Morning at Hotel Porto Sol in Cabinda
G’day. I woke up in Cabinda, Angola, at Hotel Porto Sol. Around 8:00 a.m., the front desk called saying there was “something about the car,” which is never comforting to hear first thing in the morning.
It turned out I simply needed to move it. My vehicle had been parked right in front of the entrance so it could be watched overnight, since it was too tall to fit under the regular parking barrier. That’s always something I’m careful about—you don’t want anything clipped off the roof. I moved it, and everything was fine.
Heavy Rain on the Way to the Border
Driving toward the border turned into quite an adventure. It was one of the few times I experienced a true tropical downpour—absolutely pouring rain. I stopped at a gas station, not for fuel but for a coffee break, and even got an umbrella escort at one point.
There was standing water across sections of the road. Smaller cars had to be cautious, but being higher up in my vehicle felt like a real advantage. Eventually the rain eased and the roads began to dry.
Exiting Angola
At the border, things became a bit unusual. In order to be officially signed out of Angola, I first had to cross over and confirm that my visa would be accepted on the other side. It involved waiting, handing over my passport, and simply trusting that it would come back—which thankfully it did.
Customs was straightforward. Instead of using the Carnet, they had created their own document for the vehicle, so it just needed a few stamps before I could proceed.
Entering the Democratic Republic of Congo
Next was entering the Democratic Republic of Congo. This part was relatively simple—just more stamps on documents already issued. I had been warned that the road ahead would be sandy, and that proved to be completely accurate.
For about 30 kilometers, it was essentially a truck track through sand. No major obstacles, but definitely four-wheel-drive territory. There were main tracks and then side deviations where smaller cars had tried to find easier paths. At one point, I wasn’t sure I was on the correct route until I spotted a small car heading toward Boma—my direction. I followed it until we reached proper pavement.
Control Post and Unexpected Tax
Along the way, there was another control post where I had to pay a $75 USD tax. It was split into three parts, and I was given three small tabs to present later if requested—otherwise I would have to pay again.
The official explaining the process insisted he was personally owed additional money. I disagreed and did not pay him, which made the exchange slightly awkward. Eventually, though, I was allowed to continue.
Through Boma to Matadi
After passing through Boma, I continued on to Matadi. Interestingly, I crossed the Congo River before reaching Matadi, which means the river itself is not the border at that point—a fascinating geographic detail.
Matadi is built on hillsides and is extremely crowded. The streets are packed with people and heavy trucks at all hours of the day and night. It’s intense, busy, and full of energy.
Hotel Soleil and an Evening in Town
I found a very basic room at Hotel Soleil for $25 USD. It was as simple as they come—a bed and running water at night, though the water disappeared by morning.
I took a walk, found a barbecue spot for dinner, and later another place for a beer. Beaufort has become my go-to choice when available—large bottles and surprisingly easy the next morning.
I struck up a conversation with a local truck driver named Tony. He hauls a 40-foot container to Kinshasa three times a week—one day up, overnight stay, one day back. We spoke in French, which continues to serve me much better here than Portuguese would.
Life with Limited Power
As seems common, the power went out later in the evening. Apparently, electricity runs about 20 hours a day, and the remaining hours people simply manage without it. It’s normal here.
There is so much busyness, so much energy, and always something happening. Another full and fascinating day on the road.
Thank you for coming along.
