depth exploration of the Kinshasa area will continue with a day trip to the Mbanza Nzambi, south of Kinshasa, where the Tata Gondo followers live.
• Tata Gonda was a religious leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo who, in 1989, claimed to have received a divine call to adopt a life of humility and spiritual devotion. He began wearing sackcloth as a symbol of humility before God. Following his example, his disciples, numbering over 2,000 from Congo and Angola, also don sackcloth and adhere to a lifestyle marked by communal living, rigorous prayer schedules, and self-sufficiency. They abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and luxurious clothing. Notably, they refrain from washing with water, instead performing a daily ritual of covering themselves with ashes, which they regard as an antiseptic.
• You will be able to witness their intimate prayers and have the opportunity to ask questions and take pictures. The ceremonies usually involve collective prayers where participants engage in acts of humility, such as covering themselves with ashes, symbolizing penitence and purification.
• Dinner and drinks to celebrate our final night in the DRC.
• Overnight stay in Kinshasa.

Thursday 4th December – Kinshasa – Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo)

Morning

• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out of the hotel.
• We’ll go to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, taking the journey by boat.
• You’ll have the opportunity to exchange money at the border. Your guide will also assist you with immigration.
• On arrival, we’ll head to the Nabemba Tower, the highest building in the country. The tower is quite controversial from its construction to its maintenance cost.
• Visit St Anne Basilica, a beautiful catholic church in the centre of the city which was constructed in 1943.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant in Brazzaville.
• Explore the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazzaville Memorial. The memorial is dedicated to an Italian-French explorer who founded Brazzaville. What makes Brazzaville unique compared to other former colonized African republics is that they kept the French capital’s name.
• Meet and greet with the Brazzaville Sapeurs, locals dressed up in flashy clothes as they walk down the streets to be seen. We’ll meet several of them and make sure that we have plenty of time for photos. What’s great about this opportunity is that you can interact and ask more questions about their culture.
• We’ll head out for dinner at a local restaurant, and for those inclined, a few refreshments at a local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Brazzaville.

Friday 5th December – Brazzaville – Lesio Luna – Brazzaville

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We’ll depart the capital and head north, towards the Lesio-Louna Reserve. The road trip is a great opportunity to capture the scenic landscape and see local villages on the way.
• Upon arrival, we’ll take a short walk along the Luna River to take in the surroundings of the jungle and meet the park rangers.
• Tour Highlight – probably one of the best experiences of the trip is seeing the mighty silverback gorillas. The duration of the hike depends on where the gorillas are located in the park. It’s important to listen to our ranger’s advice so we can get the most out of seeing them in their natural environment.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Lesio-Louna Reserve
• It’s time for a safari trip! The beautiful nature reserve has a growing population of hippopotamuses, forest buffalo, red river hog, and several types of duikers as well as numerous other animals.
• We head back to Brazzaville after an intense day at the nature reserve.
• Dinner and drinks in the capital city.
• Overnight in Brazzaville.

Saturday 6th December – Brazzaville – Pointe-Noire

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Group A members: tour concludes with airport transfer. YPT can arrange additional nights in Brazzaville or advice on ongoing transport.
• Full tour members: we’ll continue on the scenic journey to Pointe-Noire, the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo.
• Along the journey, we’ll take rest stops at small villages to pick up supplies.
• Visit of the Nkila Ntari Cave. Located deep in the jungle, you’ll find a stunning cave complex cave with paintings, stalactites, and stalagmites.

Afternoon

• We’ll continue towards the Atlantic Ocean, stopping for lunch along the way.
• On arrival at Pointe-Noire, we’ll check into our hotel to relax and freshen up.
• Group B members: Arrive at your leisure into Pointe-Noire. The second biggest city of the country is well connected with Paris, Istanbul, and many African countries. Meet your guide and driver at arrivals and transfer to the hotel.
• Dinner and welcome drinks at a local restaurant.
• Overnight stay in Pointe-Noire.

Sunday 7th December – Pointe-Noire

Morning

• A leisurely morning starts with breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll head out to the Diosso Gorge, famously referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Congo”. Within the gorge is a beautiful rainforest surrounded by striking pink cliffs.
• Many Congolese cultural artefacts have been taken to Western countries. We’ll visit Mâ-Loango Regional Museum which still has many artefacts from the ancient Congolese people.

Afternoon

• We’ll head back to Pointe-Noire, having lunch along the journey.
• Pointe-Noire Railway Station. A true gem, especially for the railway enthusiasts. Designed by the architect Jean Philippot, it was influenced by the Trouville-Deauville station, which reflects the style of Arts décoratifs.
• No trip in Pointe-Noire is complete without visiting the harbour, a perfect place to grab a beer and watch people on the beach.
• Dinner at a local restaurant in Pointe-Noire and, for those inclined, a few drinks at a local establishment.
• Overnight stay in Pointe-Noire.

Monday 8th December – Pointe Noire – Cabinda (Angola)

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before we check out.
• We’ll head towards the Congo and Angola border and get into Cabinda, making stops along the way.
• Tour Highlight – Cabinda is of special interest to YPT as both an exclave and having had an independence movement for quite some time. The area is rich in oil and is one of the wealthiest parts of the country.
• At the border, your guide with assist with immigration formalities and money exchange.
• On arrival, you’ll go straight onto a city tour of Cabinda, the first stop being the 1st of May Park.
• Visit the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Afternoon

• After lunch in town, visit the central market where Cabinda Tree bark is most famously sold. It’s said to help prevent heart attacks, cancer, and diabetes. But the most common use of the tree bark is that it “powerfully” increases your sexual performance. According to locals, not to us!
• Photo opportunity at the Monument to the Treaty of Simulambuco, which was signed back in 1885 by representatives of the Portuguese government and officials in the N’Goyo Kingdom. In contrast to the violent struggles between Portugal and Mozambique, the colonization of Cabinda was peaceful.
• After a busy day, we’ll check into our hotel and freshen up before heading out for dinner and drinks.
• Overnight stay in Cabinda.

Tuesday 9th December – Cabinda – Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo)

Morning

• Early morning starts with breakfast at the hotel.
• You have the opportunity to explore and interact with locals in the small villages we’ll be visiting in Cabinda. Although a part of Angola, there have been vocal protests for independence.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch at our favourite restaurant in Cabinda, which serves freshly caught fish and Cuca, Angola’s most popular beer.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll head back to Pointe Noire, crossing back into the Republic of Congo.
• On arrival at Pointe Noire, we’ll head to the beach to cool off in the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy the beautiful sunset.
• Check in to our hotel to freshen up before we head out.
• Dinner and drinks at a local restaurant to celebrate our last night on the tour.
• Overnight stay in Pointe Noire.

Wednesday 10th December – Pointe Noire

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• End of tour – airport transfer. YPT can advise ongoing transport and extra accommodation in Pointe Noire.
• Group members continue on for South Sudan! We recommend to board Ethiopian Airlines flight 861 departing at 2:15pm and arriving into Juba 9:55am on flight ET352 the following day.

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