Kinshasa Map

Kinshasa

About City

Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The original inhabitants of the city are known as the Kinois. The city has an approximate population of 9.5 million and is the third largest city in Africa. It covers an area of 583 sq km. The city was founded by Henry Morton Stanley in 1881 as a trading post. It was named Leopoldville after King Leopold II of Belgium. The entire area which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo formed his personal property. The city grew as trade flourished and in 1920, it became the capital of Belgian Congo. Congo won independence from Belgium in 1960. In 1965, Mobutu seized power and the city was renamed as Kinshasa in 1966. Today it is a vibrant city where flourishing commercial centers lie in sharp contrast to abject poverty.

Geography

The city of Kinshasa lies slightly to the South of the Equator. It is about 515 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The city is located on the South bank of the Congo River – the second longest river on the continent after the Nile. Just across the river and directly opposite it is located Brazzaville – the capital of the Republic of Congo. Brazzaville and Kinshasa are the only two capital cities of the world that face each other geographically.

The city is partially surrounded by high grounds. The elevation within the city ranges from 280 meters to 350 meters.

Kinshasa has a tropical wet dry type of climate with a long and wet rainy season. October to May is the wet season while June to September is the dry season. The temperature remains almost equal throughout the year, though the dry season is slightly cooler.

How to reach (transport)

The Kinshasa International Airport is connected by direct flights to a number of destinations in Africa. Regular flights are also available to Paris, Brussels, and Istanbul. However, there are certain stringent rules that you need to keep in mind while traveling to this city. For example, it is necessary to have a Yellow fever vaccine when you fly to the city. Ferry crossings are available from Brazzaville. Kinshasa is a major river port and boats also ply to other destinations upstream like Kisangani and Bangui.

When to visit

The best time to visit Kinshasa is from June to September. This is the season of least rainfall and the temperature is comfortable. The rest of the year is very hot and humid and bugs come out in droves. So, these months should be avoided.

Culture (fairs and festivals) and traditions

The original city grew up as a flourishing trading center because it was the first port located above the Livingstone Falls. Since its independence under the leadership of Mobutu, the city became a refuge for a vast variety of people who came here to escape ethnic strife. As a result, today it has a highly diverse culture. It is also the seat of education, culture, and government. And while talking about the diverse culture of the city, it goes without saying that music forms an integral part. In fact, the Ndombolo music is the famous music of the city and is admired by both the locals as well as international tourists.

Though political upheavals in the country have not allowed many festivals to flourish, some of the main events held in Kinshasa are as follows:

• The International mini-marathon is held in the city in March. It involves a 5 km walk.
• One of the major festivals in the city is the theatre festival which is held in May. It is dedicated to children and youth and spans over six days. Thousands of visitors come to see the festival.
• Liberation Day is also celebrated on 17th May with parades and feasts.
• Christmas is celebrated on 25th May by the Kimbanguist Church which believes that Christ was born on this day.
• Independence Day is celebrated on 30th June with parades and flag hoisting.
• In July, Tableau Noir, or a festival in filmmaking is celebrated by young people.
• The Festival of Rural Theater is held in Kinshasa in August. Performances are given in theater, dancing, singing, and music.
• Finally, the Kinshasa Book Fair is celebrated by the local publishing industry in November.

Points of interest (places to visit)

The atmosphere of the city is unique enough to keep any tourist entertained. In addition, here are some of the main places to visit in Kinshasa:

• The Lola Ya Bonobo is an enclosure that is the only sanctuary for orphaned Bonobos in the world. It is a day’s excursion and one of the best spots in the city.
• The National Museum of Arts is located in the city. It houses an excellent collection of Zairian arts.
• You can walk around the area of Kinsuka where you can pick up some good examples of African art.
• The character of the city is best understood at the Grand Marche (big marketplace).
• You can also visit the zoo which contains interesting examples of the African fauna.

Accommodation

For a perfect vacation, a perfect stay is equally important. And Kinshasa ensures to help you with plenty of options when it comes to finding great stay places. There are several hotels providing a large choice of accommodation to the visitors to Kinshasa. There is the five-star Grand Hotel Kinshasa and Memling. Good, clean accommodation with modern amenities is offered within a reasonable budget in a number of other hotels in the city like Residence 165, Hotel Venus de Kinshasa, Residence Mutchimba, Hotel Pacha 786, Guest House de Ma Campagne, etc.