Day 174: Pointe-Noire (Kongo) – Cabinda (Angola)

At just under 30 degrees and over 80% humidity, it's not that easy to sleep... So we get up early and have breakfast – a good thing, because it quickly gets warmer and oppressive.

Today we continue to the Angolan enclave of Cabinda before we have to cross the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) to finally arrive in Angola.

Exit Republic of Congo easy. Entering Angola is a bit complicated because the Carnet de Passage is not used here but we have to purchase a TIP (Temporary Import Permit or Passavant). But there are computers, copy machines, clean toilets with running water. 

We have been traveling in West Africa for so long that we have caught ourselves pouring water from buckets into toilets without first checking whether the flush might work :-)

That's why, after six nights with rudimentary sanitation, we take a hotel with hot running water in Cabinda! Luxury!

Cabinda itself makes a tidy, relaxed, clean impression. Surprisingly, there are no masses of taxis or motobikes. Only the queues at the gas stations are the same as they have been everywhere in the last few weeks. But the police makes sure that everything is organized. We also queue because we have learned to fill up when possible. After about half an hour we fill up around 50 liters for less than 8 euros!!!

Five minutes before closing time we scurry into a Unitel shop and yes, three people stay longer than they should, make sure we get SIM cards, wait patiently until we have tested them and are extremely friendly.

The receptionist at the hotel calls us a money changer who exchanges 100 old dollars in a bundle with 100 new dollars into Angolan Kwanza at almost the official rate.

And then for dinner we find a restaurant (Kate Kero), where we get help translating the Portuguese menu from Castagno, the owner, and his friend Ricardo, who runs a workshop, and overall we feel very welcomed.

Angola welcomes us warmly!