Bouenza Falls
A wide waterfall on the Bouenza river in southern Congo, feeding a hydroelectric station.
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The Bouenza river drops over a rock step in southern Congo in a broad curtain, and the falls carry enough water that a hydroelectric station was built on them in the 1970s to supply the southern part of the country, which takes some of the flow. What comes over the lip still makes a substantial fall, broadest and loudest after the rains. Forest grows along the gorge below and the site is reached on a track from the main road.
What you actually see
- The wide fall - the river coming over the rock step across a broad front.
- The gorge - the cut below the falls with forest along it.
- The hydro station - the 1970s plant that takes part of the flow.
- The seasonal volume - the difference between the rains and the dry season.
When to go
The falls are strongest from around October to May after the rains. June to September is the dry season and the flow drops. Tracks are difficult during the rains.
Honest expectations
The hydro offtake reduces the flow noticeably. The track in is rough and needs a suitable vehicle. There are no facilities at the site.
Nearby
Nkayi is north, and Dolisie is west.
What to pack for Bouenza Falls
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
