STANLEY STONE

This is a rock on a pedestal at the side of the road, which was used to support a plaque announcing the crossing of the equator at this point. History attributes this approximation to Stanley, who is said to have marked the spot on behalf of Leopold II during the creation of the first post office that gave birth to Mbandaka... Since then, it has been known that the equinoctial line is actually located a few kilometers away. A more recent plaque restores the supposed initial text of the first lost plaque: "Here passes the equator line. Equator city in 1883 near geographical equator (0.18°)". The limonite stone would have been erected in 1954 on the site of the first residence of Stanley and his companions. An old "dad", self-proclaimed guardian of the site, will inevitably ask you for photo rights, which must be firmly negotiated.

Mobutu's unfinished residence. A few metres away, nestled in the middle of the undergrowth, surrounded by a few huts, is Mobutu's unfinished concrete residence. A two-storey former future palace with dance hall, dining room, bedrooms... Of course, the whole thing has been completely ravaged by the years and the climate. The view over the river remains grandiose, reflecting the marshal's megalomania. It's not hard to imagine that the town as a whole had this extraordinary character. Villagers remember this and wait in disbelief for the return of their benefactor. Visit free of charge (to date), with a host of children clamoring for a ticket as they pass.