Stand at the edge of Boyoma Falls and you will see the Congo River break into its last cataracts before the long run to Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Fishermen balance on the rocks, tending conical traps, and the river does the rest of the talking.
Kisangani suits travellers who are comfortable arranging things on the ground, who speak enough French or Swahili to negotiate, and who value a working river city over a polished circuit. It is a place of boatmen, cathedral bells and old colonial villas rather than ticket desks and timetables.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, with practical notes on how to fit them together.
Top things to do in Kisangani
1. Boyoma Falls
These cataracts sit on the edge of the city and are the last falls on the Congo until Kinshasa and Brazzaville. The fishermen who work the falls set conical traps for fish and can be seen tending to them, which is the main reason to come and watch.
Be aware that the fishermen have realised visitors want to see them and reportedly charge a large fee, in the region of USD 20, to be viewed or photographed. Agree the terms before you raise a camera.
2. Congo boat rides
A trip by boat along the Congo is one of the world's great wild adventures. You can arrange trips by pirogue lasting a few hours or several days, and they can be set up in most cities along the river.
Only a couple of tour operators in the country offer these rides. If your French or Swahili is good enough, you can probably talk a pirogue owner into a short trip, but make sure you understand what you are doing and where you are going before you set off.
3. Kisangani Cathedral
The cathedral is one of the named sights in the city and a straightforward stop while you are moving between the riverfront and the centre.
Pair it with a walk through the surrounding streets rather than treating it as a destination on its own.
4. Villa of the "African Queen"
One of the white villas on the isles, now falling apart, served as a former hotel and hosted the actors of the film African Queen: Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
It is a ruin rather than a restored site, so go for the building and its setting on the isles, and combine the visit with a boat trip on the river.
If you only have one day
Morning: Head to Boyoma Falls on the edge of the city, where the fishermen tend their conical traps among the cataracts. Settle the fee for viewing or photographing them before you start.
Afternoon: Arrange a short pirogue trip on the Congo, the kind of few-hour ride that can be negotiated with a boat owner if you speak enough French or Swahili. Use the same stretch of river to look across at the isles and the Villa of the "African Queen", the decaying white villa that once hosted the cast of the film.
Evening: Finish in the centre at Kisangani Cathedral before the light goes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay to see the fishermen at Boyoma Falls?
Reportedly yes. The fishermen have realised that visitors want to see them and will charge a large fee, in the region of USD 20, to be viewed or photographed.
Can I arrange a boat trip on the Congo myself?
It is possible. Only a couple of tour operators in the country offer these rides, but if you speak good enough French or Swahili you can probably talk a pirogue owner into a short trip. Make sure you understand what you are doing and where you are going.
How long can a pirogue trip be?
Trips by pirogue for a few hours or a few days can be arranged in most cities along the river.
What is the Villa of the "African Queen"?
It is one of the white villas on the isles, now falling apart. It was a former hotel and hosted the actors of the film African Queen: Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
Start by deciding how much time you want on the water, then build the rest of your days around the falls, the cathedral and the isles.