Travel Guide Kindu

Kindu's development is closely linked to the history of Maniema's heterogeneous and multi-faceted population. In fact, Arab settlements were at the origin of the development of the village formerly known as Kindo (an expression meaning "sound of footsteps"), which later became Port-Empain in memory of Baron Edouard Empain. The railroad and the port on the Lualaba made Kindu a hub linking Katanga and Province Orientale. Kindu's economic and urban growth made it the capital of the Maniema district and later of the province. These infrastructures will enable the city to grow and attract large populations. The city is located on both banks of the Congo River (called Lualaba in this case) and has a population of around 140,000. Part of the population practices the Muslim religion inherited from the Arab occupation. Kindu was affected by wars and the Rwandan occupation, which led to its current dilapidation. However, development efforts have been undertaken, such as the rehabilitation of transport infrastructures, the construction of a new airport, a university and a number of hotels. Visitors will appreciate the modern comforts and beautiful scenery offered by the river and the surrounding forest and savannah. Despite this, Kindu suffers from a shortage of fresh foodstuffs, which contrasts with its reputation as a fertile region.