About Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is a city built on copper. Founded by Belgian colonial authorities in 1910 as Élisabethville, it grew up around the smelters of the Katanga copper belt, and the great black slag heap left by a century of processing still towers over its western districts. Today it is the second city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the busy commercial capital of Haut-Katanga.
The centre keeps a grid of broad avenues lined with colonial-era buildings, from the brick cathedral to the railway station and law courts, and the National Museum holds an important collection of art and archaeology from the region. Football is a passion here: the local club TP Mazembe is one of the most successful in Africa, and match days fill its stadium with noise.
Lubumbashi is a working city rather than a tourist destination, so visits suit business travellers and curious independent travellers best. Arrange transport through a trusted hotel, carry identification and ask before photographing official buildings.
Best seasonMay to September, the dry season, brings clear days and cool nights.
Ideal stayOne or two days for the museum, the colonial centre and a match.
ArrivingLubumbashi International Airport has flights to Kinshasa and to neighbouring countries; the Zambian border lies to the south.
