Day 44: Yangambi to Kisangani

Traveled: 132 km

Cumulative: 3062 km

 

We left Yangambi town at 7am fully packed and accompanied by Élias. We had to hurry with the packing because he always arrives 15 min early.

We visited an old Belgian Guesthouse where visitors and researchers were lodged. This place was fully-equipped with a cinema/théâtre, pool, bar and golf course. There were lots of stray goats wandering in and out of these abandoned buildings. Tom slipped in a dried puddle of goat pee on the old ‘dance floor’. Who knew goats could be so dangerous?

Goats in a pool! Who woulda thunk it?

Goats in a bar! Who woulda thunk that?

A beautiful theatre built by the Belgians

Small houses are becoming symbiotic with nature

Can you spot the goats about to hit the trampoline?

We highly recommend visiting the Research Center if possible. It was a real eye-opener to us about what can happen to an academic structure when funds are no longer coming through and conflict has resided in the country for over 20 years. As for costs, the full day of guiding with Élasi only cost us about 10$ which I believe was a donation to the Center.

The road home to Kisangani was smooth. We even managed to pay 2,000 CDF (2$ USD) less than what we paid our last pirogue went we were going to Yangambi. That just means that we got ripped off badly the first time. We also managed to navigate the huge city of Kisangani with the history on our GPS. Tom is so savvy with these things. We then went on a city tour by bike with Emmanuel. At the time of writing, I am sipping on a tonic at the Rwenzori Hotel’s restaurant. Life is good.