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Namoya Gold Mine

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Industrial site

Weather…

The Namoya Gold Mine is located in the Maniema Province and serves as the southern anchor of the Twangiza-Namoya gold belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Developed by the Banro Corporation, following the model of its sister site Twangiza, commercial gold production at Namoya officially began in 2014. The mine employs modern open-pit extraction methods and features a heap leach facility for processing ore and recovering precious metal. Namoya was envisioned as a key project for the economic revitalization of the Maniema region, which had long been isolated and reliant on informal mining. Geologically, the area is characterized by shear-zone controlled gold mineralization hosted in Precambrian rock formations. Despite its significant economic potential, the mine has been repeatedly targeted by local militias, leading to several temporary shutdowns and security concerns. In 2020, the project was sold to a Chinese-led consortium, marking a new chapter in the mine's operational history.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is May–Jul.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	23	23	23	23	24	23	24	25	25	24	23	22
Rain mm	197	189	206	163	60	16	17	40	104	172	285	238

📋 Practical info

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What is this place?

The Namoya gold mine in Maniema Province is part of a significant gold belt in eastern DR Congo. It boosts the economic development of the remote region and creates jobs.

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Visiting

The mine is not open to the public for security reasons. External viewing is possible from the surrounding forested hills, which provide a good overview.

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Where to view it

The hill south of the Namoya settlement features a good view of the open pit and the cyanide leaching ponds. The access road from Kasongo also provides sightlines to the site.

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Local products

The region is rich in gold extracted at the mine. On local markets in Maniema, traditional gold jewelry and handicrafts from the area can be purchased.

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Active season

Gold extraction occurs year-round, with a main season in the dry period from June to October. Then rivers are lower and access to the mine is easier.

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Nearby

A mine visit can be combined with the town of Kasongo and the nearby Lualaba waterfalls. Lomami National Park to the east provides wilderness and wildlife viewing.

Geography

Coordinates

-4.00000, 27.56670

Facts

Commercial gold production at Namoya commenced in 2014.
Namoya is located at the southern end of the regional gold belt.
The facility uses heap leach technology for gold extraction.
The project was sold to a Chinese consortium in the year 2020.
The mine is situated in the remote Maniema Province.
Gold mineralization is hosted within Precambrian rock formations.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Kabambare Swahili Post86 km · SWExplore →

Kasongo110 km · SWExplore →

Mitumba Mountains110 km · NWExplore →

Itombwe Massif115 km · NEExplore →

Kamituga116 km · NEExplore →

Elila River117 km · SEExplore →

Maniema Plateau129 km · SEExplore →

Shabunda131 km · EExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

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Overnight stops

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Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights in the town Namoya Gold Mine (1)

Namoya Mine📍 landmark

Gold mine in Maniema province, DR Congo. Surface mining for gold.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

What is the Namoya mine?

A significant gold mining area in the Maniema province.

Is the operation active?

Operations have been interrupted in recent years due to security issues.

How do you reach Namoya?

Accessibility is very difficult, mostly only by small plane.

Are there settlements there?

There are mining villages in the direct vicinity of the mine.

How is the climate there?

Hot and humid, typical of the Central African rainforest.

Namoya Gold Mine: where is it located?

Namoya Gold Mine is located in Congo - Kinshasa.

Namoya Gold Mine: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jul.

Namoya Gold Mine: why is it worth visiting?

The Namoya Gold Mine is located in the Maniema Province and serves as the southern anchor of the Twangiza-Namoya gold belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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