"Be Part of the People"
1–4 days
Easy
2–10 people
$120 per person
Tourism that pays local families directly
This is the tour we're proudest of. Instead of a staged "cultural show," you spend real time with Tshokwe and Katangese families and artisan cooperatives who have chosen to open their homes and workshops to visitors — on their terms, at fair, transparent rates that we publish openly.
Homestay hosts are paid a fixed nightly rate before commission; artisans and musicians are paid directly for workshops and performances, not from a shared "cultural fund." Over 70% of what you pay for this tour reaches the households and cooperatives you actually spend time with.
Expect village homestays, hands-on cooking classes using local produce, visits to Tshokwe mask-carving and basket-weaving artisans, live traditional music and dance, and time in Kolwezi's central market with a local guide who can help you navigate, bargain fairly, and understand what you're seeing.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Market, cooking & arrival at the village
Morning guided walk through Kolwezi's central market — produce, textiles, and a chance to buy ingredients for the afternoon's cooking class. Midday hands-on Congolese cooking class (fufu, saka-saka, grilled tilapia) hosted by a local family. Afternoon transfer to a partner village for homestay check-in and a welcome from your host family.
Music & dance
Evening of traditional Tshokwe and Katangese music and dance performed by a village troupe, followed by a shared dinner with your host family, cooked using what you helped prepare.
Artisan workshops & departure
Morning visit to a Tshokwe mask-carving or basket-weaving cooperative, with a hands-on session if you'd like to try. Farewell lunch with your host family before transfer back to Kolwezi.
Included
- Local cultural guide/interpreter
- Homestay accommodation (private room)
- All meals during the itinerary
- Cooking class ingredients and instruction
- Artisan workshop fees
- Music & dance performance fee
Not included
- Transport from Kolwezi (available on request, $25)
- Personal purchases at the market or from artisans
- Gratuities (encouraged; 100% goes to hosts)
Frequently asked questions
What are homestay conditions like?
Simple, clean private rooms in family compounds — expect shared or basic bathroom facilities rather than hotel-standard plumbing. We personally vet every host family and revisit regularly.
How exactly does the money reach the community?
We publish a transparent rate card: hosts, cooks, artisans and musicians are each paid a fixed fee per guest, disclosed to you on request, before Lualaba Expeditions' margin is applied. We're happy to share the exact breakdown.
Is this appropriate as a day trip, or does it require an overnight stay?
The full experience (homestay + evening performance) needs at least one night, but we also offer a day-only version covering the market, cooking class and artisan workshops for guests short on time.
Do I need to speak French or Swahili?
No — an English or Chinese-speaking cultural guide/interpreter is with you throughout to translate and provide context.