PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET Jungle trip to Bantu and Pygmy villages

Transcription

1 Introduction Discover the tropical rainforest and the Congolese culture. Go Congo Tour Operator operates a 14-day trip on the axis Mbandaka-Bikoro in the Equator province in the D.R.Congo. These trips have an adventurous character. Transfers are made by jeeps and by "pirogues", the traditional dug-out canoes.

2 During these trips, visitors are guests in different villages, where they can learn about traditional customs of the Bantu and pygmy-culture. Furthermore, this type of travelling offers the opportunity to interact directly with the local population. This is a trip off the beaten track. There are no busses of tourists dropped off in these villages daily, weekly or even monthly. In some of the more remote villages, we are the only outsiders to visit them. This adds to the enthusiasm of the local inhabitants when visitors do arrive. It is a big happening and the locals will gather to meet and greet the visitors. A 'must' for those people, who strive to life a genuine Africa-experience. Accommodations consist of a hotel in Kinshasa and Kisangani and a tented campement in the interior. The large comfortable tents are 2m high. As beds, we offer selfinflating mattresses with cotton mattress covers and pillows. Travellers are expected to bring their own bedlinnen. Furthermore, the camp will comprise a minimum of one shower tent and one basic toilet tent. The number of sanitary tents will depend on the number of clients. Travellers are expected to bring their own towels and shampoo/soap. The trip is based on Bed&Breakfast in Kinshasa and Full Board in the interior. The Full Board Meal plan consists of a Breakfast, a light Lunch and a two-course Dinner. Our breakfast is inspired on the socalled continental breakfast, including Sliced Bread and Rolls - Butter, Cheese, Ham/Salami and Jam - Cereals with Milk and Sugar - Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate. Our Lunch and Dinner consist mainly of local specialties. Fresh fruit and local snack-food are served as lunch on board. The Main Course of our Dinner consists of Meat, Poultry, Fish or Pasta - Vegetables - Rice, Potatoes or 'Foufou', a local side dish made of the manioc plant. The Dessert traditionally consists of fresh fruit.

3 Highlights: Kinshasa: Kinshasa, the capital of the D.R.Congo, used to be referred to as "Kin La Belle" - meaning "Beautiful Kinshasa". The many years of turmoil have broken down on this image. But slowly and surely, Kinshasa is regaining its splendour. Some of the major sites include the "Grand Marché", the tomb of former President Laurent Kabila, the "Académie des Beaux Arts" for those who like African art, the rapids of Kinsuka just downstream from the city and the Bonobo Reserve, a sanctuary for orphaned Bonobomonkeys, one of the five Great Apes, and the closest to mankind. Mbandaka: Mbandaka, the capital of the Equator province, lies on the equator. A marker on the Av. Bolenge symbolizes the line of the equator that passes through the city. The former President Mobutu Sese Seko attended school here. Mbandaka is one of the main river ports. The region of Mbandaka is the home of the Batswa Pygmies. Bikoro: Bikoro lies on the shores of Lake Ntomba, and was once a thriving town thanks to its large rubber plantations.

4 Arrangement: PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET Airport Pick-up and Drop-off Service; All transfers as mentioned in the program; French- / English speaking Guide, 6-nights accommodation in Hotel in Kinshasa; 7-nights accommodation in a Tented Campement in the interior; Bed&Breakfast Meal plan in Kinshasa; Full Board Meal plan in the interior; Drinks excluded;

5 Indicative Program: PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET Day 1 : Arrival in Kinshasa Day 2 : Arrival in Mbandaka. Visit of Mbandaka : Mark- up of the equator. We take a 4x4 from Mbandaka to Ilema, about 29 km further. This trip takes 2.30 hrs. The Chef du village and his pygmies give us a warm welcome with traditional dances. We buy seasonal fruit and vegetables. The cook prepares a local speciality.( Congolese Chicken ) Day 3 : European breakfast at 7 am. We leave at 8 am. Trip to Samba. On the road we stop in Buya : we visit a small village with pygmies in traditional clothes. They show us their wooden sculptures. We spend the night in Samba : contact with the Chief of the village and with the local pygmies. Dinner à la façon Congolese. Day 4 : European breakfast at 7 am. We take a canoe to Nkake : 5 hours paddling. We admire the vegetation : tropical jungle. On the road we buy fresh fruit and vegetables and other specialities to taste. In Nkake the pygmies welcome us with their traditional dances. We eat our Congolese dinner. (fresh fishes bought on the road and prepared à la façon Congolese ). Day 5 : European breakfast at 7 am. We leave for Bikoro, paddling. On the road we visit Ikoko. Ikoko is situated on the border of the Lac Tumba. Possibility to buy some wooden souvenirs. We take 2 extra men with us to paddle : we cross the lake in 2 hours to Bikoro. Sightseeing in Bikoro : the cathedral, some buildings from the State, the beach, visit of the pygmies. Congolese dinner. Day 6 : European breakfast at 7 am. Trip into the virgin jungle to IRES in 4x4: 30 km. Congolese dinner. Day 7 : European breakfast at 7 am. I.R.E.S. : It is a centre for research of climatology and ecology of the tropical Fauna and Flora. We make a guided excursion into the Park. Here we still find the virgin vegetation, several animals, birds Congolese dinner.

6 Day 8 : European breakfast at 7 am. 4x4 to Mbandaka. We stay the night in Mbandaka. We eat in a local restaurant and enjoy a fresh Primus. Day 9 : European breakfast at 7 am. We return to Kinshasa with airplane. Day 10 Kinshasa: visit of the Pool Malebo and the sandbanks by boat with lunch in a Congolese village 8,00 Breakfast 9,00 Transfer to Kinkole 10,00 Embarkation and we'll travel up streams to a small village called" Mangengenge" 12,30 Reception by the Chief and lunch. Visit of the village 14,00 We'll continue and will take the middle of the stream passing some sandbanks and try to reach Lukula, a village on a sandbank and we'll see how people try to survive in that middle of nowhere. 17,00 Arrival in Kinkole and transfer to the hotel 18,00 Arrival in the hotel 19,00 Dinner

7 Day 11 Kinshasa: visit of the fabrication of artwork of bronze, wood sculpture and handmade furniture 8,00 Breakfast 9,00 We'll visit different workshops and we'll see how bronze and Malachite, paintings, wood sculpture and handmade furniture will be born, out of the hands of their creator 12,30 Lunch 13,30 We'll continue the tour and will visit also " Gare Central", the market were all art and souvenirs are exposed and if we still have enough time, also " Symphonie Des Arts", with an exposition of really top quality art products. 18,00 Arrival in the hotel 19,00 Dinner

8 Day 12 Kinshasa: chute de Lukaya and the Bonobo sanctuary 8,00 Breakfast 9,00 Departure Passing the suburbs of Kinshasa, direction Bas-Congo, we'll arrive at " chute de Lukaya". Each weekend, this place is very crowdie with people who, adults and children, tries to find some fresh air outside the city. But here also we can find the Bonobo sanctuary, all were orphans, from Madame Claudine. Parents killed by hunters, these baby's were saved thanks to Claudine's program and nourished by local women till they were old enough to take care for themselves 16,30 Transfer to hotel 18,00 Arrival in the hotel 19,00 Dinner Day 13 Kinshasa: visit of a part of the Pool Malebo, statue of Lumumba, memorial of Kabila and the rapids of Kinsuka 8,00 Breakfast 9,00 Departure We'll start with the memorial of the former DRC president Kabila, the statue of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister who has been murdered in the beginning of independence. We go further to Kinkole, a fishermen village, and will visit the local market. From there by boat, down streams, back to Kinshasa. 12,00 Embarkation and lunch on board. On road, we can see how the river transport with goods and passengers goes on and we can imagine the wealth of the city in the past. 13,30 Arrival in Kinshasa and going further on to the rapids of Kinsuka 14,00/14,30 Arrival and visit of the rapids 18,00 Arrival in the hotel 19,00 Diner Day 14 Transfer to Airport. Airport Drop-Off Service at departure

9 Price : TP 6 : 14 days : 2702 euro per person in double occupancy, 259 euro single supplement. TP 7 : 10 days : 2588 euro per person in double occupancy, 101 euro single supplement.