Tshopo Province · Waterfall

Boyoma Falls

0.51°N, 25.20°E · Seven cataracts on the Lualaba River, at Kisangani
61 mTotal drop, across 7 cataracts
~100 kmDistance the cataracts span
Highest by volumeLargest waterfall on Earth by flow rate
KisanganiNearest city & access point
Overview

Where the Lualaba becomes the Congo River.

Formerly known as Stanley Falls, Boyoma is a chain of seven cataracts strung across roughly 100km of the Lualaba River between Ubundu and Kisangani. No single drop exceeds about 5 metres, but the combined volume — over 16,000 cubic metres a second — makes it the largest waterfall in the world by flow rate, ahead of both Niagara and Iguazu. Below the last cataract, visible from Kisangani itself, the river takes its better-known name: the Congo.

What you'll see

The falls, and the life built around them.

The seventh cataract

Kisangani's viewpoint

The largest and most accessible of the seven cataracts is visible directly from Kisangani, roughly 730m wide at its broadest point.

Living tradition

Wagenia fishing platforms

Local Wagenia fishermen anchor wooden tripods into the riverbed and lower conical baskets into the rapids — a fishing method practised here for generations.

History

From Stanley Falls to Boyoma

Renamed from its colonial-era title to the name used locally, reflecting the region's own history rather than that of the explorer who charted it.

Getting there

Logistics, in brief.

Access

  • Fly into Kisangani (FKI); the main viewpoint is a short transfer from the city
  • Local guides arrange boat trips out toward the rapids and Wagenia fishing sites
  • The upper cataract near Ubundu is far less accessible — most visits focus on the Kisangani end

Before you go

  • Infrastructure is modest compared to Virunga or Goma — this is an under-visited site, not a polished tourist stop
  • The rainy season affects river conditions and water clarity for photography
  • Often paired with a wider Congo River itinerary rather than visited as a single stop
Next step

Add Boyoma Falls to a Congo River itinerary.

Most visitors see the falls as part of a wider trip through Kisangani or a river expedition — tell us your dates and we'll build the routing.

Plan a Visit →