Are you wondering how many national parks are in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Well, they are over 9 parks teeming with wildlife including those endemic to the country such as Okapi, Bonobos, Congo peafowl and Eastern lowland gorillas, plethora of bird species, verdant vegetation, sweeping savannah plains, spectacular and towering Mountains with jaw-dropping views and riveting cultures and traditions.
From the popular Virunga National Park to the remote Kundelungu National Park, here is the full list of Congo National Parks to enable you plan better for a Congo safari.
Virunga National Park.
Virunga National Park is one of Congo’s beautiful and most-visited National Parks, set within the Eastern province of the country close to the Town of Goma and along the shores of Lake Kivu. It was gazetted in 1925 as Albert National Park, making it one of the oldest Parks in the African Continent and is also one of the bio-diverse rich Conservation Areas in Africa.
It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is marked by varying habitats ranging from the wetlands and steppes, savannah plains, lava plains on the lower slopes of Mount Nyiragongo to the snow-capped peaks of Rwenzori Mountains range. This 7800-square kilometer Congo National Park is a renowned hub of the endangered mountain gorillas in addition to sheltering other magnificent animals such as black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, the stunning Okapi, forest elephants, lions, forest buffaloes, leopards, blue monkeys, bushbucks, Hippos and a myriad of bird species (totaling to 705).
Travelers to Virunga National Park are treated to a number of exciting activities that include gorilla trekking, Mount Nyiragongo hike, cultural tours and many others.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is also found in the Eastern side of Democratic Republic of Congo near Bukavu Town and boasts of over 6000 square kilometers area. This gem is one of the rarely-explored destinations in the African Continent yet it shelters some of the rarest animals including the Eastern lowland gorillas that are endemic to Congo. The Park was gazetted in 1970 by a Belgium Conservationist and photographer named Adrian Deschryver, and was named after two mountains-Kahuzi and Biega.
It is also covered by tropical rainforests, wetlands and marsh and over 375 species of birds call this UNESCO World Heritage Site home. The exciting things done by visitors to Kahuzi-Biega National Park include trekking Eastern lowland gorillas, birding, Mount Kahuzi hiking, tours of the nearby Town of Bukavu and village/community walks.
Salonga National Park.
Salonga National Park does not receive the limelight that it deserves but it is the largest Topical Rainforest Reserve in the African Continent extending for over 36,000 square kilometers. It is set within the heart of Congo River basin and haven to outstanding flora and fauna.
Gazetted in 1970, Salonga Park’s landscape is covered by wetland areas, savannah grasslands, verdant rainforests as well as woodlands and is home to numerous endemic and extraordinary species like the African golden cats, African slender-snouted (false) crocodile, long-tailed pangolin, Okapi, forest elephants and dwarf chimpanzees (or bonobos) among others. Unique bird species in the Park are cattle egrets, Congo peacock, yellow-billed storks and many others.
Kundelungu National Park.
Stretching for over 7600 square kilometers, Kundelungu National Park is situated within the south-eastern side of Katanga Province close to the popular Upemba National Park. It was first established as a private controlled hunting area, then became an Important Protected Area and finally a National Park in 1970.
The highlight of this overlooked park is Lofoi falls-340-meter high waterfall considered one of the largest in Central Africa. Additionally, it shelters populations of hippos, jackals, warthogs, buffaloes, porcupines, snakes and unique bird species including pelicans and egrets.
Mangroves National Park.
Mangroves National Park is the only Marine Park in the country, set at the mouth of Congo River in Moanda territory. The Park was gazetted in 1992 and extends for over 768 square kilometers, hence making it the smallest Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This Park is indeed a natural wonder divided into three regions mangroves islands, riverside land area and coastal strip with numerous marine and land species that include bushbucks, crocodiles, southern reedbucks, Hippos, snakes, monkeys and many others.
Lomami National Park.
Lomami National Park is sprawled within the heart of beautiful Lomami River basin, bordering Maniema and Tshopo Provinces. Gazetted in 2016, it is the 9th and youngest National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo extending for almost 9000 square kilometers.
One thing about Congo National Park is their diversity of ecosystems and Lomami is not different because it features Tropical lowland rainforest and savannah grasslands within the south as well as hilly terrain in the west that combine to shelter outstanding animals such as the newly discovered primates – Lesula, Okapi, De Brazza’s monkeys, African forest elephants, Tshuapa red colobus monkeys, yellow-nosed red-tailed monkeys, Lomami river wolf’s monkeys, Congo peafowls, Bonobo, the extraordinary Salonga monkeys, Dryas monkeys and many other animals that you will not see in other countries.
Garamba National Park.
Located within the north-eastern side of the country, Garamba is an extraordinary Congo National Park characterized by extensive savannah, woodlands and grasslands dotted with gallery forests along the pristine River banks as well as swampy depressions. It lies within the transition zone between the thick tropical forests of the Congo basin and Guinea-Sudan savannahs.
The Park covers an area of 4920 square kilometers and is haven to four large mammals that are Northern white Rhinos totaling to about 30 individuals, forest and bush elephants, Hippos and Congolese giraffes. Other common and occasionally seen animals in the Park are spotted hyenas, lions, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, chimpanzees, Bongo and Sitatunga so much more.
Upemba National Park.
Upemba National Park extends for a bounteous 11,730 square kilometers within south-Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, within Haut-Lomami, Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces.
It was created in 1939 and is characterized by Tropical rainforests, Afro-montane grasslands and forests on the slopes of Kibara mountains, Miombo woodlands, Lakes and streams, marshes and Riparian zones. These ecosystems support different fish species, birds and amphibians (Schmidt’s snouted frogs), cheetahs, lions, Katanga Impalas, zebras, buffaloes, leopards, bushbucks, elephants, and so much more
Maiko National Park.
A list of Congo National Parks is incomplete without Maiko National Park, established in 1970 within one of the most remote forest areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It extends for over 10,885 square kilometers divided into three sectors-Maniema, Nord Kivu and Province Orientale.
Some of Congo’s endemic animals such as Congo peafowl, Okapi and Eastern lowland gorillas are found in this park alongside the aquatic genets, African forest elephants, eastern chimpanzees and many others.
