There are two central African nations named for the Congo
River: the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo. Both nations have been independent since 1960.
The Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the former Belgian Congo. Sometimes called DR Congo or Congo Kinshasa and formerly called Zaire, the Democratic Republic is the second-largest country in Africa. It is located
mostly south of the Congo River in the interior of the continent. The
country has only a very short Atlantic coastline, about 35 km (22 mi)
long, extending north from the river's mouth. The south side of the mouth
of the Congo is in Angola, and north of the Democratic Republic's coastline
is the disjunct Angolan province of Cabinda. Thus the coast of the Democratic
Republic is the western end of a narrow corridor through Angolan territory.
The only port on the DRC's Atlantic coast is a small facility at Banana Creek, a short distance north of the Congo River entrance. The DRC's principal
seaports are Boma, located on the north bank of the Congo about 100 km
(60 mi) from the coast, and Matadi, located on the south bank of the Congo about 150 km
(90 mi) from the coast. The Atlantic coast is within the province of Kongo Central, one of the country's 26 provinces.
On the east side of the country the DRC also has a long coast on Lake Tanganyika, the largest of Africa's rift valley lakes.
French is the official language in the DRC along with four indigenous languages. The French word for a lighthouse is phare; île is an island, cap is a cape, pointe is a promontory or point of land, roche is a rock, récife is a reef, baie is a bay, estuaire is an estuary or inlet, détroit is a strait, rivière is a river, and havre is a harbor.
Navigational aids in the Democratic
Republic are presumably maintained by the Office National des Transports (ONATRA), which operates the ports of Boma and Matadi.
Special thanks to Alan Munday and Samuel Hedouin for permission to present their photos of these rarely-seen lighthouses.
ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS
World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the
Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers
are from Publication 113.
- General Sources
- World of Lighthouses - Congo Kinshasa
- Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
- Online List of Lights - Congo River and Approaches
- Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
- Afrikanische
Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
- Historic postcard views from the collection of Klaus Huelse.
Atlantic Coast Lighthouses
- #Pointe Bulabemba (Île Bulabemba) (2)
- Date unknown (station established 1903). Apparently collapsed or removed around 2020 but listed with focal plane 17 m (56 ft);
white or red light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. Approx. 15 m
(49 ft) tripod tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Samuel Hedouin
contributed the photo at right and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Bulabemba was the site of a political prison but Hedouin reports
that the prison has been closed. Located on the north side of the mouth of
the Congo River. Site and tower closed. Admiralty D4390; NGA 25524.
- * Muanda (Moanda)
- 1903. Inactive for many years. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical brick
tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is unpainted red-brown brick
with white stone trim. Alan Munday contributed the 2008 photo above right,
a 2009 aerial view is available, Paolo Flores has a 1972 photo,
Lightphotos.net has a distant view by Nanette Filou. Trees now hide the lighthuse partly in Google's satellite view. Huelse has a historic postcard
view. Located on a headland at Muanda, near the center of the Democratic
Republic's coastline. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS DRC-001.
- * Pointe Kipundji (Kupundji, Nsiamfumu)
- Date unknown. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); white flash every 5 s.
9.5 m round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, rising through
the center of an octagonal wood keeper's cottage supported by iron pilings.
Lighthouse painted white. Samuel Hedouin contributed the photo below right,
Noe Diakubama-Proffac posted the same photo, a view from the sea (misidentified as being in Cabinda) is available, there's also a view from atop the tower, and Google has a satellite
view. Located on a headland at Nsiamfumu, near the northern end of the
Democratic Republic's coastline. Site open, tower status unknown. ARLHS DRC-002;
Admiralty D4370; NGA 25516.
Lake Tanganyika Lightbeacon
- Lake Tanganyika, The largest of Africa's rift valley lakes, extends along the eastern border of the DRC. Lake Tanganyika is 676 km (420 mi) long in a north–south direction and about 50 km (30 mi) in width. The DRC shares the lake with Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia. The lake carries commercial shipping and ferries connecting the four countries.
[Kalemie]
- Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 16 m (52 ft), white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) mast. The light is centered in a photo but is hard to see in Google's satellite view. Kalemie (called Albertville under Belgian rule) is the DRC's main port on Lake Tanganyika. It has a rail connection to the rest of the country and ferries cross the lake to Kigoma in Tanzania and to other lake ports. The port is operated by the national railroad company. Located at the end of a short peninsula that shelters the south side of the port. Site status unknown. Operator: SNCC (Société Nationale Chemins de fer du Congo).
Information available on lost lighthouses:
- French Point (Banana Creek) (1888-?), Banana. This light was on the north side of the entrance to Banana Creek, about halfway between the Pointe Bulabemba and Muanda lighthouses. As far as is known nothing remains of this station. Google has a satellite view of the listed location.
Notable faux lighthouses:
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Muanda Light, Muanda, April 2008
photo copyright Alan Munday; used by permission

Bulabemba Light, Bulabemba, May 2007
photo copyright Samuel Hedouin; used by permission

Kipundji Light, Nsiamfumu, May 2006
photo copyright Samuel Hedouin; used by permissio
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