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Offered languages
- English
- English
- English
- French
- French
- French
Most of anthropologists and travel photographers have less explored the Democratic Republic of the Congo for lack of trustworthy guides offering the real local experience. This trip is tripled by three main experiences that are usually provided separately to travelers. The Tata Gonda land that remained a mystery for years, the authentic Pende of Gungu with their pierced cheeks and mask dances, and full immersion into the Kuba Kingdom, one of the most powerful African kingdom of all times. For instance, traditionally in Pende culture, for a month, hundreds of children remain in a boot camp together with their teachers (Nganga Mukanda) and the Grand Master (Kele). They will be circumcised there. During this trip, you'll learn how they go through this tough period of lockdown and how when following the initiation, all these young people—now grown-ups—will return to their proud homes—in the midst of a huge celebration featuring countless different masks.
What's Included
Lunch
Dinner
Breakfast
Meeting and pickup
Our guide will hold a poster where it's written CONGO LOCAL GUIDES
Itinerary
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1Ndjili
Arrival and pick up at Kinshasa (N’djili) International Airport. Transfer to Ixoras Hotel or similar.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
2Kinshasa
The fetish wrestlers get their power from Witch doctors that live secretly in popular quarter of Kinshasa in their houses called temples. Between 6.00 and 12.00 pm , we’re visiting two witch doctors’ temples: Lisaponge Temple, Malema Temple . We’ll meet some wrestlers at temples before the fights. Attending the fight offer opportunity of wide range of photographs. From the temple to the fight field there are a lot of photo opportunities. 1.00pm be back in the city of Kinshasa and have Lunch. 02.00pm depart for the fetish wrestler’s caravan after seeing how they prepare for fight. 4.00 pm Attend the Fetish Wrestlers fights. You may have heard of “voodoo wrestling” or catch fetish as it’s known in The Congo. This interesting mixture of traditional voodoo and pro wrestling that’s popular in The Congo has received some media coverage in the last few years. The minimum number of fights is 6. So, we’ll go and witness how some prepare for the event and follow the caravan.
12 hours • Admission ticket free -
3Kisantu
Early in the morning we will travel to Kisantu, nearly two hours out of Kinshasa, to visit the sect of the prophet Tata Gonda. New cults and sects, mixture of African religion and Christianity: Tata Gonda In the depths of the Central Congo province, the followers of the now dead prophet Tata Gonda live in total autarchy. Their purpose is to combat an unjust and sinful world through continuous prayer and an austere, monastic life. We will visit their headquarters, far away from prying eyes, if we are allowed to do so. In total privacy, this community lives self-sufficiently according to their beliefs. Around 12.00 pm drive back to Kinshasa Because of traffic, arrival in Kinshasa is expected around 3pm and drive to THE KIN ACT artists. These artists are famous from their costumes made from garbage. After a walk demonstration in the street with a series of photographs, we’ll share a hot evening of live music in their workshop. Around 08.00pm drive back to the hotel for Dinner.
12 hours • Admission ticket free -
4Kenge
Distance : 300 Kms, 6 hrs Depart time 09.00 after Breakfast. We drive from Kinshasa to Kenge, nearly 300 Kms for about 6 hours. We drop-off our luggage and hotel and walk for an hour to the sacred village, 5kms out of Kenge, where the Yaka settled after breaking away from the Luba empire 200 years ago. We meet the King to get briefed about the next day activities.
Admission ticket free -
5Kingulu
This morning after an early breakfast, we leave at 7.00 am and depart for The Yaka village. For better photography experience, it is advised to leave early in the morning time, 06.30 am. The Royal Family will welcome us with a big traditional masked dance, blood sacrifice ritual, and learn about the local monarchies in today's republic. We will taste some local specialties. 10.00am end of ceremony and Drive to Kikwit (257 Kms, 6 hrs).
3 hours • Admission ticket free -
6Gungu
Distance : 150 Kms, 4hrs 30 minutes Today we depart early in the morning, at 06.00 am and arrive around latest 10.30am. We are meeting with the traditional Chief Kibala to get set up on activities that will be organized from today night to tomorrow.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
7Gungu
Planned activities includes: • Mukanda (rite of passage for young boys) • Mungonge (rite of passage from adult to elders – man with pierced cheeks) • Tshiwila of Night (Rite of passage for young girls) • TShiwila of day (women dance) • Stilts men • Mbambamba • Minganji • Mbuya
1 day • Admission ticket free -
8Tshikapa City
Today morning, the traditional artists will dress in their ancestral attire for portraits photographers. Travelers have this up to 12.00pm, ready for Tshikapa driving. Distance Gungu – Tshikapa : 251 Kms, 6hrs. Arrive and check-in at Tchamuntu Hotel. We rest to get ready for tomorrow early presentation of our civilities to local authorities.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
9Mweka
Today morning, we present our civilities to local authorities, and sometime this may take us up to mid-day. Distance to Mweka 300 Kms, 12 hours If departure is 10.00am, expected arrival 10pm. It’s nearly 300 kms but of a very dilapidated road. Mweka is a full challenging day drive on our way to the capital of Kuba Kingdom. It’s planned to camp, on the single basis or sleeping in a catholic mission.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
10Mushenge
Distance 70 kms, 4 hours Today, after administrative civility, we’ll be on road for nearly 4 hours for a such short distance. During 2 days in Kuba Kingdom, reigned by the Prince Kwete, we will get into acquaintance with beliefs of these people. Their religion is linked to the nature spirits and spirit of passed away rulers. We will witness their rituals, explore their buildings and special places elaborately decorated, will see initiation rites’ masks and carved wooden figurines, initiation masks, cups, and beautifully embroidered handwoven raffia cloth (we experience how thew sew them), and attend a ritual and/or initiation demonstration using their famous mask and clothes.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
11Mushenge
Today will be dedicated to complete traditional ceremonies in the Kingdom.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
12Bena Leka
Distance Mushenge – Kananga : 300 kms, 2 days (18-20 hours’ drive) During these 2 days we are on the way from Kuba Kingdom to Kananga by sleeping midway in Benaleka at Saint Joseph Catholic Mission. On our way, it’s possible to have experience with Bena Nsapo people who inhabit the region. The Bena Nsapo, transformed by the Belgians into Nsapo-Nsapo, are one of the major components of the Songye ethnic group, who lived for a long time in Luluabourg (Today Kananga). Coming from the Ben'Eki, that is to say followers of the "Bukishi", they are the guarantors of Songye spiritual power and remain fundamentally spiritual. The initiation to "Bukishi" is done in a collective way, and the one who is not initiated is called "kapungulu". Wherever they found themselves, they continued to practice cultural and magical rituals specific to the Basongye or BAYEMBI (name from the Luba empire), which are among the most feared and mysterious in the DRCongo.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
13Kananga
From Benaleka, we'll drive, nearly 6 hours to reach Kananga, have lunch and continue to Tshikapa.
12 hours • Admission ticket free -
14Kinshasa
Today we return to Kinshasa. Depart at 3 am and arrive around 3.00 Pm and transfer to Ixoras Hotel or similar. At 4.00 pm, meet with Congolese sapeurs and set up photo session with them. SAPE (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes) means “society of advanced and elegant people” and “sapeurs” do their best in order to prove that it’s true. These representatives of unique subculture appear in the slams of Kinshasa and in fact they are not rich. We end up buying some souvenir masks in one of the biggest Congo markets of ancestral and traditional masks and art.
1 day • Admission ticket free -
15N’djili International Airport
Transfert to Kinshasa Airport, end of service.
20 hours • Admission ticket not included
August 1, 2025. ARRIVAL IN KINSHASA
August 2, 2025, Kinshasa Fetish cult and Voodoo wrestlers
August 3, 2025 : Tata Gonda sect full immersion
August 4, 2025 : Day drive to Kenge for Yaka people full experience
August 5, 2025 : Yaka Kingdom Traditional Ceremony
August 6, 2025 : Depart for Gungu
August 7, 2025 : Pende Traditional Ceremonies Including Mukanda rite of passage
August 8, 2025 : Portrait Session before Driving to Tshikapa
August 9, 2025 : Travel to Mweka, way to Kuba
August 10, 2025 : Drive to the Kuba Kingdom capital, Mushenge.
August 11, 2025 : Continue with Kuba Kingdom ceremonies.
August 12, 2025 : Travel to Kananga
August 13, 2025 : Arrive in Kananga and Continue to Tshikapa
August 14, 2025 : Day Drive to Kinshasa
August 15, 2025 : End of service and transfer to N’djili International Airport
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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