Zaire, getting there and around

Air Zaire is the country's official flag carrier

By Plane
N´Djili International Airport - Kinshasa (FIH)
The airport is located 25 kilometres from Kinshasa 's centre featuring a 24-hour bank/bureau de change, a post office, restaurant and car hire companies including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and InterRent.

There are buses that journey to and from the city and taxis are available from the airport as well.

By Train
There are several rail services from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Lobito in Angola that travel towards Congo . Rail services also connect the country to Zambia , Zimbabwe , Mozambique and South Africa .

By Car
Although there are connecting roads from Sudan , Uganda and Zambia towards the country, it is not advisable to travel by as borders are closed or are very dangerous. The roads are also in bad condition and impassable particularly during the rainy season.

Getting Around

Domestic flights are available from the city of Kinshasa flying in to the main towns throughout Congo ( Zaire ). Domestic services are normally paid in foreign currency and small planes are also available for charter.

Visitors may also get around the country by travelling through the railway services. The main railway line serves Lumbumbashi all the way to Ilebo.

The best way to see the country is by taking a boat or barge. These boats travel from Kinshasa to Kisangani through the Congo River . There are no regular schedules or timetables for this type of travel. The boats sometimes stop at the middle of the river due to lack of fuel or stuck on sand banks so it is advisable that visitors should not set any other activity for the day. Locals sometimes meet the boats in canoes to sell food and wares.

Foreign visitors can opt to take the train from Lubumbashj to Ilebo with branches at Kalemie and Kindu. From Kinshasa , the train service runs to the port of Matadi . Train ride may be uncomfortable as there are no air-conditioning but couchettes and dining cars are available on the principal trains.

There are also bus-services that travel to the main towns, however, these are unreliable and can become very crowded. Visitors driving their own cars in Zaire should be reminded that road conditions are extremely poor particularly during the rainy season. An International Driving License is required in Zaire .

There are indefinite restrictions on tourist travel within or across the country. A permit from the Ministry of the Interior is required for all travel outside the capital. Government curfews are in force in Kinshasa . There are safety concerns about all public transport, including Congolese aircraft.