Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kisangani travel guide
Kisangani is a city in Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to about 1,366,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- FKI17 km · Bangoka International Airport
- Currency
- CDFCongolese franc
- Time zone
- Africa/Kinshasa
- Language
- French
About
About Kisangani
Kisangani (), formerly Stanleyville (Dutch: Stanleystad), is the capital of Tshopo Province, located on the Congo River in the eastern part of the central Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the country's fifth-most populous urban area, with an estimated population of 1,602,144 as of 2016, and the largest of the cities in the tropical woodlands of the Congo.
The city was founded in 1883 as a colonial outpost and trading centre by Henry Morton Stanley. It was named Stanley Falls Station (or Stanleyville) and was located at the furthest navigable point up the Congo River from Kinshasa (then Leopoldville). It was successful, but East African slavers soon arrived (erroneously called "Arabs", but actually from Zanzibar) and after minor conflict, the city was abandoned in 1887. After negotiations with the 'Arabs', the Belgians were given limited control of the Eastern Congo under authority of the notorious Zanzibar slaver/ruler Tippu Tip.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Kisangani
See
- Boyoma Falls
- Kisangani Cathedral
- Villa of the "African Queen"
Do
- Congo boat rides
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Kisangani to stay in
Les Chalets Hôtel & Le Palm Beach are the best bets in town, with modest facilities. At the ends of the spectrum, there are no upscale hotels in the city and numerous hotels that are acceptable by DRC standards, but rather squalid by Western standards (no air-con, no running water).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Kisangani
Kisangani has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 212 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kisangani: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bangoka International Airport (FKI), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
Given the city's isolation in the jungle (and relatively difficult routes to navigate here), there are surprisingly few vehicles in the city, aside from cheap motorbikes. Most locals get around on foot or use bicycles (and similar wheeled contraptions). Petrol is expensive. Taxis are hard to find. If you need to travel across the town (or to the airport), you should make arrangements for vehicle hire a day or two in advance! For rides to the airport, expect to pay USD20-40.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
FKI · Bangoka International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kisangani
Eat
The food supply in Kisangani is heavily dependent on the arrival of barges. The few restaurants that can be found in the city are expensive. Food stores have very little refrigerated foodstuffs (and it's always hard to tell if these items have been properly transported to remain fresh). Street stalls serve up chicken & fish. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts can be found in the central market and from various vendors across the city.
Drink
A couple of establishments serve local beers. A bar at Linoko Beach serves beer with great views of Tshope Falls.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kisangani: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kisangani?
Kisangani has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; October is the wettest, with about 212 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kisangani?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bangoka International Airport (FKI), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Kisangani?
Congolese franc (CDF).
Nearby
Destinations near Kisangani
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.