Democratic Republic of Congo: Lubumbashi to Kinshasa

I will now add MY thanks to the throng! What an epic story you have to tell, Frederik. Like many of the folks who have posted previously I feel I have lived a bit of this with you, thanks to your wonderful description of places and people, and your firm grasp of English.

I assume that in the two years since this journey you both have fully recovered from any maladies you developed while globe trekking. If I may be so bold... What were they? How did you prepare for illness? and What was your final recuperation time?

Thanks again for such an inspiring tale of woe, misery, ingenuity, and perseverance in the face of adversity! Many Happy Returns!

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Originally Posted by Loneranger

By the way, it was very unexpected and funny to see the cover of her notepad in one of the photos, that Russian notepad in the middle of the jungle somewhere in DRC, somehow it looked surreal that way if you get what I mean.
Being Russian I would be particularly interested to hear about your experience while travelling through Russia.

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Hi!
Travelling trough Russia (Siberia) was really one of the highlights of our trip thanks to all the friendly Russians. We would love to visit again one day...

Thanks everybody for the interest and great comments in our story!

Josephine

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Originally Posted by Josephine

Hi!
Travelling trough Russia (Siberia) was really one of the highlights of our trip thanks to all the friendly Russians. We would love to visit again one day...

Thanks everybody for the interest and great comments in our story!

Josephine

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Wow, Josephine! Glad to have you join us! Welcome!

Regards,

David

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Originally Posted by taco2go

Anyway, here is the first of hopefully several more- need something to do during the long MI winters :).

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/1103811897_KpMTg-L.jpg

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Taco2go,

Your drawings are amazing!!! :luxhello:
These will get a special place in our house.

Thanks a lot.

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Originally Posted by taco2go

and notice a serious omission ;)- there's not a single photograph with your truck in 'Camp' mode- ie with the tent deployed.

Guess you were always in the "being stared at" mode and couldn't afford the obligatory poser shot. :)

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Funny but you are right, we have very few picturs of our tent deployed. I guess it's a bit like taking pictures of your own house... I have never done that either. Strange...

Here's one from another country (Benin) in a more relaxed mode ;-)

http://radiobaobab.be/assets/etogal/233/grandpopo22.jpg

Those are some very cool drawings by the way! Thanks!

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Originally Posted by RadioBaobab

Funny but you are right, we have very few picturs of our tent deployed. I guess it's a bit like taking pictures of your own house... I have never done that either. Strange...

Here's one from another country (Benin) in a more relaxed mode ;-)

http://radiobaobab.be/assets/etogal/233/grandpopo22.jpg

Those are some very cool drawings by the way! Thanks!

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Iconic photo . . . Somehow I have a feeling that might end up on the cover of Overland Journal . . .

Thanks,

David

Thanks to everybody for leaving comments, we really appreciate it. The amount of attention this trip report is getting is insane!

A quick round of answers to some questions. Sorry for not replying to everybody personally, we do read everything!

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Originally Posted by lurch70

I have a few questions ....
- this being Africa I never heard about you encountering wildlife. I know in one of the posts you wrote about a local longing for times of old when they were roaming, but is it really to the point that there are "none"?

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Not "none", but it's close. The picture many people have of wildlife roaming everywhere is a picture drawn by documentaries in the wildparks of Eastern and Southern Africa. Most of Central (and western) Africa has very little wildlife left. I mean the traditional, spectacular wildlife (lions, elephant, ..). Congo is the only country in the world where one can still encounter Okapi's and is home to some of the last remaining Gorilla's. But the bulk of animals is gone. Eaten, poached, ... . And what remains stays well clear of humans.

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Originally Posted by Velocewest

One comment -- I think your LC deserves a name. I defer to your preference, but "Rocinante" comes to mind. Even more than Don Q's steed, your LC proved itself greater than its simple origin...

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Thanks for the tip, it would be an apt name indeed. But, to me, it feels funny to name cars. I will explain it a bit more when I talk about the car and its equipment (soon).

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Originally Posted by DentonTx

One question- around that one bog hole with the palm tree in the center- is it easier to cut it down or work around it?

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In that particular case I think we drove around it. Cut a way trough the bush. It really depends on the situation. Sometimes it is quicker and easier to just drive trough the bog. Sometimes it is easier to create a detour. Sometimes one takes the wrong decision too ;-)

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Originally Posted by Hotrock3

Your trip has changed you for the better.

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Thanks I guess ;-) I like to believe that too. Although I have the feeling I have only had a little glimpse of the world. It made me even more curious. It made me realize I do not understand most of what I have seen. It gave me many answers, but even more new questions. Often I am jealous about people who are content with their little world, often not bigger then their own town (I am talking about most people in the 'first world'), oblivious to what is happening in the rest of the world. It make life so much simpler!

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Originally Posted by Seeker

Just the other night I spoke with her about what she couldn't live without seeing, and where she absolutely _had_ to go on that trip. It excited us both; it was a conversation we hadn't touched on in a few months and we had it because our dream was invigorated by the telling of yours.

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You have no idea how happy and proud that makes us. We sincerely hope you make 'your trip' one day and enjoy every minute of it!

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Originally Posted by JasonWD

My question (maybe for that q&a session), did you consider driving in reverse when the rear axle broke?

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It crossed our mind briefly, but I did not really seriously consider it. Experiments like this take time and effort, so we only tried 'new things' when we believed it had a fair chance of succes. If it were just a straight hill, sure. But the tracks was often very narrow with little room for driving mistakes. And mistakes were always punished hard by getting stuck or tipping over.

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Originally Posted by Apexbasher

I assume that in the two years since this journey you both have fully recovered from any maladies you developed while globe trekking. If I may be so bold... What were they? How did you prepare for illness? and What was your final recuperation time?

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Nothing serious. The usual 'traveller problems' occured frequently and sometimes for long periods. A few cuts and bruises from time to time. We had an extensive medical kit with us, but we barely used anything from it. In general I would say we were much healthier while travelling then we were/are at home. The outdoor life and lack of stress I guess.
a
Don't forget there is this live session next Sunday. We are curious to how that will work out!

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Originally Posted by Josephine

Hi!
Travelling trough Russia (Siberia) was really one of the highlights of our trip thanks to all the friendly Russians. We would love to visit again one day...

Thanks everybody for the interest and great comments in our story!

Josephine

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Welcome Josephine!

I enjoyed the sketches that you did. They added to the feel of this report.

Again, props to both of you for not only doing this trip, but taking the time to share it with us. (Us being over 500,000 views!)

Frederik & Josephine, what an absolutely captivating adventure! I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I saw a link on another site, and then I couldn't stop reading your posts. I had to register on this site, if for nothing else than to salute you.

I came here thinking I'd read of a Land Cruiser enthusiast with a nice trip report. What I found was a pair of true adventurers who risked their personal safety to live out a dream. A true lesson in African history, the human will, philosophy of dealing with people and personal triumph.

If you write a book (and, you're certainly capable!), I certainly buy a copy!

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BillWms01
'04 UZJ100 Land Cruiser
'08 FJ Cruiser

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Originally Posted by RadioBaobab

http://radiobaobab.be/assets/etogal/548/kananga011.jpg

I can see you thinking... what the * is that?

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Maybe it was this....
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7920/gatend7.png
or this...
http://i49.tinypic.com/2vlsa46.jpg

You guys did not hear anything different.... did you?


BTW - thank you so much on sharing your adventure.