Land Rover Fit -goodbye to Willem and Marjolein

15-10-2011 
Land Rover is fighting fit, we say goodbye to Willem and Marjolein and Libreville.

6 O’clock Hans made coffee, Elisme could see his now in a hurry. He wants to move on, after 21 days in Libreville, it is time to go.

Good bye to Gaya

Willem watching how we do our last packing in Libreville
Hans and Elisme had a lot to sort out; the Land Rover was totally in shambles after the Garage. Gaya helped very keenly; he even took the Split Peas from Elisme and through them in the plastic container.

Willem prepared them a breakfast on the patio. Rodger and Nadin sms they are on their way to Lambarene. Hans spoke to Nadin and said we will meet them there.

Willem took nice photos of Gaya Hans and Elisme. Then we were on our way words was difficult to say our thanks to Willem and Marjolein. We just made them promise they will come and visit us in 2012. Then we can treat them like KINGS..

There was no difference in traffic in Libreville this morning, the Blue, Red and green number plates had the right to do what they want. I understand that the BLUE number plates ar al Government employees?

We moved on quit easy this morning, no road block stopped us, may be its SATURDAY this time we past the equator quickly, no stopping, hopefully it was the last time. We are known in the South Hemisphere.

Nadin sms they are in Lambarene for lunch, Hans was 49 from there. They send us the coordinates where they are waiting for us.

The re-union was nice to see them after all our trying to meet up again. Hans and Rodger decided it is still early and we can move on to MOUILA to sleep there tonight.

Coen and Shanhaz report back they are in Angola at Barra do Dande that sounds like a nice beach. They had a nice swim and it sounds as if they are really enjoying their stay.

We meet Rodger and Nadin on the GPS coordinates they send us. Just for the records Rodger and Nadin are from SWITZERLAND, i don’t know why we thought they are from Sweden. So here we are with our SWISS friends. 

We drove to MOUILA, find a nice hotel LAC BLUE. 

We rent a room and so that we can shower and have a toilet, they were happy that we sleep in our vehicles. The lay out off Rodger and Nadin’s vehicle made us jealous. Rodger is a Carpenter and did it al by himself. Just look at the pictures. We want to send our Land Rover with him to renovate it to his.

Hans invited them for a drink, sitting at the swimming pool. We all had so many stories to share. They were on the same mudding roads to Mamfre, more trouble they had a Swiss couple with them in an Iveco. That was trouble they were stucked in every obstacle and Rodger with the Land Cruiser had to pull them out every time. They landed in a ditch or two and the guides had to dig them out. Their vehicle has the same damage as al our cars, the mud covers got hurt.

After a nice supper which Nadin prepared spaghetti bolognaise and Elisme contribute Goulash? We went to bed to leave early the next morning for the border crossing to Brazzaville Congo.

Sunday morning 17 October we left early the kilometres to the border Doussala Gabon. We got to Ndende to Police check and stamp in our Passports. 40 km further you get a red and white boom; there you stamp Carne and another stamp in your passport. We drove another 30 km in no man’s land to rich the smelly Brazzaville Congo border. This was quite a shock, coming from Gabon border which was spotless clean and then this.

Congo border post is Ngonog, first Gendarmerie, stamp then another office next to it. There was a guy in uniform he also stamped our passports. From there we went to the police he did all the paper work again and then stamped our passport for the 3 time, not finish yet. Now the immigration officer, very un friendly guy, he call us, asked for our entry forms. Nadin asked him where we were supposed to get then, he said from our tour leader, seeing that we are driving in a group. She said we are individuals and had no tour leader. Then he gave us a form from previous guys, to write all our details as from the form at the back. We got our 4 th stamp. The Passage the Carne had to be stamped at the next office. This guy wasn’t there. The officer with the uniform came by and said he will call him, after 15 min he arrived. Very friendly and sorry for not being there, he stamped with no questions.

We were in Brazzaville Congo the road immediately was bad,

after the rains, Lots of water holes and very slippery patches. Hans was driving in high range, and then we hit a bad spot he had to change to low range. The problem here was you couldn’t see what was in the water holes until you’re in them. 

After Ekok to Mumfe, no road ever will be TOO BAD for us. A tuck was stucked across the road .

As we came on the hill. Hans and Rodger had to manoeuvre through a small space next to the excavation, they managed. 5 km further the next 2 cars stucked, we could pass with 2 inches on both sides left between the 2 cars. This can’t be true, another 2 cars stucked behind each other, we passed easily.

Kigangou we stopped to show our document, the police man asked for a lift to Point Noir. Poor Rodger and Nadin had lot to explain why they can’t take this man.

Mila Mila was another police check point, again the police man asked for a lift. I wonder do they stop you just to get a lift.

The road was getting from bad to worse. Corrugations, mud ditches and water holes. We wanted to rich Dolisie before dark. Along the road we saw animals for the first in a long time, Dogs, cats, chickens, goats and 2 wild monkeys. The bird life is very active here in Brazzaville Congo, we saw, Eagles, Herons and Vultures.

Shanhaz explained to us how to get to the Catholic Mission St. Paul. Nadin asked for permission for us to rent a room and to then sleep in our cars. He gave us permission to park our cars under the Car ports. That was very nice; we were under roof and had a table to make our food. They gave us electricity for our fridges and kettle.

Elisme made RISSOTTO for us and Nadin helped. They had a lovely meal while Rodger were telling them of all his tours in South America and Indonesia. They are really world wise people, so interesting to talk to them. Soon we al went to bed, tomorrow along way.

Tuesday we woke up with church bells calling for the first mist. This was so nice to here and as Nadin said, it felt as if it was right next to her ears. The congregation sang so beautiful, that gave us a chance to say our thank for help of GOD. We can see his hand in every action we take.

We were surprise by the excellent condition of the road to point Noir, the Chinese build this road.

 They’re now building the bridges and that is only short 100m deviations. We reached the boat club where there are more over landers. They are all struggling with their either DRC or ANGOLA VISAS. Rodger and Nadin will stay at the boat club until they have their visas or ship their Land Cruiser either to Angola or Namibia.

We met PAUL and MARIA EBERHARD there, they have the same problems. Paul and Maria are staying in Jeffrey bay SA, Paul is German and Maria a South African.

Hans and Elisme said goodbye to all of them and moved on to the border. We find the Brazzaville Congo Officers very friendly and helpful her. At the Gendarmerie they checked all our visas and Passports, they then took us to the police and Duane. The officer took us to the station commander, he checked our Passage de Carne, he was satisfied. The officer stamped and completes it. Then immigration and health yellow cards check. The old man at immigration was very helpful he stamped our passports and the one with the Angola visa.

Cabina was a very well developed city, doesn’t look like the rest of Africa. The horizon on the sea, as far as the eye can see, there are oil boats. This is a very rich country.
We got to the Catholic Mission, they told us the father was not there but we can phone him. He said we must wait he is coming, after an hour he arrived. He gave us a room, it was flooded with water. The children cleaned it up and gave us toilet paper and soap. They kept on caring buckets of water to the room. That’s when we realise that there is no water for shower or toilet. We gave them a packet of sweet for each bucket; soon we had 10 buckets of water, enough to last for a week.

Mosquitoes are part of Africa, but I have never seen so many mosquitoes. Hans and Elisme were spraying all the time, but they were not scare of mosquito spray.

We had 2 minute noodles, then showered and of to bed. The children were still playing and shouting at the top of their voices. The teacher called them al and then we just heard him hitting them. I don’t know what they have done. I just know in South Africa that will never happened, no teacher is allowed to

Hans and Elisme left early for the border, only to find out that the border only opens at 8 am. The local People were very interested in our vehicle. Hans was explaining to all of them our journey from Morocco. Soon the police and Gendarmerie guys were also there to listen. By 7h30 the official came and said we can come with him, he was very helpful. He arranged for us to change money in his office and bought us airtime.  Hans went to customs to stamp our Carne de Passage and then we were on our way to the DRC border.

Hans asked the guy who changed our money, if he knows Mr. Blaise on the DRC side at immigration. He said he will call him for us. We parked and then went in at the police man al guiding the gate. They greeted us friendly asked for our passports and said they will take it to Mr. Blaise. The Police man said he gave it to Mr. Blaise and he will come and see us.

All the workers at immigration was so friendly, they said they were waiting for us, because our friends from South Africa told them about us. They just wanted to know why it took us so long.

Mr. Blaise said we must phone Mr. Thabo at the South African Embassy in Kinshasa, he will then phone the head of immigration and then he will instruct these officers to stamp our passports. Within an hour all our passports was stamped and we good go to customs.

Mr. Blaise walk with us, the officer their said his boss is not in his on his way. We waited patiently. Then Hans started talking with this officer, he was reading a French explanation dictionary. He said he is fluent in French. Hans explained how difficult French is for us.

Mr. Blaise asked the police to come and inspect our car, so that they can stamp and then we can leave. They asked for our Carne de Passage, Hans showed them where to stamp and signed, and it was done.

We just praised the Lord for giving Mr. Blaise to us, he can speak English and he is a Christian. He told us he leads the choir and his whole family sings in the choir.  We said our thanks and gave him one of our book marks.

The DRC we saw for the first time cattle grazing and very neat fencing off farms. We saw the busy building a hug dam, they are trying to develop the country. The bird life is more active and we saw two Crows fighting for life. That was so nice Hans slowed do and stop so that we can see who will be the winner. There was no winner at the end they just flow in different directions.

The road was a dirt road to Boma getting from good to bad to worse. The mighty Congo flows towards Boma, the Congo delta is very impressive.

The woman here carry stuff on their backs in a basket, we saw that before in Gabon and Brazzaville Congo. They don’t carry things on their heads anymore. Men are also caring stuff in the same baskets. Here we started seeing more motorbikes, then in Brazzaville.

On the road there are many trucks, coming and going. They must transport a lot off goods, to and from the border of Angola or the Port in Matari

As we decent the hill, there was a truck accident, three collided. We were stopped by the police no way to pass, here we going to sleep tonight. The cars were getting more and the people. They were all coming to our car very interested in our MAP on our car. Hans was once again explaining our trip. Some you could see just can understand where we were, never heard of these places, other were very informed. We waited for 2 hours then the traffic started to move, they have opened up a road pass the vehicles. Wonderful in Africa how they solve a problem. Bush mechanics herbal medicine when you have malaria and it works. They cut the grass fill up with shovels the holes and there the cars can go.

Our first view of Matari, this is the most beautiful town in West Africa that we have seen. The town was build from the Congo river in the mountains, this made a exquisite picture for the eye. They have an immaculate bridge crossing the Congo. Here we paid another toll gate, the cost per toll gate starts at 140$ to 2$ the 140$ I really don’t know it was pot holes and ditches, shacking everything loss in the vehicle. May be the need the money to build a decent road, so we gave it with a good heart and know never to complain about toll money in South Africa.

Hans said we must sleep in Matari seeing that it is now really getting late. He had a place called the SISTERS MISSIONARY, there is also a brothers Missionary but Overlanders recommended THE SISTERS. The GPS took us to the street then a local guy walked us to the entrance we would never found it has NO NAME.

 Sister M.......... made us feel at home, showing us the shower and the kitchen, and a plug from where we could get power. We had Potato Goulash and Banana salad went for a shower and then we sat on the veranda and listen to the SISTER CHOIR SINGING, which was so calming

Wednesday morning we left at 5 o’clock, we had to do 2 border crossings and it was a 3 hour drive at least to Luvo border. The road was very busy with big trucks coming and going, this was a good tar road and they drove at killing speed.

7 o’clock we arrived at the border to find that they only open at 8 o’clock. We waited there and watched the people arriving al on the same mission to cross the border. Some cars was allowed to cross, others had to wait. We figured out it has to do with their number plates, red once crossed.

8 o’clock the gate opened and we were told the “CHIEF’ wanted to see us, so we wait. This will be the second of a LONG DAY of waiting. We really got introduced to the WORKING SISTEMS OF Africa. Shall I rather say DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICK OF THE CONGO AND ANGOLA?

We came to the Immigration office after they have decided we can NOW come through, only to find that one of the officers is only opening the office now. Now officials were there yet. He took our passports and, took us to another stoop, told us too sit there and wait. One officer arrived soon after and could speak English; he said they are waiting for the ‘chief’ BUT THEY HAVE PHONED HIM. 9 O’CLOCK THEN THE Chiefs secretary a very pleasant old man arrived. He invited us to follow him to his office. The offices were totally in shambles, the one officer took away all the fills. He started writing in a book; one by one he was doing the information, tipex out start again. Then he said the “CHIEF’ will be here soon, he left him just when he went for a shower. 10 o’clock the chief arrived (9am working hour?) he called us in then he started phoning to find out WHAT/. Mr. Blaise the 2^nd was there to translate; he said we must follow him, to another office.

Behind closed doors they were phoning, we were standing like school kids, against the walk. The First Officer came to offer us chairs, then Mr. Blaise and the other officer came out, saying no problem. We waited 11 o’clock we got our passports and was ready to leave, or as they say, ‘YOU ARE NOW FREE TO GO’

Angola Immigration as we arrive they helped us and asked for our passports. After a while they called us and said, they are waiting for the “CHIEF “ you stamp our passport. May be this time this one was on tea. After an hour he called Elisme asking questions in Portuguese or French. Then he called an officer who could speak a little English. He wanted to know where are we coming from and where are we going. Then he started phoning again. We met one of the immigration officers at DRC border. He came in and ask are we finishing with Duane. He couldn’t understand why are we still there,. Hans said we are waiting for our passport. Within 5 minutes we got our passports stamped, that was 13h00. At last we were on our way.

The first 60 km was horrific. 

Then a beautiful,Tar road to Tomboco. Jeff took us to the Missionary. The Father was very pleasant and made us feel at home. Hans needed some diesel and Jeff took him to his plant and gave him 20 litters off his own diesel. Can you believe in these days he didn’t want any money for it. Jeff is from South Africa and he knows Mpumalanga very well.

 We had couscous and cashew nut with chilli beef. Early shower and then to bed.
Next Time meeting our 4 partners again.