Upemba National Park

Upemba National Park was established on May 15, 1939, and covers an area of approximately 11,730 square kilometers in the Haut-Lomami province. Geographically, the park is characterized by the Upemba Depression, a vast area containing numerous lakes, marshes, and the upper reaches of the Lualaba River. The landscape varies from the high grasslands of the Kibara Plateau, reaching altitudes of up to 1,800 meters, to tropical rainforests in the valleys. The park is renowned for its high biodiversity and hosts rare species such as the Upemba lechwe, an antelope found almost exclusively in this region. Historically, the park was also an important habitat for zebras and elephants, though their numbers were significantly depleted by decades of instability. In addition to its ecological importance, the region holds great cultural value, as archaeological finds in the Upemba Depression indicate continuous human settlement since the first millennium. Current efforts to revitalize the park focus on protection against illegal mining and restoring tourism infrastructure.

Nearby cities

Lubumbashi

Lubumbashi is the mining capital of the DR Congo and the second-largest city, located in the southeastern part of the country.

Likasi

Likasi is a major industrial city in the Upper Katanga Province, significantly involved in the processing of minerals.

Kipushi

Kipushi is a town in the Upper Katanga Province, situated right on the border with Zambia, known for its deep mine.

Kambove

Kambove is a historical mining town in Haut-Katanga province.

Pweto

Pweto is located at the northern end of Lake Mweru on the border with Zambia.

Kasumbalesa

Kasumbalesa is a border town in Upper Katanga Province, serving as a vital crossing point between DR Congo and Zambia.

Sakania

Sakania is the southernmost town of the DR Congo on the border with Zambia.

History & landmarks

University of Lubumbashi (Belvédère)

The distinctive campus buildings of the University of Lubumbashi, a center for education in the south.

Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium

A major sports stadium in Lubumbashi, formerly known as Stade de la Kenya.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral

The Cathédrale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul in Lubumbashi is a grand Romanesque-style cathedral and a landmark of the mining capital.

Palais de Justice Lubumbashi

The Palais de Justice in Lubumbashi is a notable colonial-era building that houses the high courts of the region.

National Museum of Lubumbashi

The Musée National de Lubumbashi displays a rich collection of archaeological, ethnographic, and artistic works from the Katanga region.

Stade TP Mazembe

The Stade TP Mazembe is the private stadium of the famous Tout Puissant Mazembe football club in Lubumbashi.

More places

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Kiubo Falls

Impressive cascades of the Lufira River in the Haut-Katanga province.

Lofoi Falls

One of the highest waterfalls in Africa, where the water plunges over 340 meters.

Lufira Valley Cattle Ranching

A significant area for cattle ranching in Haut-Katanga, favored by vast grassy plains.

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Kundelungu National Park

Kundelungu National Park is known for its dramatic landscapes and the spectacular Lofoi Falls, the highest in Africa.

Jadotville (Likasi)

Likasi, formerly Jadotville, was the site of the famous 1961 Siege of Jadotville, where Irish UN troops fought Katangese secessionists.

Historic Shinkolobwe Mine

A now-closed uranium mine that provided the material for the first atomic bombs during World War II.

Kolwezi Children's Park

Children's parks in Kolwezi provide necessary recreational spaces for families in the world's cobalt mining capital.

Shinkolobwe Uranium Mine

The Shinkolobwe mine supplied the high-grade uranium used in the Manhattan Project for the first atomic bombs during World War II.