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C997
Original Poster
133 posts
35 months
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Off to Pointe Noire in The Congo tomorrow, any recomendations? Have spent plenty time in Nigeria and I guess it will be pretty similar?
cheers,
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TheHeretic
68,019 posts
124 months
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We stopped off there once to refuel the vessel. Very similar to Gabon, and Nigeria, (we were based in Port Gentil, and Calabar respectively). The usual warnings about going out at night, and all that stuff. Regular West African advice, really. We also stopped off in a port in the DR Congo but can't remember the name. One of the worst places I've been to, with people jumping into the back of our empty pickup on the road, doing about 30mph, to steal whatever was there.
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Alfachick
1,557 posts
66 months
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There are some cracking beach bars in the expat area of town where you can get decent food and beer. The airport is typical west African. They may try to charge you money, typically $20 or so, when they check your yellow fever cert by saying that its not signed or stamped in the right place. This is a scam, if you have a decent agent meeting you he will be able to sort this out. If you don't then you can probably argue the toss, or just pay the $20 if you cant be arsed with it. To get out of the airport you need to keep your baggage receipt as they check this against the bags you are trying to take out. Other than that just typical west Africa advice: don't be stupid. The beach bars are REALLY good though. 
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Whoozit
1,059 posts
138 months
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They make Umbongo there I believe. Worth looking around - possibly a factory tour? 
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Podie
38,392 posts
144 months
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Whoozit said: They make Umbongo there I believe. Worth looking around - possibly a factory tour? 
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C997
Original Poster
133 posts
35 months
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Alfachick said: There are some cracking beach bars in the expat area of town where you can get decent food and beer. The airport is typical west African. They may try to charge you money, typically $20 or so, when they check your yellow fever cert by saying that its not signed or stamped in the right place. This is a scam, if you have a decent agent meeting you he will be able to sort this out. If you don't then you can probably argue the toss, or just pay the $20 if you cant be arsed with it. To get out of the airport you need to keep your baggage receipt as they check this against the bags you are trying to take out. Other than that just typical west Africa advice: don't be stupid. The beach bars are REALLY good though. Just got back from 5 days there and you are spot on. The bars are excellent once you survive the local taxi ride to them. Le Derrick sounded like it would be full of other oily types and we werent wrong. The large rotund lady at the entrance to the arrivals hall wanted 100 US to let me into the country as my yellow fever cert was issued too recently. The agent told her to gtf and she just growled at me and let me go. Other highlights included breaking down in a tiny dinghy in the middle of Pointe Noire port, being passed by huge container ships. They have a beer called Turbo King which apart from having the best beer name ever, was pretty drinkable but was a killer the next morning. Watching the Champions League final in a local "Resto Bar" was an absolute riot. The entertainment in the bar was better than the penalties. All in all a pretty entertaining trip!
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sneijder
4,856 posts
103 months
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Whoozit said: They make Umbongo there I believe. Worth looking around - possibly a factory tour? In Norway we had a diplomat over from the Congo. Someone left their microphone switched on, the diplomat was referred to quite plainly as 'Dr Bongo from the Congo'. Hope this is useful advice OP.
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