Stand on the hillside above the Congo River and you can see why Matadi exists: the water below is the last stretch a ship can reach before the rapids close the river to navigation. The town climbs steeply from the port, and the local saying is that to live here you must know the verbs "to go up", "to go down" and "to sweat".
Matadi suits travellers who are passing through on the road or rail link between Kinshasa and the coast, or who want to see the working river port that supplies much of the country. It is a functional city rather than a resort, and the sights are spread across steep ground, so plan on walking and on climbing.
1. Cathedral of Matadi (Cathédrale Notre-Dame Médiatrice)
This cathedral on 1 Avenue de la Mission was built in 1892. Portuguese and French West-African commercial interests influenced Matadi's architecture and urban design, which borrowed from the neighbouring colonies in Angola and the Congo-Brazzaville.
Combine it with a walk through the surrounding streets, since the avenue sits in the part of town laid out during that era. Go earlier in the day if you want to continue on foot afterwards, as the hills make the walking demanding.
2. Matadi Bridge
The suspension bridge crosses the river just south of Matadi, carrying the main road that links Kinshasa to the coast. It is the only bridge over the main stem of the Congo River, and after passing through Matadi and over the bridge the road continues to Boma, Muanda and Banana.
It was built as a mixed rail and road bridge, though no rail line now operates over it. Pair a look at the bridge with the port area, and treat the crossing as part of a journey onward to the coast rather than a separate outing.
3. Port of Matadi
The port is the reason for the city's existence and serves as a major import and export point for the whole nation, with coffee and timber among the chief exports. The state fishing company Pemarza also uses the port to supply fish to Kinshasa.
Because this is working infrastructure rather than a visitor attraction, time your visit around the movement of cargo and keep to areas where you are permitted. It combines naturally with the bridge, which carries the road onward from the port side of the city.
4. "Rock of Diogo Cão" caves
Upstream from the city is a series of caves known as the "rock of Diogo Cão", named after graffiti carved by the Portuguese explorer in 1485 to mark the limit of his travels up the Congo River. It is the clearest surviving marker of how far upstream European exploration reached from the coast.
Reaching the caves means travelling upstream from Matadi, so arrange it as a deliberate trip rather than an incidental stop. The Yelala Rapids lie near the city and belong to the same stretch of river.
5. Yelala Rapids
The Yelala Rapids lie near the city. Seeing the rapids makes the geography of the place concrete: this is the barrier that made the railway necessary.
Combine the rapids with the caves upstream if you are already on the water, and with the monument to the railway builders if you are staying on land.
6. Monument to the builders of the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway
A monument to the builders of the railway stands on a nearby hill. The Matadi–Kinshasa Railway was constructed to bypass the rapids on the river upstream, and Matadi is its port railhead.
Because it stands on a hill, treat the visit as part of a walk that takes in the town's steep streets. The climb is the point as much as the monument, and it gives you a view over the city and the river.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Cathedral of Matadi (Cathédrale Notre-Dame Médiatrice) on 1 Avenue de la Mission, then walk the surrounding streets while the day is still cool, since the town is built on steep hills.
Afternoon: Move down to the Port of Matadi to see the working harbour, then continue to Matadi Bridge just south of the city and cross it, following the road that leads on to Boma, Muanda and Banana.
Evening: Climb to the monument to the builders of the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway on its nearby hill for the walk up and the view back over the river and the port.
When is the best time of year to visit Matadi?
Matadi has a relatively dry tropical savanna climate with a lengthy dry season from June to September, caused by the northerly extension of the cold, foggy Benguela Current. That dry window is the most comfortable period for walking the city's steep hills.
Why is Matadi an important port?
Matadi sits on the left bank of the Congo River, below the last navigable point before the rapids that make the river impassable for a long stretch upriver. It became the furthest inland port in the Congo Free State and remains a major import and export point for the whole nation.
How do I get onward from Matadi?
Matadi is the port railhead for the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway, built to bypass the rapids upstream. By road, the main route crosses Matadi Bridge just south of the city and continues to Boma, Muanda and Banana. Tshimpi Airport is nearby.
What does the name Matadi mean?
Matadi means stone in the local Kikongo language, which fits a town built on steep hills.
Use these places to sketch your own route through the city, and start planning around the dry season and the road or rail link you intend to take.