Boma

Introduction

Boma is a port town on the Congo River in the Kongo Central Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sitting roughly 100 kilometres upstream from the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent to the border with Angola. Its position on the river makes it a natural point of arrival or departure for travellers moving along this stretch of the coast and interior.

Three days in Boma

Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Boma itself, the historic town on the Congo River in Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Walk the riverside and watch the water that has carried trade and travellers between the interior and the Atlantic Ocean for centuries. Use the day to settle in and let the heat and humidity set your pace.

Day two: Give the river your full attention. The Congo River is the reason Boma exists, and its broad brown current is best taken in slowly, from the bank or from a boat if one is available. Look across toward Angola, the neighbour on the far shore, and consider how this stretch of water links the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the sea.

Day three: Return to the parts of Boma you liked most, whether that is the riverfront or the older streets, and fill any remaining time with the town's everyday life. If your onward route runs south, Angola is close; if it runs west, the Atlantic Ocean is the direction to follow. Keep the day loose, because in this climate the weather, warm and humid, often sets the schedule.