AfricaDemocratic Republic of the CongoEast Kasai
Mbuji-Mayi
East Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo · Africa
About Mbuji-Mayi
Mbuji-Mayi sits on the route: 25 minutes from Miabi.
Mbuji-Mayi is in East Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with about 2.1 million people. The nearest town is Miabi, about 24 km away.
Mbuji-Mayi (known until end-1962 as Bakwanga) is a city and the capital of Kasai-Oriental Province in the south-central Democratic Republic of Congo. It is thought to be the second largest city in the country, after the capital Kinshasa and ahead of Lubumbashi, Kisangani and Kananga, though its exact population is notRead more
known. Estimates range from a 2010 CIA World Factbook estimated population of 1,480,000 to as many as 3,500,000 estimated by the United Nations in 2008.
Mbuji-Mayi lies in Luba country on the Mbuji-Mayi River. The name Mbuji-Mayi comes from the local language, Tshiluba, and translates as "Goat-Water," a name deriving from the great number of goats in the region. Despite its large population, the city remains remote, having little connection to surrounding provinces or to Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. However, Mbuji-Mayi is the traditional centre of industrial diamond mining in Congo, being located on top of one of the largest known deposits in the world. Air travel is provided through the Mbuji Mayi Airport.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mbuji-Mayi?
Mbuji-Mayi is in East Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 24 km from Miabi.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,101,332
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Region
- East Kasai
- Timezone
- Africa/Lubumbashi
- Coordinates
- -6.1360, 23.5898
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When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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