Good news for everyone who’d like to explore the Copperbelt Region in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We at Congo Travel and Tours are the only agency in Congo and Zambia offering this exclusive tour from Lusaka all the way to Lubumbashi, through Likasi and with a visit to the Kiubo Falls in the Kundelungu National Park.
The Copperbelt is an industrial region in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the most important copper mining area in Africa and the largest industrial area in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa. In addition to copper, cobalt and other metals are also extracted.
The Copperbelt is characterized by the occurrence of copper ores. It lies on a plateau at the eastern end of the Lunda Sill about 1200 to 1300 meters above sea level. Located in central Zambia and south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is an area approximately 800 kilometers long and 250 kilometers wide, stretching from Luanshya in the south-east to north of Kolwezi in the north-west. The Zambian part mainly belongs to the Copperbelt Province, the Congolese part to the former Katanga Province. This part extends far into Zambian national territory.
Important cities in the Zambian part are Ndola, Kitwe, Chingola, Luanshya and Mufulira, which are among the ten largest Zambian cities. Important transport routes here are the railway line between Lusaka and Lubumbashi, including branching branch lines, and the T3 and T4 trunk roads.
The largest Congolese city in the Copperbelt is Lubumbashi, which is the second largest city in the country. The portion north of Lubumbashi is not as heavily influenced by copper mining and is occasionally not counted as part of the Copperbelt.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Lusaka to Ndola
We’ll leave right after breakfast and have around 5 to 6 hours of driving ahead to Kitwe , the third biggest city in Zambia, which boomed thanks to the mining industry.
Day 2: Ndola to Lubumbashi and Kipushi Desert
We will do the formalities at Sakania border post and then drive through the DRC all the way to Lubumbashi. The road follows the border in between Zambia and Congo. It will take us 5 to 6 hours to drive to Kipushi Desert. We will have a stop of one hour here to explore the area. Afterwards, we’ll drive another hour to Lubumbashi where we’ll check in at our hotel.
Day 3: City Tour of Lubumbashi and visit to Gécamines Mine
Today you’ll get to see the city center of Lubumbashi with a stop at the cathedral and local market. We’ll also visit the mine of Gécamines which is in the city center.
Day 4: Likasi
Three hour drive today to Likasi, where we will get a tour of the city. Likasi (until 1966 Jadotville) is a city in the province of Haut-Katanga of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with around 650.000 inhabitants. Likasi is located in the southeast of the country in the Copperbelt. The region includes the Mitumba Mountains and the Kundelungu Mountains.
The city is considered a transport hub. Nearby is Shinkolobwe, home to the officially long-defunct mine from which the United States obtained uranium for the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. The mine was flooded shortly before independence from Belgium during the Cold War and the entrances sealed with concrete. After the departure of Mobutu Sese Seko's soldiers in 1997, illegal miners began mining mainly for copper and high-grade cobalt, which is exported to Zambia through intermediaries. Since 2004, the mine has been guarded by the army who allow the miners to continue doing their work for a fee.
The city of Likasi was named Jadotville or Jadotstad in by the colonial rulers from 1943 after the Belgian engineer Jean Jadot. In 1966, as part of the "Africanization" initiated by dictator Mobutu, it was renamed "Likasi".
Day 5: Likasi to Kiubo Falls
Around 5 hours drive to Kiubo Falls today through a beautiful road. After registering we’ll have a free afternoon.
Day 6: Kiubo Falls
The Kiubo Falls truly are a hidden gem and are about 60 m high and 90 m wide and fall into the Lufira River. They are surrounded by a beautiful forest and it is the perfect place for some peaceful
The DRC is home to many beautiful waterfalls, including the Kiubo Falls. The falls which are still very much a hidden gem, are located in Katanga province. Standing at about 60 metres high and 90 metres wide, the falls are a powerful example of mother nature's force. The water tumbles over sandstone into the Lufira River. The falls are surrounded by beautiful forest that has largely been untouched and very well preserved.
Day 7: Back to Lubumbashi
Around 7 hours drive to Lubumbashi, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel. End of tout.
Includes:
- Professional local guide
- Comfortable 4x4 with driver and gas
- Park entrance fees
- All activities as described
- Accommodation
Doesn’t include:
- Visa
- Pcr-tests
- Tips and gratuities
- Meals and drinks
"Really great, thank you. Lots of Bonobos, everyone very friendly, all the transport etc ran smoothly. The base camp was very nice - all the guys there went out of their way to make us feel welcome and the trackers were accommodating and let us have as much time with the bonobos as we wanted. Michel was particularly lovely - very jolly! And we even learned how to stay balanced on the back of those motorbikes on the dirt roads (!) thanks also to Hades who kept me up to date each morning in Kinshasa with pick up times, driver names etc.
Thanks to you for organising it all for us^^ drc team is solidIt was really interesting to hear about all the projects happening, from partnerships with companies to the work diversifying food and income sources. Innocent was particularly passionate about the future for the villages and conservation efforts, and gave us lots of information. The boat sounds like a super project. It’s such a wonderful country, and it is a shame that so many people feel despondent about things (although I can see why they do). Hopefully there are enough people with vision to keep the progress going! It sounds like your team certainly has the passion and enthusiasm for development! We definitely got that impression from everyone we met.- Victoria and Friends on the New 2022 Bonobos Tracking Trip in the Wild of the Deep Abyssal Rainforest, Way up and off the Congo River
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