Pusher with barges in front going up-river. Barges full of vehicles, government supplies, traders with their goods for sale up river, smoked fish,fresh fish, bags of charcoal, bags of rice and people eating, sleeping and partying on mobile shanty town on the barges - even from a distance the smell is not good.

River transport

Checking out the mondeles

Today's the day. We are due to start our 16 day trip down the river. It is overcast, but pleasantly cool, thanks to the rain we had yesterday afternoon - but unfortunately the electricity is still out this morning - so no aircon in our rooms and very little water (because that relies on an electric pump) so no showers. No sign of the boat as yet. Apparently what held things up on the recce trip two years ago was the paperwork. Our itinerary had to be registered ...

Evening now and I was not sure if I would get a blog out since we were plunged into darkness when the electricity went off just before supper. We took ourselves off for a beer in the dark by the poolside bar and whilst ordering there in the light of my headtorch, we were accosted by this very drunk little Congolese guy who kept saying something to us which we couldnt make out. It could have been Swahili, but whatever it was he was most insistent - so we asked hi...