The Kinshasa Botanical Garden offers something rare in this overwhelming city: relative quiet. Established in the colonial era, the garden preserves a collection of tropical plants and trees from across the Congo Basin and beyond, and its shaded paths give you a chance to breathe and think after the relentless noise of the streets. It is not the lushest or best-maintained botanical garden in Africa, but by Kinshasa's standards it is a genuine refuge.
Birdwatchers will find it worthwhile -- the garden attracts species that are harder to spot in the concrete sprawl around it, and the tree canopy supports a surprising variety of life. Come in the morning for the best bird activity and to avoid the afternoon heat. The garden is a reasonable stop to combine with a visit to the nearby Musée National, and a peaceful place to sit and recover your bearings after a morning in the Marché Central.