Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Get in
By plane
South African Airways and Kenyan Airways each have a number of flights per week from their hubs in Johannesburg and Nairobi.
Connections to Europe can be made with Air France from Paris in France and SN Brussels from Brussels in Belgium.
By train
By car
By bus
By boat
You can arrive by boat from Brazzaville, if you have a visa. There are speed boats that go quickly for a limited number of people, or you can take the barge with local merchants if you have time. Ask to go to "the Beach", which is the ferry terminal.
See
Go see the Bonobos by Lac de ma Vallée, Chutes de Zongo in Bas Congo and Bombo Lumene on the road to Kikwit.
Do
Plenty of cyber cafes exist, so don't worry about staying connected.
The Association Belgo-Congolais (ABC) also rents videos (VHS and DVD).
Learn
Go to a local nightclub and learn how to dance congolese rhythms. Get ready to shake your booty! (literally)
Eat
Lots of restaurants for 'expats' exist, where you can pay in dollars but it is very expensive. Don't be surprised to pay up to $20 for a pizza!
Budget
Al Dar is a Lebanese restaurant in the center of town, near the hotel Manalibi (need to verify name). A shwarma sandwich runs about $1.50, and they have taboule, hummos and desserts as well. Many cheap roadside stalls exist, primarily outide of downtown's Gombe, one of the better known being La Bloque in Bandalungwa. Mama Colonel in Bandal is also an excellent restaurant. The menu has only 4 items - chicken, fish, fries and plantaine - but they are barbecued to perfection.
Mid-range
For about $10, the Association Belgo Congolais (ABC) serves meals in a nice outdoor terrace. Traditional dishes such as river fish and fried plantains, or international fare like cheeseburgers and spaghetti. You can also get real coffee (espresso), if you tire of Nescafe.
Splurge
The more expensive restaurants in Gombe are Ghez Gaby, Chez Nicolas, Chateau Margaud, the Golf Club, the Grand Hotel and Caf-Conc.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Get out