Salonga National Park is the largest national park in Democratic Republic of Congo covering an area of 33,500 Square kilometers. It’s one of the largest national parks in Africa, 95% of the park is covered by the forest. Historically, the park was established in 1956 as Tshuapa national park and 1970, it regained its present boundaries and in the year 1984, it was inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site and in 1999 the park was listed as a site in danger due to civil wars that occurred in the southern part of the park.
It is named after Salonga River and the park is divided into two large blocks – south and north. The corridor is about 455km wide and shape of this park resembles that of a human heart and this is the breathing point for different wildlife and nature at large.
This Park is the largest in Africa and second-largest in the world but it protects largest rainforest, which has attracted different wildlife, ranging from mammals, bird species, reptiles, amphibians and plant species that live within this forest. Over 50 mammal species live in the park and these include Elephants, Bongo antelopes, black-crested mangabeys, leopards, baboons among others. Due to its rich biodiversity, it was dedicated towards research and conservation of bonobos.
Over 223 bird species that are normally spotted in the park are yellow-billed stork, cattle egrets, Congo peafowl, and black stork among others. And also over 50 fish species can be found in the park such as the cut fish, lungfish, and tilapia among others. And reptiles like snakes, crocodile among others are also residents here.
Salonga National Park offers best experience as you listen to different birds calling out in the high canopy, meandering rivers with sand beaches and palm trees, monkeys play as they jump from one tree to another, the large swarm of fruits giving a good color to keep watching as birds like hornbills crossing the skies as the sitatunga antelope jumps from one side of the river to another among other eye-catching moments.
There are some threats to the park, including human activities like illegal hunting in the park. There are rules put to curb illegal hunting which is normally considered to be poaching and the local people have been not cooperative, leading to decline in the number of poachers. Law enforcement activities have been carried out to sensitize the surrounding communities.
There are different activities that you can engage in while visiting Salonga National Park and these include game viewing, bird watching, fishing, cultural experience sport hunting, nature walks among others. These activities expose you to the best of inhabitants of this park such as the birds, unique culture, and mammals including the Chimpanzees, forest elephants, sitatunga, golden cats, and Cape buffalos among others.
How to access the park?
The park can be accessed with air and water. By water, tourists use a boat cruise through river Congo that can take about an hour to reach one of the gates.
By air, domestic flights are arranged from Monkonto, Mundja and Anja airstrip and take less than an hour to reach this national park.
Best time to visit Salonga National Park.
D.R. Congo receives an equatorial type of climate, which means that there are two rainy and dry seasons. The best time remains dry season that occurs from June to December and it is during this season that animals are out and active.
This is a must-visit destination for your Congo Safari. You should add Salonga National Park on your bucket list.
