Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

 Place: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Weather: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, 75/89F.

Route: From Mbanza Kongo 323 km NE on N1.

Population: 14,566,000 (2020)

History: When it was founded by the Belgians in 1881 as Leopoldville (after the Belgian King Leopold II) it was only a fishing village.  Since then it has grown to the 3rd largest city in Africa and the largest French speaking city in the world.  Across the Congo River is Brazzaville the capital of neighboring Republic of Congo.

Places to visit: Parc de la Vallee de la Nsele, Texaf Bilembo, Cathedrale Notre-Dame du Congo, Tour de L'echangeur, Academie des Beaux-Arts, Musee National de la Republique Democratique du Congo.

Images:

University of Kinshasa with downtown skyline in the background (from congotravelandtours.com)

Statue of independence leader Patrice Lumumba and Tower of Limete built in his honor (from congoinconversation.foundationcarmignac.com)