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DR Congo🇨🇩 | national parksKundelungu National ParkLofoi Falls, sandstone gorge, Katanga plateau, rim viewpoints | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Kundelungu
👌 Worth visitingnational park ranked #8
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Kundelungu National Park holds Lofoi Falls, which drops about 340 meters and is among the tallest waterfalls in Africa, yet almost no foreign visitor has seen it. The park lies in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Haut-Katanga province, north of Lubumbashi. Expect high plateau grassland, gallery forest and sandstone gorges, with little wildlife left after decades of poaching. Roads are rough, there are no marked trails and no visitor infrastructure, so skip it if you want an easy hike. Go for the falls: you stand at the rim, hear the roar, and look straight down into a mist-filled gorge. Self-sufficient, patient travelers with a local guide will like it most. Anyone wanting safaris or tidy facilities will not.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 DR Congo Travel Guide.
Safety warning

The current risk level for DR Congo is high. Check the advice before going.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 national park in DR CongoWhat makes it a must-see national park

Kundelungu National Park attracts backpackers who want a place nobody has packaged. The plateau is wide open, so you walk where you like rather than follow a tour route, and the reward is solitude that is rare anywhere in Africa. The headline draw is Lofoi Falls, a tiered plunge of roughly 340 meters that you can reach on foot from the rim with a local guide. A second reason is the landscape itself. The Kundelungu Plateau rises to around 1,600 meters, cooler than the Katanga lowlands, with grassland, patches of miombo woodland and river-cut gorges that suit long self-guided days. Nothing here is organized for you, which suits independent travelers who bring their own food, camping gear and patience. If you want a guaranteed itinerary, this is the wrong park. If you want a rim, a roar and no queue, it is the right one.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Lofoi Falls: the park’s signature sight, a drop of about 340 meters into a forested gorge, with a lower cascade section and spray that rises above the rim.
  2. Lofoi Gorge viewpoints: rim-edge spots where the sandstone walls fall away, good for photographs and for watching swifts wheel below you.
  3. Kundelungu Plateau grasslands: rolling open country at high elevation, cool in the mornings and ideal for long, aimless walks.
  4. Gallery forest along the Lofoi River: dense green corridors where you hear monkeys and a wide range of birds before you see them.
  5. Upper Lufira basin views: from the plateau edge you look out over the Katanga lowlands, a broad, hazy sweep of woodland.
  6. Miombo woodland patches: shady stands of trees that turn rusty red and gold early in the dry months, with good birding.
Start with Lofoi … read more 👉
  1. Lofoi Falls: the park’s signature sight, a drop of about 340 meters into a forested gorge, with a lower cascade section and spray that rises above the rim.
  2. Lofoi Gorge viewpoints: rim-edge spots where the sandstone walls fall away, good for photographs and for watching swifts wheel below you.
  3. Kundelungu Plateau grasslands: rolling open country at high elevation, cool in the mornings and ideal for long, aimless walks.
  4. Gallery forest along the Lofoi River: dense green corridors where you hear monkeys and a wide range of birds before you see them.
  5. Upper Lufira basin views: from the plateau edge you look out over the Katanga lowlands, a broad, hazy sweep of woodland.
  6. Miombo woodland patches: shady stands of trees that turn rusty red and gold early in the dry months, with good birding.
Start with Lofoi Falls, since it is the reason to make the journey and the rest of the plateau fits around it.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Dry Season (May to September): Kundelungu’s plateau is most walkable from June to August, with clear skies, almost no rain, and cool nights that can drop to 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F). Days reach 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F). Tracks are firmest and the Lofoi Falls viewpoints are easiest to reach.
  • Hot Transition (October to November): Heat climbs to 30 to 34°C (86 to 93°F) on the lower ground, with hazy skies and bush fires. First storms arrive late in the month.
  • Rainy Season (December to April): Expect 20 to 27°C (68 to 81°F), daily downpours, and slick or washed-out tracks. The falls run at full force, but access from Lubumbashi becomes slow and unreliable.
Crowds are minimal all year, and prices barely shift, so I would aim for June to August and arrange a vehicle and guide well ahead.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Plan to sleep in Lubumbashi, because Kundelungu National Park has almost no developed lodging, and the city is the only realistic base for a backpacker. Expect mid-range guesthouses and small hotels around the center and Golf area for US$40 to 90 a night, with hot water, generators, and basic breakfast. Real dorm-style budget beds are rare, so pricier rooms are the norm here.

Inside the park, there are no formal lodges. Visits to the Lofoi Falls area are usually done as a long day trip or as an expedition with your own tents, food, and water, arranged through the park authority or a Lubumbashi … read more 👉
Plan to sleep in Lubumbashi, because Kundelungu National Park has almost no developed lodging, and the city is the only realistic base for a backpacker. Expect mid-range guesthouses and small hotels around the center and Golf area for US$40 to 90 a night, with hot water, generators, and basic breakfast. Real dorm-style budget beds are rare, so pricier rooms are the norm here.

Inside the park, there are no formal lodges. Visits to the Lofoi Falls area are usually done as a long day trip or as an expedition with your own tents, food, and water, arranged through the park authority or a Lubumbashi operator. Camping is only sensible with a guide and a local contact.

On the way, small settlements near the park edge, such as Lubudi-direction villages and Kundelungu-area mission posts, sometimes offer a floor or a simple room through the village chief or a church. Bring cash in small US dollar bills, a sleeping bag, and a mosquito net.
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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A realistic budget for Kundelungu National Park is about US$170 to 250 per day, mostly driven by transport and guides rather than the park itself.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance and permitUS$10 to 30Fees are set by the park authority and often paid in cash at arrival or through the operator.
Accommodation (high season)US$40 to 90Lubumbashi guesthouses are the base; camping inside costs little but needs your own gear.
Local transportUS$80 to 130A hired 4x4 with driver is needed for the rough tracks; the cost is often split among several people.
Guide and escortUS$15 to 30Local guides are strongly advised for the falls and plateau routes.
Food and suppliesUS$15 to 25Buy water and provisions in Lubumbashi, since nothing is sold inside the park.
Total Daily BudgetUS$170 to 250Mostly vehicle and lodging costs.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsTrail guide for Kundelungu national park

Kundelungu National Park has no waymarked trail network, so walks are guided and informal, and you should plan them with a local guide or ranger. The terrain is high plateau at around 1,500 to 1,600 meters, with grass, woodland, streams and steep sandstone edges.
  • Lofoi Falls rim walk: a short to moderate walk across plateau grassland to the edge of the gorge, usually 1 to 2 hours depending on where the vehicle stops. Easy underfoot, but the rim is unfenced, so take care.
  • Gorge descent: scrambling toward the lower sections is steep and loose, difficult, and only sensible with a guide and good boots.
… read more 👉
Kundelungu National Park has no waymarked trail network, so walks are guided and informal, and you should plan them with a local guide or ranger. The terrain is high plateau at around 1,500 to 1,600 meters, with grass, woodland, streams and steep sandstone edges.
  • Lofoi Falls rim walk: a short to moderate walk across plateau grassland to the edge of the gorge, usually 1 to 2 hours depending on where the vehicle stops. Easy underfoot, but the rim is unfenced, so take care.
  • Gorge descent: scrambling toward the lower sections is steep and loose, difficult, and only sensible with a guide and good boots.
  • Plateau day walks: open grassland routes of several hours, gentle in gradient, with views over the lowlands and good chances of birds and small antelope.
  • River and forest strolls: shaded paths along streams, easy and slow, best for birds and monkeys.
Wildlife has been heavily reduced by poaching, so expect birds, monkeys and the occasional antelope rather than big game. Getting here is hard: the park is reached by road from Lubumbashi on rough tracks, there is no public transport to the plateau, and a 4x4 with a driver is the realistic option. Crowds are essentially nonexistent. Entry arrangements are informal and handled through park staff or local authorities, so carry small US dollar notes, plus water, food and a tent.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Kundelungu is remote, so most problems come from logistics rather than wildlife. Access tracks from Lubumbashi are rough and turn to mud in the rains, so go with a 4x4, a driver who knows the route, and a park guide. Carry plenty of water, food, a first aid kit, and malaria prophylaxis, since help is far away and phone signal is patchy. Paths near the plateau edge and the Lofoi Falls drop steeply, with loose rock and slippery spray zones, so keep well back from the rim and wear boots with grip. Large animals are scarce after decades of poaching, but snakes and insects are present, so watch your step and sleep under a net. Check current security advice and carry your passport and permits for roadside checks. Pace yourself, since the plateau sits around 1,500 meters and midday sun is strong.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Allow two to three days for Kundelungu National Park, because the road from Lubumbashi is slow and the Lofoi Falls deserve unhurried time. A rushed day trip is possible in the dry season but leaves little time at the viewpoints. Adding a night camping on the plateau gives you the best light on the falls and a calmer pace.
Visiting Kundelungu National Park without your own vehicle is difficult, since no public transport reaches the plateau. Most travelers hire a 4x4 with driver in Lubumbashi, usually for US$80 to 130 a day, often shared among a group. Tracks turn very muddy from December to April, so a local driver who knows the route matters.
Yes, Kundelungu National Park charges a fee and requires authorization from the park authority, usually arranged ahead through the ICCN office or a Lubumbashi operator. Expect roughly US$10 to 30 per person, paid in cash, plus a guide fee of around US$15 to 30 a day. Carry your passport and any travel permits for checkpoints along the road.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Congolese national parks near Kundelungu

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Kundelungu National Park is best in the dry months, and within the day, go early, when the plateau air is cool and the gorge mist is clear before cloud builds. I would bring a good tent, plenty of water and a local guide who knows the tracks. Skip the wet season, when roads turn to soup.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in DR Congo. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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