Kinshasa update?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Wales
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Kinshasa Update
Landed at Kinshasa last week with tech aircraft that necessitated 3 night stay. Road from airport to Kinshasa passes through many unsavoury districts and depending on time of day can be a nightmare with traffic. Everyone drive like lunatics! We didn't have private security to accompany us, only a driver, but in hindsight we should have as even the police are corrupt. Stayed at Hotel Memling ( ex Sabena ) which was safe enough but expect to pay 300 USD a night with everything as extras. Food there was good though, all brought in on the Air France and Brussels flights I believe. The Air France crews don't stay there, a light twin comes in from Brazaville when they land and whisks them away. Ok if you don't venture far from the Hotel and never at night without security.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kinshasa DRC
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Kinshasa - The Construction Continues.....
Kinshasa for the moment resembles one big construction site much like Luanda before the African Football Cup - as Gizmo said depending on the time of day it can take between 30 minutes and 3 hours to get from the airport to town.
Most of the runway has been resurfaced(except the first and last 500mts) but the ILS is still not operational and the LOC will aligne you with the river instead of the runway so best to insist the RNAV 06/24 if they don't propose anyway.
The latest Jepps are wrong again and parking 8B not longer exists but 8 still does - expect VIP small jets to be given either 6, 7 or 8 which are equally spaced and not as dipicted on the chart.
If you plan on arriving from the 10th-12th of October for the "Francofollie" as it is reffered to here expect one huge traffic nightmare.
There are a few nice hotels to stay in apart from the Memling which are cheeper and more private also - Voyager($200) and Sultani($165-$250) are in the center of town with many resturants located within 2 minutes walk.
As for the security - like anywhere don't try to look like a tourist and avoid crowds or conversations with people you don't know - just be calm and politely say "no merci" and walk away and you will be fine.
Most of the runway has been resurfaced(except the first and last 500mts) but the ILS is still not operational and the LOC will aligne you with the river instead of the runway so best to insist the RNAV 06/24 if they don't propose anyway.
The latest Jepps are wrong again and parking 8B not longer exists but 8 still does - expect VIP small jets to be given either 6, 7 or 8 which are equally spaced and not as dipicted on the chart.
If you plan on arriving from the 10th-12th of October for the "Francofollie" as it is reffered to here expect one huge traffic nightmare.
There are a few nice hotels to stay in apart from the Memling which are cheeper and more private also - Voyager($200) and Sultani($165-$250) are in the center of town with many resturants located within 2 minutes walk.
As for the security - like anywhere don't try to look like a tourist and avoid crowds or conversations with people you don't know - just be calm and politely say "no merci" and walk away and you will be fine.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Here,There..Everywhere!
Age: 53
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Where ever you stay there just remember to lock your **** up. Lots of sticky fingers in those hotels. An associate had an iPad stolen there out of his room while he slept. F
ers!
ers!
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Jungle or Sand!!!!!!
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And what ever you DO NOT open your door when somebody knocks on it in the middle of the night. Trying to get those pesky night fighters out after that is short of impossible until 100 large has changed hands.
Primus is diluted acid
Primus is diluted acid
