If you are looking for a tourist destination in Congo, you should consider Lubumbashi, the second largest city in the country. Lubumbashi offers many attractions for visitors of all ages and interests, including the zoo, botanical gardens, parks, museums and other sites.
Lubumbashi Zoo is one of the most visited attractions. It was created during the colonial period, and is considered the most beautiful zoo in the country. On about thirty beautifully wooded hectares, this zoo lists 48 animal species in great shape, including an 86-year-old crocodile. The environment is superb with still some beautiful original enclosures and cages, a veterinary clinic, a grooming salon and a small didactic museum. The other objective of the zoo is to campaign for biodiversity and the protection of the environment. The modest price encourages you to come regularly to recharge your batteries in this beautiful park located 2 minutes from the center. Food available on site.
The Lubumbashi Botanical Gardens are also an ideal place to relax and admire the local flora. They were founded in 1938 by the Belgian botanist Emile Laurent, who introduced more than 3000 plant species from different regions of the world. The botanical gardens also house an arboretum, a pond, a greenhouse and an ethnographic museum.
Opening hours: daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free.
If you prefer green spaces, you can visit the parks of Lubumbashi, which offer places of leisure and entertainment for the whole family.
The Zoological and Botanical Park is the oldest and largest park in the city, with an area of 80 hectares. It has an artificial lake, a swimming pool, a golf course, a football pitch, a tennis court and an open-air theatre.
Kibasa Maliba Park is another popular park, which is home to a nature reserve where chimpanzees, antelopes, monkeys and birds live. The park also offers sports and cultural activities, such as cycling, canoeing, fishing and traditional dancing.
Finally, if you are interested in the history and culture of Lubumbashi, you can visit its museums.
The National Museum of Lubumbashi is the most important museum in the country, which exhibits collections of art, archaeology, ethnography and natural history. In particular, it presents objects linked to the pre-colonial civilizations of Katanga, such as the Luba, the Hemba and the Tabwa.
The National Museum of Lubumbashi also organizes temporary exhibitions and cultural events.
Another interesting museum is the Katanga Geological Museum, which features mineral specimens from mines in the region. It also exhibits fossils, rocks and meteorites.
Opening hours: the Katanga Geological Museum is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and admission is charged.
Lubumbashi is therefore a city that has a lot to offer curious tourists eager for discovery. Whether you like animals, plants, leisure or culture, you are bound to find something you like in this dynamic and welcoming city.
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[…] Lubumbashi Zoo: a wildlife park that houses various animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, crocodiles, and birds. The zoo also has a botanical garden and a museum. Visit […]