History & travel
Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart
Tim Butcher · 2008
A journalist retraces Stanley's route down the Congo River: a vivid primer on the river whose lower reaches break into the Livingstone Falls.
Democratic Republic of the Congo · Republic of the Congo · Central Africa
Livingstone Falls
Chutes de Livingstone
Not a single drop but a 350-kilometre chain of rapids and cataracts where the Congo River loses more elevation than almost any river system on Earth, making it the world's deepest river. The turbulence is so extreme it has created isolated pockets of unique fish evolution.
World's most powerful river rapids by discharge Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Livingstone Falls drops over a series of steps on the Congo. It is a cataract-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Matadi, with MAT the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated hard.
As a cataract waterfall, a large, powerful waterfall or series of rapids on a big river.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Livingstone Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Matadi are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Matadi
- Airport MAT
- Country Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo
- Region Central Africa, Africa
- Access Hard — a serious approach: distance, altitude, a boat, or a guide
How it compares
This waterfall
Livingstone Falls
Democratic Republic of the Congo · Republic of the Congo
Height—Width—
Most similar
Boyoma Falls
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Height5 mWidth—
Also a cataract waterfall and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
5 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Boyoma FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
We don't have a reliable crest width for Livingstone Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
History & travel
Through the Dark Continent, Volume 2
Henry M. Stanley · 1988
Volume 2 covers Stanley's 1877 descent of the Congo, where he named Livingstone Falls and lost men in the cataracts.
Guidebook
Congo: Democratic Republic, Republic
Sean Rorison · 2012
Covers both Congos, including Kinshasa, Brazzaville and the Lower Congo rapids; check current security advice alongside it.
On the map
-4.8, 14.55
Quick answers
Where is Livingstone Falls?
Livingstone Falls is in Democratic Republic of the Congo / Republic of the Congo (Central Africa). The nearest base is Matadi and the closest airport is MAT. Its coordinates are -4.8000, 14.5500.
When is the best time to visit Livingstone Falls?
Peak flow is June to August. Dry season gives clearer, safer river access; the cataracts run violently year-round.
What can you do at Livingstone Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated hard — a serious approach: distance, altitude, a boat, or a guide.
How do you get to Livingstone Falls?
The usual base is Matadi, and the closest airport is MAT. A serious approach: distance, altitude, a boat, or a guide from there.
Nearby
Closest to Livingstone Falls
Petites Chutes de la Lukaya
Democratic Republic of the Congo · 1 m · 90 km away
The Petites Chutes de la Lukaya is a set of small waterfalls on the Lukaya River. They are just south of…
Swimming
Inga Falls
Democratic Republic of the Congo · 96 m · 130 km away
Inga Falls is a rapid 40 kilometres from Matadi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where the Congo River…
Yellala Falls
Democratic Republic of the Congo · 150 km away
The Yellala Falls are a series of waterfalls and rapids on the Congo River just upstream from Matadi in the…
Kalandula Falls
Angola · 105 m · 500 km away
One of Africa's largest waterfalls by volume