Republic of Congo
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Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
Australian Consular operations have received telephone calls from members of the public requesting letters of introduction to obtain a visa while travelling in Africa. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its overseas posts do not provide such a service. We suggest people approach DIMA and obtain a Declaratory Certificate of Australian Citizenship.
Peter Budd, Australia (Apr 01)
Travel Tips
Security is not a problem anymore in Brazzaville. I walked everywhere during the day and night, in the downtown area, along the Avenue de la Paix and in Poto-Poto and nobody even approached me. It seems after the catastrophic war which destroyed central Brazzaville everybody is concerned with their own matters. Brazzaville capital is second only to Bangui in the Central African Republic in terms of tranquility and low activity. It is more like a provincial town with the duty to serve as capital.
You can hire a pirogue to Tsiboka island for CFA2000. This is what the fishermen call the rocks in the middle of the river. From there you get a closer view of the rapids. You will need to inform the commissaire of the police, by the bridge, that you are going. He was waiting for me on the shore insisting that first I had to report to him. When I politely made it clear that I was not intending to pay any money he became very official and one of his men with a Kalashnikov stopped a taxi and escorted me to the head office of the police in Brazzaville. There I declared that I did not stop when this man asked me to. After a mild interrogation I was free.
Haralampos Bizas, Greece (Oct 02)
Moving About
At the time of writing the passenger train to Pointe-Noire had stopped running due to the rail line damage caused by the rebels.
Haralampos Bizas, Greece (Oct 02)
Gems, Highlights & Attractions
Pointe Noire beach is ok but doesn't look particularly clean, is overcrowded and is marred by a broken pier. Much better is Pointe Indienne - a beach lying about 15 miles North of Pointe Noire. You'll find it to be almost deserted and the steady shhhh of the waves rippling into the white-sanded beach is hypnotic. The jungle lines the beach and provides shade for those who want to shelter from the scorching sun. You may be lucky enough to see some boys untangling fishing nets on their father's canoe!
Fiona Grant, UK (Sept 04)
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