Kinshasa

Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, spreading along the riverfront through several districts. On the opposite side of the water lies Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, visible in the distance as the two cities face each other across the wide current.

A trading post emerged along the riverbank in the early 1880s, founded under the name Léopoldville. Decades later the city received its current name as the country gained independence and sought a new identity.

Street corners and public squares fill with local musicians playing rumba and soukous, sounds that shape the daily rhythm of the city. Markets spread through entire neighborhoods, offering fabrics, handmade crafts, and freshly prepared meals as vendors and shoppers engage in a constant exchange of words and gestures.

The international airport sits east of the city center and connects the area with other continents. Within the city visitors move by shared taxis or private vehicles, as the road network is extensive but public transit remains limited.

The two capital cities of Kinshasa and Brazzaville are the only capitals in the world close enough to see each other directly across water. On clear days visitors can stand by the riverbank and watch buildings and movement in the neighboring city across the current.

Location: Kinshasa

Inception: 1881

Founders: Henry Morton Stanley

Elevation above the sea: 240 m

Shares border with: Kongo Central, Brazzaville, Mai-Ndombe Province, Kwilu, Kwango Province

Website: http://kinshasa.cd

GPS coordinates: -4.32171,15.31260

Latest update: December 2, 2025 22:07