Why go
- Second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Served by Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM).
History
Lubumbashi, formerly Élisabethville, is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the southeasternmost part of the country, near the border with Zambia. The capital and principal city of the Haut-Katanga Province, Lubumbashi is the center of mining in the region, acting as a hub for many of the country's largest mining companies. No definite population figures are available, but the population of the city's urban area is estimated to be around 2,584,000 in 2021.
Restaurants & places to go
51 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 6 direct destinations
- Baikotovitchestrian Airlines BU (A320) · 4 routes: Johannesburg, Kananga, Kinshasa, Mbuji-mayi
- Kenya Airways KQ (Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Nairobi, Ndola
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (Embraer 190, EMJ) · 2 routes: Nairobi*, Ndola*
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (737-800) · 1 route: Ndola
- South African Airways SA (CRJ-700) · 1 route: Johannesburg*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Milder and quieter, with better value.
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: FBM has direct flights to 6 destinations on 5 airlines (incl. Ndola, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Kananga, Kinshasa…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Lubumbashi, Congo. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.