I don't normally post in this section, having no experience traveling in Africa, but I stumbled across a travel report some of you might enjoy reading.

Josephine & Frederik Take A Drive

An exerpt:

"We came across a truck that was parked in the middle of the track. Luckily the surrounding area was pretty open, so we could pass it.

Us: "Bonjour, ca va?" - "Hi, how are you?"
- Them: "Ca va un peu bien " - "I am doing a little bit ok" -> typical Congelese answer this!

Us: "Votre vehicle est en panne?" - "Did you truck broke down?"
- Them: "Oui, mais ils vient avec des nouveaux pièces" - "Yes, but they are coming with spare parts"

So we chat a bit and we ask what their problem exactly was. They left Ilebo for Kananga with a load of building materials for a rich guy in Kananga. Their engine had completely seized. Their cargo was transferred onto another truck and they had taken the engine out and transported the engine to Kinshasa to get it rebuild. In the meantime the truck 'crew' stayed onsite to safeguard the truck. But they were very happy as they just received news that the necessary parts for the engine were now ordered in Germany, so the parts would come arrive in Kinshasa in a few weeks time!

A fascinating story, and they told it as if the was the most normal thing in the world. Fair enough. We said our goodbyes and asked them one more final question. How long had they been here?

"Un peu plus qu'un an maintenant" - "Just over a year"

Great story!! And we spoiled ones here in the US would be terriblly upset if we couldn't get the necessary parts shipped and delivered to us by the very next DAY.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Wow!! What a read and what an adventure.

The parts where the villagers were chasing them with machettes was interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Swamp_Fox:
The parts where the villagers were chasing them with machettes was interesting.

Not mention the stir fried human ears.

I think that was reported by another traveler.

Thank you for posting this. What an amazing adventure.

maybe this thread should be moved to the African hunting forum under the thread dealing with black ownership of tourist business in Namibia. maybe if Nakihunter bothered to read the whole thing- HE MIGHT ACTUALLY LEARN HOW THINGS REALLY ARE AND FORGET HIS PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS!!!!!!!!!!! IE:THE PARTS ABOUT HOW THE OLDER PEOPLE IN CONGO NOW REALIZE THAT THINGS WERE BETTER UNDER THE BELGIANS( IN SPITE OF OBVIOUS PROBLEMS)THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN UNDER THE PRECEEDING AND CURRENT GOVERNMENTS. at least people weren't eating each other 40 years ago.

The DRC is a place I have always avoided and will continue to do so.

Back in 1987, I was flying famine relief out of Asmera (then Ethiopia) for CARITAS. We became great friends with the crews of a Belgian AF Herc who were doing the same thing for the ICRC. Those guys were still carrying a grudge about losing the Congo. They told tales of a Belgian Herc crew doing embassy support into Kinshasa who used to fly very low down the river on their way out. They called it croc feeding time. May or may not have been true.

My sister lived in Congo for several years and only moved from there 2 years ago. A special country Great story and thanks for posting.

AD