Kinshasa - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Washington, DC. It’s a long haul, but there are several options, including via Brussels or Paris. - Sep 2024
U.S. From DC it can take anywhere from 20-30 hours depending on airline and layovers. Not easy to get to DRC as there's only a couple flights a day. - May 2024
First thing you need to know, this is a hardship post. I will say it again, this is a hardship post. East coast, US is home. Direct flights to France or Belgium from GA, then to Kinshasa. Travel to Kinshasa is difficult, specially if you fly via Air-France. Their flight stops at Brazzaville (Congo) for almost one hour and forty five minutes, before it takes off again and finally lands in Kinshasa. Making it out of the airport once you arrive can take sometimes hours. The arrivals section is quite small, they only have one scanning-machine at customs. The customs officers take pleasure having every single passenger scan their bags through this machine. It is very chaotic, people don't do lines, it is bad. Keep in mind that sometimes 2 or 3 flights arrive at the same time. Sometimes you have to wait more than one hour to get your bags. Longest it took us to leave the airport was three hours, after a 12 hour long flight, with children. It is unbearable. - Aug 2022
From USA. Most common travel route is departure from East Coast of the US, 8-hr flight to Europe, long layover, and then an 8-hr flight from Europe to Kinshasa. It's a full day of travel. - May 2022
West Coast, USA. There's a contract flight with Air France that goes out a few times a week; generally, if you need to get out in 24 hours, you can, to just about anywhere. - Aug 2019
Southern U.S. Total travel time is about 30 hours, transiting through Europe. - Apr 2019
Washington, DC, approximately 10 hour flight to Brussels, 8 hour flight to Kinshasa. - Dec 2017
My home is Long Beach, Mississippi in the US. It actually took me approximately two days departing and returning to post with all the connections and it is physically tiring. - Dec 2017
From the Midwest, USA. Plan 24+ hours from anywhere in CONUS. Most fly through Paris or Brussels. Frankfurt is always best for travel with pets.The arrival here is difficult. The airport does not recognize many services normally associated with Diplomatic travel and is chaotic at best; your expediter is your first best friend. The normal traffic/drive from the airport into Gombe is best described as Frogger meets Grand Theft Auto--though our motor pool staff is up for the challenge. If you can choose to arrive on a Sunday, traffic will be calm, light, and relatively smooth. - Mar 2017
Washington, DC. The trip is most of 24 hours, with a stop in Europe. Most people fly through Brussels or Paris. - Jan 2017
Washington, DC. Twenty-four hours -- first to Paris or Brussels, then to KIN. - Sep 2016
Jacksonville, FL - it's a LONG way - 8 hour (usually overnight) flight from Kinshasa to Brussels or Paris, then another 7-8 hour (usually day) flight to Washington or New Jersey, then another 2-3 hours flight to Jacksonville. - Apr 2016
Takes a full 24 hours to get to/from the East coast. Usual itinerary is an overnight flight to Brussels or Paris and then an 8 or so hour flight to Kinshasa. From Kinshasa to the East coast, it's an overnight flight to Paris or Brussels then a morning flight across the Atlantic. - Jan 2014
Washington is about 20 hours total via Paris or Brussels. One can also fly through Addis and Istanbul. - Nov 2012
US. About 20 hours total travel time via Paris. - May 2012
There is a direct flight from Boston to Paris via Air France and it is about 7-8 hours. The flight from Paris to Kinshasa is about 8 hours. Be prepared for a long travel experience, once you arrive at N'Djili airport it is often chaotic and there can be long delays. - Feb 2012
Europe (Brussels/Paris) is about 8 hours away. Daily connections with Brussels Airlines, South African Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines. Almost daily connections with Air France, Kenya Airways, Morrocan Airways. - Nov 2011
Europe (Brussels/Paris) is about 8 hours away. Daily connections with Brussels Airlines, South African Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines. Almost daily connections with Air France, Kenya Airways, Morrocan Airways - Aug 2011
Arizona. Two day trip thru Paris or Brussels. Upgrade from the cheap seats to business if you can. - Jan 2011
Washington, DC. It's roughly 22 hours fro, there to kinshasa. Travel is mainly via Paris through Air France or via Brussels through Brussels Airlines (SN/Sabena). It is also possible to come via Dubai/Nairobi or Dubai/Addis, and that trip is around 28 hours or so. (United/Ethiopian or United/Kenyan). - Oct 2010
