Travel Guide Gbadolite

Located on the border with the Central African Republic, Gbadolite is nestled in the middle of a tropical forest near the Ubangi River. It was the first town to be built after independence in 1967. From a hamlet of a few huts, Mobutu, the country's son, turned "Gbado" into a prestigious city. Inhabitants enjoyed unprecedented privileges: non-stop electricity, an international airport capable of accommodating the Concorde, and of course guaranteed jobs for all... Not to mention the handing out of tickets that the Marshal was accustomed to during each of his visits. The town's name comes from "Gbado te Lite" in Ngbandi, which means "Baobab de Lite" after the customary chief of all the clans. The population is estimated at 350,000 in 2022. It is subdivided into three communes: Gbadolite, Molegbe and Nganza. After a prosperous period that saw businessmen and tourists flock to the area, Gbadolite is now a ghost town. The contrast and surrealistic impression of former glory deep in the equatorial forest is even more striking. The city center has fallen into disrepair, with its boulevards, arched rows of houses, wide avenues and sidewalks overgrown with vegetation and permeated with damp. As for the palaces, everything has been stripped and looted since Laurent Désiré Kabila came to power. The tourist potential of such a legendary place is real, but not at all exploited.