January 7th – Crossing into the Republic of Congo
Good day. January 7th. Time to leave Cameroon behind and cross the border into the Republic of Congo, with the goal of reaching Ouesso, which is quite a distance away. The first task was departing Ntam, a fairly basic little place, and heading toward the border—which itself turned out to be just as straightforward.
Exiting Cameroon
The Cameroonian side consisted of four or five small offices lined up next to one another. It was efficient and not very busy. I simply moved from one office to the next, registering the car, presenting my passport, and handling the necessary paperwork. The Carnet de Passage also had to be signed off properly. Everything went smoothly.
A Ghost Town at the Border
After crossing, I encountered what felt like a ghost town—a large area with many empty buildings. It wasn’t immediately clear where I was supposed to go. I followed the road through this unused complex until eventually reaching the actual border processing area. Apparently, the newer facilities hadn’t been put into operation yet, though I have no idea why.
On the Congolese side, the process was similar to Cameroon’s: several small offices grouped together. Patience is essential. You sit, wait, and make sure every required stamp is properly placed. They also check for a yellow fever vaccination certificate—without it, entry wouldn’t be possible. There are multiple layers of registration, so you end up being recorded in more than one place. In the end, everything worked out.
The Road to Ouesso
With the formalities complete, it was time to head toward Ouesso—the furthest east I’ll likely travel on this journey. The drive turned out to be very good. The road was in decent condition overall, though you always need to stay alert for large potholes in the tar. They can catch you off guard if you’re not paying attention.
The scenery was absolutely stunning: rolling green hills everywhere. The landscape is immersive and deeply absorbing. I found myself thoroughly enjoying it, and as it turns out, that lush environment continues for quite some distance.
Traffic and Timber
Traffic mainly consisted of large lorries hauling logs or processed timber. There were also trucks transporting construction materials like rebar. These vehicles move quickly, so it’s important to stay out of their way. Fortunately, there wasn’t much traffic heading in my direction, which made for steady progress.
Arrival in Ouesso
I made it to Ouesso and found a very basic place to stay—essentially just a bed with a bathroom some distance away, accessed by walking through sand. Life out here is simple, but that’s part of the experience.
I also saw trucks coming off the ferry that connects Ouesso across the river, linking to remote parts of the Republic of Congo. These routes lead to truly far-flung places.
A New Chapter
It was an exciting day and good to officially be in the Republic of Congo. Thanks for coming along.
