Zongo Falls

About 120 miles outside of Kinshasa the Inkisi River drops approximately 100 feet (I'm guessing) very close to where you can watch it from across the narrow river. I had heard of this natural wonder a few weeks back when a friend of mine was invited to go there for a road rally, with forty vehicles, souped up brand new SUV's with everything on them that you might need: Multiple containers of gasoline (it would take 8 hours to get there going off-road), heavy duty chains, replacement tires, and enough supplies to support the participants for an overnight camping experience. They forded streams where several vehicles were stranded and needed rescuing.

Fortunately, our group consisted of only four cars, and we payed an embassy chauffeur to drive us. Our leader, was Maliaka (see photo), from the State Department who was able to maneuver throughout the hills and markings with no hesitation. She chose the four hour route, but not necessarily "easy." The ruts were deep, and the road narrow. We were lucky when we hit 30 mph for the last 2 hours of the trip.

Some of the other people on the trip with us were some TDY'ers (temporary duty) young people in information technology. One of them was a graduate of Calvin College (2001), so Linda, also from Calvin, Katie and I had our photo (above) taken together at the falls. Joyce, an M.D., who manages the Foundation for the famous Congolese basketball player, Dikembe Mutombo, and a few retired Marines who work with the local military guys were there, too.

If you like, you can rent a little cabin near the falls. We just brought along a variety of picnic stuff and were back in Kinshasa by 6:00 pm. Congo holds 13% of the world's hydroelectric potential. The largest site is at the Inga Dam, but this little river is one of the contributors. It is not nearly on the scale of Victoria Falls, but it is nevertheless impressive and one of those places that you remember long after you've been there.