Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo · 240 m
Description
Kinshasa is the largest French-speaking city in the world and one of the loudest, seventeen million people spread along the south bank of the Congo where the river widens into the Pool. Congolese rumba was born in its bars and is still played live every night in Matonge. The Académie des Beaux-Arts turns out sculptors whose work stands around the grounds, and the national museum opened a new building in 2019 for its masks and ivories. Bonobos live at a sanctuary an hour south, the only place they can be seen. Ferries cross to Brazzaville in twenty minutes.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – August
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Live rumba and ndombolo in Matonge
- Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary(Day trip)
- Musée National de la RDC
- Académie des Beaux-Arts and its sculpture grounds
- Ferry across to Brazzaville
- Marché Central and the Grand Marché
- Congo river bank at Kingabwa
- Jardin Botanique de Kisantu(Day trip)
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Congo
- Symphonie des Arts and the sapeur scene
- Grilled capitaine fish and pondu
- Stade des Martyrs
- Gombe quarter and the riverside embassies
- Craft market at the Marché des Valeurs
Getting there
- Airports:
- FIH
- Train stations:
- Kinshasa Gare Centrale
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry