Kinshasa - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
There's a lot of taxis but mission personnel are forbidden from using them. They are very unsafe mechanically and kidnapping for ransom is popular. - May 2024
Yes, they are very affordable, and quite dangerous to use. Buses, taxis and motorcycles don't have regular "mechanical inspections", hence they are falling apart. Most of them don't have working lights, blinkers, mirrors, you get the idea. There used to be a gang in town exclusively stealing cars side mirrors. Mission staff is not allowed to use public transport here. - Aug 2022
Local transportation is to be avoided due to safety concerns. I think this is actually due to bad conditions of the local cars (sometimes held together with duct tape), and not the threat of violence. - May 2022
There is one taxi company people are starting to use: Ubixcabs. I've never tried it but others swear by it. New cars, women drivers, with an app that you can use to order rides. - Aug 2019
No. Embassy personnel are prohibited from using local taxis and buses. Crime involving taxi drivers or other passengers is extremely common. There is no mass public transit. You should definitely bring a car or purchase one locally. The embassy allows you to self-drive motorpool cars after taking a short training, which eases things while you're waiting for your POV to arrive. - Apr 2019
Absolutely not. - Dec 2017
Not safe to use and very unreliable. - Dec 2017
None of the above are safe to use, and for USG personnel we are not allowed. Must carpool, or drive everywhere you want to go. - Mar 2017
None of the above are safe. You will need a car that can handle rough roads. - Jan 2017
NO. - Sep 2016
We are not allowed to take local taxis or buses. There is one train that runs once on Saturday a.m. from Kinshasa to Matadi (a port city) and returns from Matadi to Kinshasa on Sunday a.m. We have taken that train and it was wonderful as an experience, but you are unlikely to use it as a form of transportation. - Apr 2016
Affordable but not at all safe. Embassy personnel are not permitted to take any form of public transport. - Jan 2014
Not safe, but definitely affordable. - Nov 2012
No. - May 2012
All public transportation is not recommended by the embassy for safety reasons. - Feb 2012
No. - Nov 2011
Forget about it. Trains and busses stopped running long time ago. We are advised not to take taxis. Still some expats do take them without too many problems - Aug 2011
In a word: DON’T. It is not advised or recommended in any way. Use either hired drivers or the motor pool. - Jan 2011
No, no, and no. - Oct 2010
Affordable, yes. But definitely not safe. I don't think I've seen one bus or taxi that doesn't look as if it has at least one major problem (listing to one side; bald tires; engine exposed, etc.). - Jan 2009
