Mbanza-Ngungu Caves

Mbanza-Ngungu sits on the plateau between Kinshasa and Matadi at an altitude that gives it a noticeably cooler climate, and the limestone around it is cut by caves with underground streams. Those streams hold Caecobarbus geertsi, a blind pale cave fish described in 1921 and found only in this small area, which is protected and should not be disturbed. The caves are entered with local guides and lamps, and the chambers are wet, with formations and permanent water.

What you actually see

• The blind cave fish - Caecobarbus geertsi, pale and eyeless, found only in these caves.
• The chambers - limestone galleries with permanent underground water.
• The formations - stalactites and flowstone in the drier sections.
• The plateau town - Mbanza-Ngungu itself, cooler than the lowlands on either side.

When to go

May to September is the dry season, which matters because the caves take water in the rains and parts become impassable. Guides are arranged in the town or at the entrance. Cool weather on the plateau makes this a pleasant stop on the Matadi road.

Honest expectations

There is no formal infrastructure: guides are local, lighting is by lamp, and the footing is wet and slippery. The cave fish are protected and handling or collecting them is not acceptable. Arrangements are informal and prices negotiated.

Nearby

Kisantu botanical garden is northeast on the same road, and Matadi is southwest.