Hi Manoj
I hope my answers will help you.聽 I have lived iin a few African Countries, but have never before encountered the same problems as in the DRC.聽 It is a difficult country to travel in. The Rebels and Mai-Mai is not as big a problem as the local police and military.聽 The fighting happens in more rural areas, especialy around Pweto and the city of Goma. In those arreas it will not be clever to travel without a local person with good knowledge of the area and the language. The police and military do not earn good salaries and they find any excuse to harass foreigners for money. Always travel with all your doors locked, because they will jump into your vehicle and claim you have kidnapped them if you do not want to pay them bribe money.
There is very little infra-structure in the Country. Outside of Kinsasha, Lubumbashi and Goma/Bukavu there are no guesthouses and hotels as you might know them from 'outside'. At best, accommodation is extremely basic and delapidated and very expensive. You can pay your way anywhere with US Dollars - it is the preferred currency all over the country. There are few roads, even less that can be travelled by motor vehicle.聽 Trains do not operate anymore. Flights go between the 3 major cities and one or two mining villages. You cannot travel from one province to another without written permission from the local government/police and you cannot enter any Mining Sites without permission from a high ranking official from the particular mine. Fresh products are readily available this time of the year. Restaurants, hotels, local flights and vehicle rentals are extremely expensive.聽
The Indian Community is not very big, but there is a strong one in Lubumbashi.聽 If you come here, I can introduce you.
Unless your Company supplies you with accommodation, transport, meals and medical aid, you will encounter many hardships.
Having said all that, the DRC is also one of the Countries with the most development opportunity anywhere in Africa...all we need is determination to make it happen :-)
Hope I have helped you in some way and let me know if I can do more
regards
megan
