At 747km², Lubumbashi, capital of Haut-Katanga, is considered the second largest city in the DRC. Built on a site called Kalukuluku, named after a master copper smelter who produced crucibles there, Lubumbashi is the name of the river that flows through the city.Founded by the Belgians in 1910 with the initial aim of developing a mining operation, the pretty colonial town was named Elisabethville in homage to the wife of King Albert I. At independence, the town was plagued by unrest, before becoming the capital of the short-lived autonomous state of Katanga (1960-1963) led by Moïse Tshombe. It was at the entrance to the city that the deposed Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lubumba was assassinated on January 17, 1961. When Mobutu came to power in 1965, the town was renamed Lubumbashi, at the same time as Katanga became Shaba ("copper" in Swahili). Indeed, the town remains intimately linked to this precious mining resource, exploited from the outset at the Mine de l'Etoile by UMHK. After ups and downs, mining activity has picked up again in the last fifteen years. Lubumbashi is a cosmopolitan city where many nationalities live side by side, thanks to the presence of numerous miners and expatriates. Lubumbashi currently has a population of almost 2 million, making it the2nd or3rd largest city in the country, according to some estimates.L'shi, or Lubum to its friends, is divided into seven communes, six of which are urban (Lubumbashi, Kamalondo, Kenya, Katuba, Kampemba and Ruashi) and one urban-rural, known as the "annex commune". Compared to the country's other cities, Lubumbashi is relatively clean and modern, with extensive infrastructure and numerous construction projects underway. It is also an intellectual center thanks to its university (UNILU, hotbed of several student protests that were bloodily put down during the Mobutu era) and the various higher institutes located within its territory. The city and its surroundings also offer a wealth of opportunities for escapades in beautiful natural settings. The metropolis also boasts numerous leisure and entertainment venues, notably in the affluent golf district and along Lake Kipopo (Lake Tshombe). Lubum, a city whose development is sure to be followed.

What to visit Lubumbashi?

Weather at the moment

Loading...
Organize your trip with our partners Lubumbashi
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Pictures and images Lubumbashi

There are currently no photos for this destination.

Other destinations nearby Lubumbashi

Send a reply