The first challenge is finding Kinshasa's tourist attractions. Wooden masks and carvings of giraffes long lost their novelty and exotic appeal, for me anyway. So after ruling out visiting the markets these were the only two tourist options:
1. Visit Laurent Kabila's mausoleum
Taking photographs in Kinshasa seems to be a huge no-no, regardless of how sensitive or innocuous your subject is. So visiting Laurent Kabila's mausoleum, in the hope of having a photograph outside it, perhaps doesn't seem the most promising idea. The area surrounding the mausoleum is like a ghost town, barricaded and guarded by a few soldiers. But sat under the tree you'll discover a couple of men with cameras who will take the photo for you, for - wait for it - a throwaway price of $10. After protracted negotiations with the photographers and soldiers we agreed a $5 fee for us to use our own digital camera.
1. Visit Laurent Kabila's mausoleum
Taking photographs in Kinshasa seems to be a huge no-no, regardless of how sensitive or innocuous your subject is. So visiting Laurent Kabila's mausoleum, in the hope of having a photograph outside it, perhaps doesn't seem the most promising idea. The area surrounding the mausoleum is like a ghost town, barricaded and guarded by a few soldiers. But sat under the tree you'll discover a couple of men with cameras who will take the photo for you, for - wait for it - a throwaway price of $10. After protracted negotiations with the photographers and soldiers we agreed a $5 fee for us to use our own digital camera.
The mausoleum was a gift from the North Koreans, in recognition of their close relationship - after coming to power with the support of the Americans, Kabila switched sides! And a mighty fine gift it was. Even the wreaths of luminous plastic flowers which now adorn it cannot detract from its undeniable aesthetic qualities.
Beside Kabila's statue, with the striking mousaleum in the background...
...complete with enormous fists2. Visit the Bonobo sanctuary
You'll learn that everyone confuses Bonobos with chimps; that Bonobos are a 99% genetic match with humans; and that they settle their conflicts and tensions within the group through sexual acts. You'll also learn that if you come within a metre of the electric fence they will throw handfuls of dirt at you and that they are a remarkably good aim, covering me head to toe 4 times.
A baby Bonobo in sleeping quarters; the 99% genetic match is self-evident
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