Kananga Travel Guide, Zaire

Kananga, Travel Guide – Location

Kananga is one of the most important Congolese cities, located in the southern part of the country close to the border with Angola. Kananga travel guide will present a few basic facts about this African city.

Kananga, Travel Guide – Topography and Climate

Kananga is set in a beautiful area where the topography is flat, has an average elevation of 657m and is covered with grass lands useful for livestock. The vicinity of the Lulua River creates favorable conditions for several wetlands and marshes of small dimensions.

The climate here is tropical due to the city’s location near the Equator, with high temperatures all year round and humidity distributed unevenly. Most of the rainfalls occur in December while draughts can be detected in the summer months, especially June and July.

The Lulua River is the major water flow in this region, very important as fresh water resource for the locals and their animals as well as in agriculture.

Kananga, Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

Due to the flat topography and warm climate, flora and fauna in Kananga are well adapted and represented by immense grass lands housing characteristic animals like giraffes, elephants, buffalos and so on. Cultivated species can also be found here especially rice, cotton, coffee and exotic fruits like pineapple and bananas, all these cultures being important economic resources for the city.

Flora within the city is represented by numerous trees lined along the main roads, different types of bushes and other decorative plants found in the few recreational areas and public squares.

Kananga, Travel Guide – Population

Kananga numbers about 500.000 people, a mix of different cultures and nationalities. The city is said to have been created by a local tribe called Lulua which grew afterwards into the nowadays Kananga. The city’s glory period was in the 70s when it represented a major diamond industry centre, attracting numerous people from all over the country and not only.

Most of the locals are Christians and have as official language French which is spoken along with countless dialects.

Local economy is mainly based on the nearby natural resources like copper and diamonds, Kananga being a traditional diamond producing centre. Other important economic activities in the city are connected to agriculture and livestock which bring significant incomes for the locals.

Kananga, Travel Guide – Culture and Arts

Most of the inhabitants in Kananga are very traditionalist mixing the old customs inherited from their ancestors with modern life activities. They still cherish the culture in which they were raised, believing in their traditions and transmitting them from generation to generation. Traditional art here is represented by different manufactured items like pottery, masks, costumes and numerous decorative objects. Modern art within the city can be admired on few occasions during symposiums or exhibitions which mainly take place at the local museum or other official institutions.

Kananga, Travel Guide – Transport

The city has a poor transport infrastructure with only few paved roads, a rail station and an airport. If you are travelling by car it can be an adventure because not all the roads are paved and if you also get here in the rainy season it can get difficult to transfer from one location to another due to the mud.

Kananga has its own airport, the Kananga Airport, located just minutes away from the centre of the city which is a great advantage for all travelers. The airport creates efficient connections especially with the capital city Kinshasa but also woth other cities like Bujumbura and Nairobi.

Kananga, Travel Guide – Festivals

Festivals are few in the city, most of such events being related to the main Christian celebrations like Easter and Christmas; historic events like the Independence Day which is celebrate in August or on other occasions like the Tree Day on the 6th of March.