SCHEDULE AND COST:Dates: June 2 – 13, 2025
Duration: 12 days / 11 nights
Number of participants: 8 – 12
Cost per person:• 4 350 USD subject to 11 – 12 participants,
• 4 590 USD subject to 10 participants,
• 4 790 USD subject to 9 participants,
• 4 990 USD subject to 8 participants.
10% early booking discount (in case you book before January 2, 2025)Everything is included except for:- international flight to Kinshasa roundtrip,
- international medical insurance,
- DR Congo visa (to be obtained in advance in the DRC embassy in your country, on your own, at some 150 USD, cost may change. We provide for Invitation letter and immigration paper that accompanies invitation letter. Cost may change)
Estimated cost of flight Moscow – Kinshasa – Moscow: USD 900 – 1200 (Usually bought on your own, we consult you). Estimated cost of flight Istanbul – Kinshasa – Istanbul: from USD 800 (Usually bought on your own, we consult you). Single supplement: provided by default (single supplement can be provided not along the whole itinerary)
TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to DRC CongoDay 1. June 2, 2025 (Monday). ARRIVAL IN KINSHASAArrive in Kinshasa, DR Congo's capital and the fastest growing city in Africa with almost 20 million residents. Transfer to the Hotel Ixoras. Check-in, free time and dinner in Kinshasa.
* Recommended flight:- with Qatar Airways via Doha (4 hours 15 minutes stopover), departure from Moscow on June 1 at 17:05, departure from Doha at 2:45 am on June 2, arrival in Kinshasa at 8:10 am on June 2,- or with Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca (9 hours 20 minutes stopover), departure from Moscow on June 1 at 7:35 am, departure from Casablanca at 21:10 on June 1, arrival in Kinshasa at 5:25 am on June 2,- or with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (6 hours 45 minutes stopover), departure from Moscow on June 2 at 6:20 am, departure from Istanbul at 15:15 on June 2, arrival in Kinshasa at 23:35 am on June 2,- or any flight with arrival in Kinshasa any time on June 2 or in the night from June 2 to 3.Meals included: dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Ixoras or similarDay 2. June 3, 2025 (Tuesday). KINSHASA – TATA GONDA – KINSHASA (7 hours driving)After early breakfast, from 5.00 am drive to Tata Gonda Land. At 08.00 am arrive in Tata Gonda, a religion sect that is a mixture of Animistic and Christian beliefs. Tata Gonda in the depths of the Central Congo province unites the followers of the now dead prophet Tata Gonda who live in total autarchy. Today, several hundred voluntary followers from Congo and Angola continue to follow the spiritual path of their "guru". Their purpose is to combat an unjust and sinful world through continuous prayer and an austere, monastic life. We will visit their headquarters, far away from prying eyes, if we are allowed to do so. In total privacy, this community lives self-sufficiently according to their beliefs. They do community work, have vegetable gardens, a river with drinking water, a fish farm, prayer facilities, dormitories and everything else these "tropical Franciscans" could need. Activities with Tata Gonda may last up to 4 hours.
Around noon, departure for Kinshasa (3-5 hours driving based on traffic).
In the afternoon we will meet the vivid Sapeurs (Dandies) around Victoire Square. Private photo session and listen to some Sukumusic (Congolese Rumba). Back to our hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Ixoras or similarDay 3. June 4, 2025 (Wednesday). KINSHASA – MBANDAKAAfter breakfast, transfer to N'djili airport for 1 hour regular domestic flight to Mbandaka. Mbandaka city, formerly Equateurville, was founded by Henry Morton Stanley in 1883.
Around 11 am arrival in Mbandaka, capital of the province of Equateur, the city located at the crossroads of the Congo River and the Ruki River. Transfer to the Nina River hotel to settle in and have lunch.
Around 2 p.m. we will visit Ethnographic Museum, the Botanical Garden of Eala and end of the day at the amazing sect called Nzambe ya Bakoko (God of Our Ancestors) who have their own king and their own militia dressed up in the unique uniform made of… plastic sacks.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Nina River hotel
Day 4. June 5, 2025 (Thursday). MBANDAKA – LOLANGA – IKANZA (7 – 8 hours by boat)After breakfast, we quickly reach the Mbandaka port and take a wooden motor boat upstream the mighty Congo River and its beautiful branch Lolanga (about 7-8 hours by boat based on weather conditions) to meet with Ngombe people. These people know how to live in the forest, hunting game and gathering edible snails and caterpillars to supplement their diet. They also harvest firewood, rattan vines, and several palm-tree products to use and to take to market. Small gardens provide yams and plantains for household use.
We arrive around 2-3 pm, meet with the local chief for briefing and later we attend series of Ngombe traditional rituals, initiations and ceremonies.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents
Day 5. June 6, 2025 (Friday). NGOMBE PEOPLE IN IKANZA — LOPOKOToday, after early breakfast, we’re attending the last of activities in the village before departing towards Mabako via Lopoko village, where live the last traditional Pygmies in the western part of DR Congo, the Balumbe. Arrival at the Lopoko village around 5 p.m. Visit the local church. Night in tents nearby the church.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: tentsDay 6. June 7, 2025 (Saturday). LOPOKO – MABAKO VILLAGE (BALUMBE PYGMIES)After breakfast, we leave the boat and we take the traditional canoe for an hour of navigation, then we will walk some 30-40minutes to reach the Balumbe Pygmies village where we will stay one night.
Upon arrival, a welcome dance by the Balumbe Pygmies followed by a presentation of notables from the community and then a break. Around 2 p.m. after lunch, visit of the school, tour of the village and adult dance. Evening around the fire animated by children under 7 years old with the famous Isankele dance. Night in tents.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: tentsDay 7. June 8, 2025 (Sunday). MABAKO VILLAGE (BALUMBE PYGMIES) – LOPOKO – MBANDAKAThe Balumbe are a hunting and gathering pygmy tribe living in the primary forest of DR Congo. Nowadays, they are also dependent on fishing and some farming.
After breakfast, we go out into the forest with Pygmies in order to observe hunting and traditional collecting wild bees' honey from the high trees, and also to discover Balumbe’s knowledge of medicinal plants.
Say goodbye to Balumbe and return to Lopoko village. Take the boat back to Mbandaka downstream Lolanga and Congo rivers. Arrival late in the evening. Night at our Nina River hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Nina River hotel
Day 8. June 9, 2025 (Monday). MBANDAKA – LOKELE VILLAGES – EQUATOR LINE – MOOTOAfter breakfast, if weather conditions and time permit, we optionally visit two Lokele villages to meet the tattooed old women. The visit may last up to three hours, before crossing back to Mbandaka and take the road to the south of the city for the Mooto village with a stopover at the crossing of the Equator line.
Mooto is an old Catholic mission established since 1960. Pitching and installation of tents, then visit of the mission, the cathedral and meeting with the village chief and free evening.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: tentsDay 9. June 10, 2025 (Tuesday). MOOTO VILLAGE – IYEMBE (WALLEE WOMEN) – MBANDAKAAfter breakfast, we take the vehicle to go to the Iyembe village to discover the Walléé women. Wallee is a special status of the women, who have just brought a baby, and it has very special visual expression. It is unique feature of the tribes in this region.
Return to Mbandaka. Option to experience the atmosphere of Mbandaka and exhibit a few dance steps.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: Nina River hotelDay 10. June 11, 2025 (Wednesday). MBANDAKA – KINSHASAIf the flight departs for Kinshasa at 4.10 pm as usual, the program may look as follows. If visit to Lokele villages was not done on Day 8, after breakfast, we visit the 2 villages to meet the tattooed old women. The visit may last up to three hours before crossing back to Mbandaka for lunch.
In the afternoon (12.45 pm or so), transfer to Mbandaka airport. 1 hour flight to Kinshasa with scheduled flight.
Transfer to Hotel Ixoras. Evening and dinner in Kinshasa.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Ixoras or similarDay 11. June 12, 2025 (Thursday). KINSHASA: KUBA TRADITIONAL DANCE AND TRASH ARTISTS Today, after breakfast, we’ll have the chance to meet Kuba kingdom traditional dance at 10.00 am. This group based in Kinshasa aims to perpetuate Kuba tradition within its community living far away from their Capital Mushenge. Led by the customary chief, the artists will perform for nearly an hour and half several traditional mask dances.
Visit the national museum with interesting works of traditional Congolese art.
Around 2 pm drive to The KIN ACT artists, who are famous for their costumes made from garbage. After a walk demonstration in the street with a series of photographs, we’ll share a hot evening of live music in their workshop.
Visit artisanal market. One of the best market in Africa, where we can buy almost any mask you may look for.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Ixoras or similarDay 12. June 13, 2025 (Friday). KINSHASA – RETURN FLIGHTAfter breakfast, transfer to Kinshasa International Airport and flight back.
Meals included: breakfastAccommodation: no* Recommended flight:— with Ethiopian Airlines to Moscow via Addis Ababa (3 hours 55 minutes stopover), departure from Kinshasa on June 13 at 13:25, departure from Addis Ababa at 23:50 on June 13, arrival in Moscow at 7:40 am on June 14,— with Qatar Airways to Moscow via Doha (9 hours 55 minutes stopover), departure from Kinshasa on June 13 at 19:55, departure from Doha at 15:40 on June 14, arrival in Moscow at 21:05 on June 14,— or any other flight with departure from Kinshasa any time on June 13.- The tour operator accepts no responsibility for any changes to local airline schedules that may occur after booking. We will do our best to mitigate any violation of the approved itinerary, but cannot be held responsible for any loss of funds, bookings, missed connections or other chargeable services. The itinerary is subject to change due to schedules and availability of domestic flights. Travel insurance is highly recommended.