Flights: how to pay less
We booked a year ahead: €450 a ticket with Brussels Airlines. The earlier you start, the easier it is, especially for summer: mid-August is when the most diaspora families head home.
Tip: we paid with a Visa Premier card, which includes travel insurance (see below).
DRC visa (easy… if you go about it right)
Allow €85 per visa, kids included. You need a letter of invitation (prise en charge): we got ours through Intervisa for €95.
We did the visas 2 months before departure. Careful: dual nationality isn’t recognised in the DRC, so each child travels with their own visa.
Health: vaccines, malaria, mosquitoes (my “zero bites at night” strategy)
The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, with an up-to-date vaccination record for the whole family.
Against malaria, we combined: antimalarial treatment (check with your doctor), an insecticide-treated mosquito net with self-adhesive wall fixings, a room spray and a skin spray. The result: zero bites in Kinshasa, zero on the road, and just a few bites for the parents at N’sele.
Insurance: the thing families regret when it’s too late
We were covered by Europe Assistance through the Visa Premier card: repatriation in case of illness or injury, and repatriation of remains. I’d printed the certificates: on the ground, you don’t always have signal.
Safety: on-the-ground common sense
The two rules that kept us safe: no driving at night (the sun sets around 6 pm) and a driver we’d tested on several short trips in Kinshasa before heading out to the provinces.
The driver is also responsible for your safety: he handled all the checkpoints, haggled for us at Muanda market (with our European faces, prices go up fast), looked out for us and explained the local codes. A truly essential link. We’d even got international driving permits, but in the provinces, don’t drive yourself: get a driver.
In Kinshasa, security and electricity are families’ two biggest worries: that’s why we chose secure accommodation in Limete, with guards and a generator.
Money and phone
Big expenses are paid in dollars, small ones in Congolese francs. Nobody will turn your money down, but always keep a bit of “buffer” cash for surprises on the road.
As for phones, we had several SIM cards: coverage varies by area. The comparison of options (local SIM, eSIM) is in the guide.
Our lists
My “photocopies” folder
- Valid ID card
- Passports and visas
- Family record book
- Marriage certificate
- Letter of invitation
- Vaccination records
- It worked at every checkpoint… except Matadi.
Medicine kit: what I actually took
- Oral rehydration salts
- Paracetamol
- Anti-diarrhoea, anti-nausea and antispasmodic medicines
- Broad-spectrum antibiotic (on prescription)
- Thermometer and blood pressure monitor
- Adjust with your doctor before you leave.
Luggage and the road with kids
- Camera and drone
- Powdered milk (like Nido) and a few brioches
- Lots of water in the car
- A pack of cards, food and drink for the long drives
- The kids each had 23 kg + 10 kg: room to bring back souvenirs.
The full checklist
All the checklists are in the guide
The €29 guide includes the full pre-departure checklist, documents, medicine kit and the day-by-day Kinshasa – Muanda itinerary.
FAQ
Do you need a visa to travel to the DRC with kids?
Yes, each child needs their own visa. We paid €85 per visa, plus €95 for the letter of invitation, and did the paperwork 2 months ahead.
Which vaccines for the DRC?
Yellow fever is mandatory, with an up-to-date vaccination record. For everything else and antimalarial treatment, ask your doctor.
When should you book flights to Kinshasa?
We booked a year ahead, at €450 a ticket, for a mid-August departure.
What insurance should you get?
Insurance that covers repatriation in case of illness or injury. We were covered by Europe Assistance through our Visa Premier card.