- Duration: 1 Day (approx.)
- Product code: kin-sbb-7-en
Kisantu Gardens and Mbanza Ngungu - Congo's Green Treasure Chest and Underground Caves and Caverns
THIS TOUR IS OUR STAFF FAVORITE, ESPECIALLY KISANTU, THOUGH WE RARELY GET REQUESTS FOR THIS ONE!
On the way to the caves, explore a natural garden called Kisantu, containing flora from everywhere in the country.
The Inkinsi River flows through this garden and creates majestic spectacles. Located 130km from Kinshasa, this site was created by Father de Gullet in 1900.
On this tour you visit the entire garden. Next, head to Mbanza Ngungu (a town/region in Bas Congo after which the cavern and underground system is named after) and descend underground.
Mbanza Ngungu Caves, about 2,296 feet (700 meters) above sea level, within the basin of the Lower Congo River of the DRC, are spread over a sprawling underground "city" system of 750 square kilometers (huge!) and fed by the Congo River, with many spaces to full of water or too small for humans to have explored yet! Home to the African Blind Barb Fish, creepy ghost-like transparent apparitions that have evolved over millions of years to lose their eyes in the darkness. It is known to live only in the fresh-water "Thysville" Caves of Mbanza-Ngungu.
The caves, and this is the most exciting part...are largely unknown scientifically, and unexplored extensively, and may be home to other endemic fish and invertebrate species and undoubtedly many more cool discoveries!
Includes:
-A Comfortable vehicle with air conditioning
-English or French tour guide
-All entrance fees and governments taxes
-Flashlights (torches) for the descent.
Excludes:
-Bring waterproof boots, and clothes that you do not mind getting wet, muddy, and dirty.“Hi Seen,We very much enjoyed our tours with your team. They did an excellent job taking care of us at every venue and in every way, not to mention how well they responded to our requests for changes in the itinerary as we went along. The entire week was a fascinating experience, especially between destinations, when we were able to get out into the streets, markets and communities and see “real life”. Our guide Erneste did a superb job during every one of those “detours” and made us feel quite comfortable no matter where we were.The major highlights of the week for us were exploring the amazing little ecosystem that has evolved under the spray and mist on the cliffs facing the Zongo Falls, visiting the arboretum and botanical gardens at Kisantu (we skipped the caves at Mbanza Ngungu that day and spent all our time there instead!), and walking through some of the small villages to meet the people and learn how mbika and cassava are made.You were actually recommended to me by an acquaintance at the US Embassy in Kinshasa, and I would happily recommend your tours to my friends, as well. I felt that there was an amazing level of personal service throughout the entire process, from your quick response to my questions during the booking process right through “goodbyes” with our team on the last day. We could not have asked for a better experience."
- CB & Erica Stevens, USA, DRC Custom Tour Multi-day
Current Ops & Trips