Mbandaka is one of the few Congolese cities accessible by both air and river. CAA (Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation) and other small carriers fly from Kinshasa to Mbandaka Airport; flights take about 90 minutes and run several times a week, though schedules change frequently. Book well in advance and confirm before travel.
The river journey from Kinshasa is the classic approach. The ONATRA ferry departs Kinshasa irregularly and takes seven to fourteen days to reach Mbandaka, stopping at dozens of villages along the way. A fleet of smaller barges also works the route and can be faster, though less comfortable. Both experiences are genuinely extraordinary — the river changes character constantly, the wildlife is visible from the deck, and the commerce of the Congo Basin unfolds around you. Bring food, water, and patience. Conditions on the public ferries are spartan; a private or NGO boat, if you can arrange one, offers far more comfort.
There is no road to Mbandaka from anywhere. The jungle surrounds the city completely, and the river is the only reliable way in or out.