Kisangani

But after those glory days, Kisangani's reputation took a turn.

The city of Stanleyville—now called Kisangani—was a majestic port city as deep as one can go into the Heart of Darkness.

But the sunlight is threatening to fade and a three-and-a-half-hour river journey back to Kisangani looms.

After decades of violence, flights to Kisangani are unpredictable and Western tourists are virtually unheard of.