10 Days in the Congo River and Pygmy Cultures

Kinshasa - Mbandaka pygmies (12 days)

Day one: Arrival in Kinshasa

Arrive in Kinshasa, get the assistance by Danico Tours team, after the briefing, drive downtown, have a free evening, overnight at the hotel.

Day two: Kinshasa

After an early breakfast, enjoy the full day Kinshasa city tour including the tomb of the late president Laurant Kabila, Kinsuka rapids, Bonobos in the sanctuary, different historical monuments, overnight at the hotel.

Day three: Kinshasa Mbandaka by plane

After an early breakfast, drive to the airport and take the shared flight to Mbandaka, arrive there, drive to the hotel for deposing your luggage.

Mbandaka is the county town of Equator province with a former name Coquilathville, founded by Henry Morton Stanley in 1883, the town is established at the crossing of the Congo River and Ruki River. The town still keeps former houses with colonial architecture. It is inhabited by Mongo tribe with their pygmies who are the former habitats of this province crossed by the Equator line. Overnight at the hotel.

Note: There is a flight from Kinshasa to Mbandaka only every Wednesday and Saturday.

Day four:  Congo River navigation

After an early breakfast, we embark on the boat and navigate on the Congovisit different fishing encampments and villages.  Mababanga: is also another small one along the congo river, people from this village are specialized in making fish traps and the palm wine production.

Irebu : A Congolese Marin Training Centre located on the mouth of the Tumba lake, overnight at the hotel.

Day five: navigation on Tumba Lake and the river

After an early breakfast, we embark in the boat and cross the lake Tumba to join the pirogue where we will be rowing to Ikoko Bonginda village and proceed with the pirogue in the small canoe in the jungle, visit different fishing encampments and villages

Ngelo: Is a village near the Lake Tumba

Ikoko: is a village located on the mouth of the small river which will allow you to how local people navigate in the forest.

Arrive at Bokote, overnight in the tent.

Day six: River navigation

After an early breakfast, visit the village the proceed with the navigation in the small river for reaching the village port called Samba after leaving the pirogue, have the walk overnight in the tent,.

Day seven: 7 Pygmy villages

After an early breakfast, visit the pygmy village called Bottle, Samba and the pilot center Mooto and Bikoro, have an evening folkloric dance(pygmies and Bantus), overnight in the tent.

Day eight:  Villages

After an early breakfast, transfer to Mabali, overnight in the research center.

en libertés Presque domestiqués. Une belle Vue Sur le Lac Tumba.

Day  nine:  Villages and the forest

After the visit to the center, transfer to Mbandaka where we may reach in the evening time, overnight at the hotel.

Day ten: Mbandaka – Kinshasa

After an early breakfast, depending on the flight schedule, drive to the airport then take another shared flight to Kinshasa, overnight at the hotel.

MBANDAKA-BKIKORO

Itinerary and means of transport

Kinshasa-Mbandaka (by plane)

Mbandaka-Irrebi-Irres-Ikoko (by pirogue)

Ikoko-Samba (by paddling on pirogue)

Samba-Mooto-Mbandaka (by four-wheel car)

Mbandaka-Kinshasa (by plane)

Program

The cost is

$4800 $ / person

$2900 / person for a group of   2 participants

Including transportation as indicated in the Itinerary, meals and mineral water in the interior except in Kinshasa and Mbandaka, government taxes, access, tourist activities, accommodations, and a guide.

Not including the individual insurance, medical services, tips and everything not listed in the itinerary.