| Kisantu | |
| Official Name: | Ville de Kisantu |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Subdivision Name: | DR Congo |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kongo Central |
| Parts Type: | Communes |
| Parts Style: | para |
| P1: | Kisantu |
| P2: | Lukaya District |
| Total Type: | Town |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Metro: | 78,000 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name Sec1: | National language |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Kituba |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Coordinates: | -5.1289°N 15.0847°W |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Climate |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | Aw |
Kisantu, is a town in the western Democratic Republic of Congo, lying south west of Kinshasa, on the Inkisi River. It is known for its large cathedral and for its botanical gardens, which include an arboretum of indigenous trees.[1]
Kisantu is located in Kongo Central Province, along the eastern bank of the Inkisi River, as it flows northwards to empty into the Congo River. On the western bank of the river, is the settlement called Inkisi. Sometimes the metropolitan area is referred to as Inkisi-Kisantu. This is approximately 231km (144miles) northeast of the city of Matadi, the provincial headquarters.Kisantu is located approximately 104km (65miles) southwest of the city of Kinshasa, the national capital.
The geographical coordinates of the town are: 05°07'44.0"S, 15°05'05.0"E (Latitude:-5.128889; Longitude:15.084722). The town is located at an average elevation of 404m (1,325feet) above mean sea level.[2]
One of the tourist attractions to he town is the Kisantu Botanical Gardens (French: Jardin Botanique de Kisantu (KISA)).They were established in 1900 by Father Justin Gillet, a Jesuit priest. Between 2004 and 2008, the gardens were rehabilitated with "the support of the European Union and the National Botanic Garden of Belgium".[3]
The botanical gardens occupy an area that measures approximately 225ha, bordered to the west by the Inkisi River. There are over 12.5km (07.8miles) of roads and pedestrian pathways within the gardens. The gardens attract researchers, botanists, naturalists, school children and ordinary tourists from inside and outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[3]
As of October 2022, the article in this reference estimated the population of Kisantu Town at approximately 78,000 people.[1]
Kisantu is served by a station on the national railway system. It also has an airport. A good national road (N1), leads north to Kinshasa and southwest to he port city of Matadi.
The legendary DR Congolese saxophonist, composer, bandleader, producer, record label founder, and music-business executive, Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta (19 May 1944 – 13 October 2022), was born in Kisantu.[4]