Kisantu Botanical Garden

The garden at Kisantu was begun by a Jesuit brother, Justin Gillet, from the end of the nineteenth century, and it grew into a collection of several thousand species across around two hundred and twenty-five hectares on the Inkisi river. Unlike Eala it has stayed in reasonable condition: avenues of mature trees, a palm collection, ponds, an orchid house and areas of planted forest. It is the most maintained botanical garden in the country and a straightforward day trip from Kinshasa on a sealed road.

What you actually see

• The avenues - mature planted trees along the original walks, over a century old.
• The palm collection - one of the more substantial in central Africa.
• The ponds and water garden - lily ponds and channels through the lower sections.
• The Inkisi river - the river the garden runs down to, with a bridge and viewpoints.

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the most comfortable for walking. The wet season is greener but the paths flood in places. Mornings are best for birds.

Honest expectations

Maintenance is uneven and some sections are overgrown or unlabelled. Facilities are limited to a small café and there is no formal guiding. The garden is large and a proper visit takes several hours of walking.

Nearby

The Mbanza-Ngungu caves are further southwest, and Kinshasa is a couple of hours northeast.