Plenty of cyber cafes exist, so don't worry about staying connected.

The Association Belgo-Congolais (ABC) rents out videos (VHS and DVD).

Go for a walk/jog along the river in front of the British /German embassies.

Go to church on a Sunday morning like most of the locals do.

Go see the Bonobos by Lac de ma Vallée, Chutes de Zongo in Bas Congo and Bombo Lumene on the road to Kikwit.

Don't forget to get some arts in Le marché des valeurs called too marché des voleurs...the first calling means market of value, the second in changing only one letter means market of thieves. By prepared to haggle and don't pay the initial asking price that will be at least 60-75% of the final price if not more.

By plane

South African Airways, Kenyan Airways and Ethiopian airlines each have a number of flights per week from their hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa

Connections to Europe can be made with Air France from Paris, France and SN Brussels from Brussels in Belgium. Hewa Bora also offered flights to and from Europe until they were placed upon the EU's no-fly blacklist.

The Kinshasa airport used to have a terrible reputation for corrupt officials asking for bribes. They have improved things recently and it is quite manageable. Just follow everyone else and try not to look like a tourist! A yellow fever vaccination certificate is essential. Watch out for being mobbed by volunteer 'helpers' once you are outside the airport, who will want to carry your bags in return for tips. You will also probably asked to give a bribe in order to through police and customs in all other cities.

Keep in mind that when returning to the airport to leave you can not drive your car or take a cab onto the airport property without paying for parking / access $5 or $10.

A taxi into town will probably cost you $30-$50 (usually without air conditioning!). It is an hour's drive into the centre of Kinshasa. Best is to get a shuttle offered by one of the travel companies on the right outside the arrivals door

By train

The railroad of Congo once covered the entire country during colonial times, but has fallen in to heavy disuse. While there is a central train station in Kinshasa, train service is erratic at best and does not run to many destinations for tourists. Tickets are usually only able to be bought the day of travel shortly before the train arrives and can prove to be difficult to get.

By car

By bus

By boat

You can arrive by boat from Brazzaville, if you have a visa. There are speed boats that go quickly for a limited number of people, or you can take the barge with local merchants if you have time. Ask to go to "the Beach", which is the ferry terminal.

Officially there is a city bus and it has been bolstered recently by some older buses from Belgium being gifted to Kinshasa to improve the routes. This system pales in comparison to the "taxi" system that has risen organically to serve the needs of the people of Kinshasa.

Essentially, these taxis are small buses. They run set routes between embarkation points that are the "stops". The cost between these various points is usually around 100 Francs. If one's destination is through multiple points, different taxis will need to be boarded to complete the route, making the system take a good deal of time during busy traffic hours. People waiting at the stops will move their hands in a variety of gestures to signal which direction they are going. A taxi will then stop and pick up someone if they are going in the same direction and have space in the taxi.

This system works well for the locals. For visitors and foreigners, it can be quite difficult as one needs to know the hand signs, have knowledge of the routes, be ready to sit in cramped, hot vehicles with many other people, and deal with the potential dangers of these vehicles as many are barely road-worthy. Traveling through this manner absolutely requires local help for those unfamiliar with the system. One will also have to speak French or Lingala as the drivers do not speak English.

There are also traditional taxis for hire. They are available for single runs or can be hired by the day. This can be a tricky business and should be handled with care (especially at the airport) as there are those will take people to remote locations and rob them. Again, help from a local is best or using drivers that others in the area have past experience with and trust. Rates for these taxis vary widely and if one does not appear to be of African descent, there will also be an automatic premium added.

Lots of restaurants for 'expats' exist, where you can pay in dollars but it is very expensive. Don't be surprised to pay up to $20 for a pizza (and $40 at the hotel for one).

Budget

• Al Dar, near the hotel Memling. A Lebanese restaurant in the center of town. A shwarma sandwich runs about $1.50, and they have taboule, hummus and desserts as well.

Many cheap roadside stalls exist, primarily outside of downtown's Gombe.

• La Bloque, Bandalungwa. One of the better known being roadside stalls.
• Mama Colonel, Bandal. An excellent restaurant. The menu has only 4 items - chicken, fish, fries and plantain - but they are barbecued to perfection.

Mid-range

The freshwater prawns from the Congo river are incredible - called Cossa Cossa on menus (as distinct from imported saltwater prawns which are Gambas) - generally served with a garlic and chili (pili-pili) butter sauce. A plate of these will set you back around $25-$40 dollars depending where you eat.

• 3615, on the main Boulevard (next door to the Peloustore supermarket). Has an outdoor area as well as an airconditioned indoor area; and excellent food - from pizza to steaks and fish. Average price for a main dish plus drink costs around US$20.
• Association Belgo Congolais (ABC). Serves meals for about $10 in a nice outdoor terrace, though sometimes the quality of meals is questionable and the kitchen can close early. The menu includes traditional dishes such as river fish and fried plantains, or international fare like cheeseburgers and spaghetti. You can also get real coffee (espresso), if you're tired of Nescafe.
• Cercle Hellaise. Greek food with outdoor dining by the pool.
• Chez Gaby. Portuguese-style. At the upper end of the mid-range - the food is varied and excellent and if you want to splash out, you can also order imported items like foie gras and european wines.
• Chez Philo. Offers a number of Congolese dishes on the menu as well as the standard belgian-style fare.
• La Piscine. Outdoor tables arranged around a swimming pool-great settings and good food in the $20-$30 range if you choose restrainedly.
• Le Roi du Cossa 220 Ave Mpolo (just off the Boulevard), Gombe. A Portuguese restaurant is always a good bet for seafood, and this is no exception.

Splurge

The more expensive restaurants are in Gombe.

• Caf-Conc. The most expensive restaurant in the DRC, allegedly!
• Chez Nicolas
• Chateau Margaux - not too expensive if you sit outside under the wonderful tree, but dramatically expensive inside. Great European food, many ingredients flown in from Brussels or Paris that morning
• Golf Club
• Grand Hotel - very ordinary and overpriced hotel food. $25 for very good breakfast buffet. Food and service at the poolside bar have been improved recently and are not too bad.

Local beer - Turbo King is a darker beer, regular lagers are Primus and Skol. European Mutzig comes in smaller bottles ! Lots of expensive French and South African wine available in restaurants and supermarkets.

Kinshasa becomes alive most nights when residents head to Matonge, a place filled with dancing bars, restaurants and night clubs. Go to a local nightclub and learn how to dance Congolese rhythms. Get ready to shake your booty!

• Ibiza Bar Jazz bar for live music. Dancing starts around midnight. Small, smokey atmosphere, a really proper old-fashioned jazz bar.
• Chez Ntemba. A hopping place after midnight.
• Mambo
• Standings - small western-style bar and disco.
• VIP Bar - larger western-style disco - mirror and disco-ball on the ceiling ! On the main boulevard close to 3615
• 3615 vibey but sleazy nightclub on the boulevard. Banned to UN personnel because it is full of prostitutes.

Water

you cant drink from the tap.... always take some mineral water...