The Heart of Africa

[mpiodi]

Hi Wolfgang,

I always enjoy and look forward to seeing pictures from your trips from that part of the world. I have a few questions maybe you can answer for me,

Do you live there fulltime, or make trips for business purposes? And do speak the language fluently, and what do they speak?

What palms if any, are native to this area?

And the last question, what might the animal leg that was for sale in the market in post #6?

Thank you very much and post more pictures if you have them.

Jeff

Jeff,

I am living permanently in Kinshasa, since 17 years, only 2006/2007 I lived for 2 years in Nairobi/Kenya. From 2002 to 2006 I have been travelling regularly to Northeastern Congo and spending there twice a year three months - for "business", if you want.

Yes, I am speaking fluently Lingala, one of the four official languages in Congo and a bit Swahili, also official language in Congo and in Kenya.

There is no large diversity of palms in Congo, at least in the regions I know:

Elais guineensis is present everywhere, Raphia vinifera is very common in Northeast, but unknown in Kinshasa, Borassus flabellifer is also visible everywhere in lower quantities, Cocos scattered here and there but no systematic cultivation. That's already all in the bush and jungle I have crossed - nothing special in the undergrowth. I saw not a single one Dypsis, for exemple. I guess it's too dark.

In Kinshasa landscape you find some more species, but I guess that they are rather imported by the Belgian colonists: Areca catechu, Roystonea, Pritchardia, Licuala, Sabal, Dypsis lutescens, Livistona or Ptychosperma macarthuri - let's say, all the easy growers in this climat. Nobody takes care of palms.

The dried and smoked animal leg is a kind of wild pig. I know only the correct german name. Dictionnary gives as translation: warthog (?). Good meat!

Best wishes

Wolfgang

[bgl]

Wolfgang,

These are stunning and amazing photos from places that very few people will ever get to see. Enjoyed all of them! Thanks a lot for taking the time to post them - it was like taking a lightning fast trip to the other side of the planet and back - all in a span of 20 minutes, or so!

Bo-Göran

[niftinfiftin]

Wolf Gang,

Those pictures are amazing, it looks like quite a journey. I assume you wouldn't attempt it if you didn't know the language?

Many regards,

Nathan

[Jeff in St Pete]

Wolfgang, thanks for your amazing photos. They always make me smile.

[Jeff Searle]

Wolfgang,

Thanks so much for the information! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your photos and your first hand experiences in such a remote area of the world.

Jeff

[MattyB]

Wow! Thank you Wolfgang!

[Kris]

Dear Friend

Lovely travelog,and i felt as though i was travelling with you..thanks very much for the visuals !

And it was nothing short of bbc's earth file report !

Thanks & Love,

Kris

[paulgila]

that was really fascinating with wonderful photos.my particular favorite was the village & palms in early morning mist.

vielen dank,wolfgang!

[philinsydney]

I've read that eastern Congo is lawless and off-limits to foreigners. Yet there is no evidence of warring factions in these photos.

[palmislandRandy]

WOW Wolfgang, Wonderfull photos! Thanks for taking time to post them. It's nice to see the "locals" in habitat. Randy

[DoomsDave]

Wolfgang!

Guten Tag!

And great pictures! Show us all you want to show. You are in a magic place. Which I know you know.

Remind us more!

[Al in Kona]

Thank you very much Wolfgang for sharing your photos of a part of the world that is quite unknown to most of us.

Is traveling there relatively safe these days or are there areas that are best not to go into? How do the local people feel or react to strangers visiting their villages? Is there a scarcity of food in any of those areas or do they seem to have enough? I really like and appreciate ALL your travelogue pictures. I hope you will continue to post more. How about more from the area where you live too?

[bayside mike]

Those are really awesome pictures. It is no wonder why they call it the mother land.

Thank you very much for sharing.

[mpiodi]

I've read that eastern Congo is lawless and off-limits to foreigners. Yet there is no evidence of warring factions in these photos.

Yes, I think it's true that Northeastern Congo is widely lawless but travelling is not forbidden and you find very, very few foreigners there.

Of course, I could also show pictures like this of a missionary station looted by rebels, but I think that's not the purpose of this forum. Being not a war correspondent, I am not keen when I am travelling to meet rebels though you can't avoid it sometimes.

[mpiodi]

Thank you very much Wolfgang for sharing your photos of a part of the world that is quite unknown to most of us.

Is traveling there relatively safe these days or are there areas that are best not to go into? How do the local people feel or react to strangers visiting their villages? Is there a scarcity of food in any of those areas or do they seem to have enough? I really like and appreciate ALL your travelogue pictures. I hope you will continue to post more. How about more from the area where you live too?

I think the first question is answered by what I have written and shown in the last post.

- The local people are very, very friendly and gently. There is no problem at all to contact them.

- Normally, people living in the bush have less problems with food as those living for example in Kinshasa, because they have all their own land for planting rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, peanuts. And men are hunting, of course. The situation is worsening immediately when rebels are approaching or hiding in the bush so that they can't continue planting and taking care of the crops. For the fields are always far away from the villages deep in the bush. This is happening presently in the whole area I am travelling in - the famous Ugandese LRA rebels (Lord Resistence Army).

- I would like to show you pictures of Kinshasa, but I hesitate for taking pictures in Kinshasa is strictly forbidden and dangerous.

[bgl]

Wolfgang,

Thanks a lot for the update! You certainly live in a fascinating place! I don't know if you addressed the issue before, but why do you think photography is prohibited in Kinshasa? Seems strange that there are restrictions in Kinshasa, but not elsewhere.

Bo-Göran

[mpiodi]

Wolfgang,

Thanks a lot for the update! You certainly live in a fascinating place! I don't know if you addressed the issue before, but why do you think photography is prohibited in Kinshasa? Seems strange that there are restrictions in Kinshasa, but not elsewhere.

Bo-Göran

Bo,

Before you are landing in Ndjili Kinshasa you are already advised in the aircraft that taking photos is forbidden in Kinshasa.

I witnessed myself people snatching a camera from somebody and dragging him to the next police station.

Maybe taking photos is forbidden in the whole country but in the bush there is no police and, there, people like to be photographed.

In Kinshasa you find 5 policemen at each crossroad and especially streetchildren who are everywhere are scenting a good business if they catch you with a camera.

Wolfgang

[bgl]

Wolfgang,

Thanks a lot for the explanation. I can understand the importance of being cautious...

Bo-Göran