Western DR Congo is a region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It includes the capital city and the provinces of Badundu and Bas Congo.

Cities

• 1 Kinshasa – DRC's capital
• 2 Boma
• 3 Kisantu - known for its large cathedral and botanical gardens
• 4 Matadi
• 5 Mbanza-Ngungu - home to the extensive Thysville Caves

Other destinations

• 1 Mangroves National Park

Get around

Travelling in the DRC is difficult, however the western part has a slightly higher standard compared to other parts of the country. Route nationale 1 is the principal road between Kinshasa, Matadi and Boma. This road is paved and in general decent condition, most other roads are not.

Passenger trains also runs between Kinshasa and Matadi several times per week.

See

• 1 National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Musée national de la République Démocratique du Congo), ☏ +243 12 61494. First opened in 1970, this museum moved to new premises in June 2019. Hosts a large selection of ethnographic objects. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 Lola ya Bonobo, ☏ +243 818 141492. The world's only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos. Since 2002, the sanctuary has been located at Les Petites Chutes de la Lukaya, just outside of Kinshasa. (updated Jan 2023)
• 3 Kinkole. A small village in the eastern part of the city's rural area. It's on the RN1 (Boulevard Lumumba), further than the airport. It has a nice restaurant area where you can enjoy all the local food on a terrace. A lot of people come here to relax so there's a lot of people trying to get you into their business. If you go closer to the river there's a fisherman market where food from the river is brought. Be careful if you want to take pictures, you'll probably have to pay someone first as this is considered the international border. (updated Jan 2023)
• 4 Jardin d'Eden, ☏ +243 998 138 197. A small village in the eastern part of the city's rural area. It's on the RN1 (Boulevard Lumumba), further than the airport. It has a nice restaurant area where you can enjoy all the local food on a terrace. A lot of people come here to relax so there's a lot of people trying to get you into their business. If you go closer to the river there's a fisherman market where food from the river is brought. Be careful if you want to take pictures, you'll probably have to pay someone first as this is considered the international border. (updated Jan 2023)
• 5 Parc de la Vallée de la N'Sele, ☏ +243 812 316 882. It might seem a little out of place in Africa, but it's a commercialized drive-thru wildlife safari hosting lions, giraffes, etc, plus it also has a restaurant, pool, and pedestrian suspension bridge across the Nsele River. (updated Jan 2023)
• 6 Mbudi Nature. A private park and relaxation area with superior views of the mighty Congo River. (updated Jan 2023)
• 7 Limete Tower (Tour de l'Échangeur de Limete). One of the tallest buildings in Africa. Planned as a monument to Patrice Lumumba in 1966, the tower remained unfinished for decades until finally completed in 2011. As of 2022 it's possible to visit the surrounding garden, but the tower itself is not open. (updated Jan 2023)
• 8 Our Lady of the Congo Cathedral. Catholic Church built in 1947. (updated Jan 2023)

• 9 Cathedral of Matadi (Cathédrale Notre-Dame Médiatrice), 1 Avenue de la Mission. Built in 1892. (updated Jan 2023)
• Matadi Bridge.
• Port of Matadi.

• 10 Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs). Large Catholic cathedral, on of the largest in the country. Built between 1926 and 1936 in a Tuscan-inspired architectural style. (updated Jan 2023)
• 11 Kisantu botanical garden (Jardin botanique de Kisantu). Dating back to 1900, the botanical garden was created by Jesuit missionaries. The garden suffered severe neglect from 1960 until a restoration effort took place in 2004. The park contains about 2,200 different species and has emerged as a popular destination in the western parts of DRC. (updated Jan 2023)

Do

• A barbecue on a sandbank on the Congo River is a must. Renting a boat for a day with a driver and all the gear (tables, chairs, a suntent and a barbecue) costs around US$150 at the Yacht Club Kinshasa.

Eat

• Mangoustan restaurant at the Memling Hotel.
• Hotel Formoza Matadi.
• Hotel Maracuja.

Drink

• New Savanna.
• Hotel la fleur.
• Bar Tresor Bumba.