10 Things You Must Know Before Moving to Lubumbashi (Seriously)

okay, so, like, I just got back. lubumbashi. don’t even try to pronounce it right. it’s just…lub-lum-shah-shee. it’s a vibe. a weird, dusty, intensely real vibe. i was chasing a rumor about some seriously cheap copper, and honestly? it’s more complicated than that. i’m still processing, fueled by lukewarm beer and the lingering scent of charcoal. let’s just say my sleep schedule is currently a Jackson Pollock painting.

first off, the weather. it’s not sunshine and roses, alright? it’s…grey. perpetually grey. like someone spilled a giant bucket of charcoal over the whole place. it’s humid, like you’re wrapped in a wet towel, and then it shifts into this sudden, sharp cold in the evenings. it’s like, one minute you’re sweating, the next you’re shivering. they call it ‘the grey drizzle’ - and trust me, it’s not a cute nickname. it’s a constant. it’s like living inside a slightly depressing charcoal sketch. it’s a short flight away to Kinshasa, though, and that’s…a whole other beast.

so, ten things. let’s do this.

1. *safety’s a thing. seriously. don’t wander around alone at night. especially not in the cité de l’Amitié. i heard some seriously unsettling stories. like, really unsettling. (link to Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Lubumbashi/)

2. rent is…low. like, ridiculously low. you can get a decent apartment for, like, $150-$300 a month. but…it’s not always safe. check the neighborhood. seriously. do your research.

3. the job market? patchy. mostly mining, construction, and…well, let’s just say ‘entrepreneurship’ is a big word here. i met a guy selling bottled water - bottled water! - and he was making a killing.

4. transport is an adventure. taxis are…negotiable. aggressively. and the buses? forget about it. they’re like sardine cans on wheels. i ended up crammed in with a family of goats. don’t ask.

5. food is…flavorful. seriously, the food is incredible. grilled meats, cassava, plantains…it’s a whole different level of spicy. but be careful with the street food. (link to TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g298467-Lubumbashi.html)

6. electricity is…unpredictable. blackouts are common. like, really common. invest in a good power bank. you’ll thank me later.

7. water? boil it. seriously. don’t even think about drinking it straight from the tap.

8. people are resilient. like, incredibly resilient. they’ve seen a lot. they’re friendly, but wary.

9. the markets are insane. the central market is a sensory overload. colors, smells, sounds…it’s chaotic, but it’s also the heart of the city.

10. learn some French. seriously. a lot of people speak French. even if it’s just a few phrases, it’ll go a long way.

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Here’s a quick breakdown of the cost of living (rough estimates, obviously):

Overheard Gossip (from a guy at a bar): “Don’t go near the quartier des artistes. It’s…complicated. Let’s just say there are things you don’t want to see.” (link to Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/directory/Lubumbashi-Restaurants)

Another Overheard Rumor:* “The copper mines are…well, they’re not what they used to be. There’s a lot of corruption. Just saying.”

Honestly, it’s a place that gets under your skin. It’s not pretty, it’s not easy, but it’s…real. It’s a place where you see the raw, unfiltered face of humanity. And, yeah, maybe I’m a little sleep-deprived, but I wouldn’t trade the experience.

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