Find places in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Must-Haves

• Lola ya Bonobo (Mont Ngafula)
  The world's only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos, set in forest on the edge of the city.
• Rapides du Fleuve Congo (Kinsuka)
  Watch the mighty river tumble through the rapids beside the fishing village of Kinsuka.

Fun for Everyone

• Jardin Botanique de Kinshasa (Gombe)
  A shady, restored botanical garden in the city centre, ideal for a quiet walk.

Off the Beaten Path

• Lac Ma Vallée (Mont Ngafula)
  A green lake and forest escape on the city's edge, popular for weekend lunches.
• Petites Chutes de la Lukaya (Mont Ngafula)
  Small waterfalls and pools outside the city where families come to picnic and swim.

Must-Haves

• Musée National de la République Démocratique du Congo (Gombe)
  A modern national museum with masks, statues and instruments from every corner of the country.
• Académie des Beaux-Arts (Gombe)
  The country's leading art school, with sculpture-filled grounds and students happy to show their work.
• Mausolée de Laurent-Désiré Kabila (Gombe)
  The memorial to the former president, set among the government buildings near the Palais de la Nation.
• Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Congo (Lingwala)
  The capital's main Catholic cathedral, where Sunday mass is full of powerful choral singing.

Off the Beaten Path

• Monument Patrice Lumumba (Limete)
  A tall statue of the independence hero by the Échangeur, a place of pride for many Congolese.

Must-Haves

• Boulevard du 30 Juin (Gombe)
  The capital's grand avenue, lined with offices, banks and monuments, best walked on a calm Sunday morning.
• Beach Ngobila (Gombe)
  The busy port where boats cross to Brazzaville, a vivid slice of river life.

Fun for Everyone

• Tour de l'Échangeur (Limete)
  A tall concrete landmark of the Mobutu era rising above one of the busiest junctions in Kinshasa.
• Stade des Martyrs (Lingwala)
  The huge national stadium where a Leopards match or a big concert is an experience in itself.
• Sunset on the Congo River (Gombe)
  Watch the sun go down over Brazzaville from a riverside terrace in Gombe.

Must-Haves

• Grand Marché de Kinshasa (Gombe)
  The vast central market, loud, crowded and the best introduction to Kinshasa trade.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marché de la Liberté (Masina)
  A huge local market in the east of the city, full of fabric, food and everyday goods.
• Wax fabric stalls of Grand Marché (Gombe)
  Pick a pagne in bold Congolese wax prints and have it tailored in a couple of days.

Off the Beaten Path

• Marché Gambela (Kasa-Vubu)
  A busy neighbourhood market known for fresh produce, smoked fish and street snacks.

Fun for Everyone

• Kin Marché (Gombe)
  A well-stocked supermarket for snacks, toiletries and Congolese coffee to take home.

Must-Haves

• Matonge nightlife strip (Kalamu)
  The legendary district for live rumba, ndombolo bands and late nights in open-air bars.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bandal nightlife (Bandalungwa)
  Lively local bars and grills where Kinois gather for beer, music and dancing.

Fun for Everyone

• Primus beer gardens of Kintambo (Kintambo)
  Simple terraces where cold Primus and grilled meat flow late into the evening.

Must-Haves

• Chez Mama Colonel (Bandalungwa)
  A famous local spot for grilled fish and chicken eaten with chikwangue and pili pili.
• Inzia (Gombe)
  A restaurant devoted to traditional Congolese dishes, from moambe to liboke.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Malewa canteens (Kinshasa)
  Street canteens serving fufu, pondu and makayabu at simple benches, the true taste of the city.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mbinzo at Marché Gambela (Kasa-Vubu)
  Try fried caterpillars, a seasonal Congolese delicacy, from market cooks.

Must-Haves

• Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel (Gombe)
  A big, well-known international hotel with pools, restaurants and secure grounds.
• Fleuve Congo Hotel (Gombe)
  A riverside high-rise hotel with views over the Congo River.

Great for Date Night

• Rotana Kinshasa (Gombe)
  A modern hotel with good restaurants and a rooftop feel in the business district.

Fun for Everyone

• Hotel Memling (Gombe)
  A classic central hotel close to Boulevard du 30 Juin, used for decades by visitors.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hotel Béatrice (Gombe)
  A mid-range central hotel on the main boulevard.

Must-Haves

• Independence Day celebrations (Kinshasa)
  Parades, music and flags across the capital on 30 June.
• Fête de la Musique Kinshasa (Gombe)
  Free concerts across the city on the June music day, organised with the Institut français.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sunday church choirs (Kinshasa)
  Join a service anywhere in the city for joyful gospel singing.

Must-Haves

• Chutes de Zongo (Zongo)
  Spectacular falls on the Inkisi river, a popular weekend trip from Kinshasa.

Off the Beaten Path

• Chutes de Yellala (Yellala)
  Powerful rapids that blocked early navigators from sailing further up the Congo River.
• Barrages d'Inga (Inga)
  The huge hydroelectric dams on the Inga rapids, visible from the road.

Must-Haves

• Pont Maréchal (Matadi)
  The great suspension bridge over the Congo River, the symbol of Matadi.

Fun for Everyone

• Port of Matadi viewpoint (Matadi)
  Watch ships manoeuvre in the steep, rocky gorge of the river from the hills above town.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pierre de Diogo Cão (Yellala)
  Rock inscriptions left by Portuguese navigators in the fifteenth century near the Yellala falls.
• Matadi to Kinshasa railway station (Matadi)
  The terminus of the historic railway built through the Crystal Mountains.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Ledya (Matadi)
  A long-established hotel above the town with views of the river.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marché Central de Matadi (Matadi)
  The busy town market, packed into the steep streets near the port.

Must-Haves

• Parc Marin des Mangroves (Muanda)
  The country's only marine park, protecting mangroves, manatees and nesting turtles.

Fun for Everyone

• Plage de Muanda (Muanda)
  The country's short Atlantic coast, with long sandy beaches and fishing boats.

Off the Beaten Path

• Banana (Banana)
  The tiny port at the river mouth where the Congo meets the Atlantic.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fresh seafood at Muanda beach (Muanda)
  Grilled fish and prawns straight from the boats on the beach.

Fun for Everyone

• Weekend at the beach (Muanda)
  Congolese families flock to the coast for weekends and holidays.

Must-Haves

• Musée National de Lubumbashi (Lubumbashi)
  A fine collection of masks and statues from the Luba, Songye and Chokwe peoples.
• Picha Art Centre (Lubumbashi)
  The team behind the Lubumbashi Biennale, with exhibitions and workshops for contemporary art.

Fun for Everyone

• Cathédrale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul (Lubumbashi)
  A handsome brick cathedral in the colonial city centre.

Must-Haves

• Rencontres Picha, Lubumbashi Biennale (Lubumbashi)
  A respected contemporary art biennale held across the city.

Must-Haves

• Stade TP Mazembe (Kamalondo)
  Home of one of Africa's most successful football clubs, electric on match days.

Fun for Everyone

• Terril de Lubumbashi (Lubumbashi)
  The huge black slag heap of the old copper smelter, a symbol of the city.
• Lubumbashi Golf Club (Lubumbashi)
  A historic golf course with green fairways among the trees.

Fun for Everyone

• Zoo de Lubumbashi (Lubumbashi)
  A simple city zoo set among old trees, popular with families at weekends.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marché Mzee Kabila (Lubumbashi)
  The main city market, ideal for fabric, spices and everyday life.

Must-Haves

• Malachite and copper crafts (Lubumbashi)
  Look for malachite carvings and copper crosses, the traditional crafts of Katanga.

Must-Haves

• Pullman Lubumbashi Grand Karavia (Lubumbashi)
  A large resort-style hotel by a lake, with gardens and a golf course nearby.

Fun for Everyone

• Park Hotel Lubumbashi (Lubumbashi)
  A well-known hotel in the centre of town.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bukari and grilled fish canteens (Lubumbashi)
  Eat the city's favourite meal, maize meal with fish or meat, at a local canteen.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Simba beer terraces (Lubumbashi)
  Open-air bars serving Simba, the local beer of Katanga.

Fun for Everyone

• Coffee at the Grand Karavia (Lubumbashi)
  A calm terrace for coffee and breakfast.

Must-Haves

• Chutes Wagenia (Kisangani)
  The Wagenia fishermen balance on wooden scaffolds in the rapids to set their conical baskets.
• Fleuve Congo at Kisangani (Kisangani)
  Watch the great river at the last navigable point below the Boyoma falls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Chutes de la Tshopo (Tshopo)
  Waterfalls on the Tshopo river next to the old hydroelectric dam.

Must-Haves

• Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Rosaire (Kisangani)
  A large cathedral in the town centre with a strong local congregation.

Off the Beaten Path

• Université de Kisangani (Kisangani)
  A historic university with a botanical collection and lively student life.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Marché Central de Kisangani (Kisangani)
  The main market, full of smoked fish, palm oil and forest produce.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Grilled capitaine at riverside stalls (Kisangani)
  River fish grilled over charcoal, best with chikwangue.

Fun for Everyone

• Riverside terraces of Kisangani (Kisangani)
  Relaxed bars for a cold drink and music by the river.

Fun for Everyone

• Fishing season at the Wagenia rapids (Kisangani)
  Fishing activity peaks with the river's rising and falling levels.