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Home » Congo National Parks, National Parks in Congo

Congo National Parks, National Parks in Congo

Congo national parks are the popular places to visit in Congo- a great country in Central Africa full of natural resources! There are numerous national parks in the Congo and each holds different tourist attractions as well as great adventures for tourists on Congo safari tours.

Depending on your interest, you can choose the national park in Congo to visit. In most cases, tourists undertaking African tours in Congo explore Virunga National Park for mountain gorilla safaris and even Mount Nyiragongo hiking adventures. The other famous park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is Kahuzi Biega National Park- the home to Grauer’s gorillas.

The above shows that, it’s only in Congo where tourists on East African safaris can track both the endangered Mountain gorillas and Eastern lowland gorillas.

Travelers who have time on their Congo holiday trip can also explore other great biodiverse national parks in DRC for example, Garamba National Park, Upemba & Maiko National Park.

On booking your Congo gorilla safari tour with us, we can arrange for you a vacation trip to explore the most famous DRC national parks.

List of National Parks in Congo

  1. Virunga National Park
  2. Kahuzi Biega National Park
  3. Garamba National Park
  4. Maiko National Park
  5. Upemba National Park
  6. Salonga National Park
  7. Kundelungu National Park
  8. Mangroves National Park
  9. Lomami National Park

Main National Parks in Congo

If you book your African trip to Congo with us, we shall suggest to you the best national parks in Congo to explore.

Let’s look at the details of the best national parks in DRC:

1.Virunga National Park, Former Albert National Park

Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park covers over 8,090km2 of land in Eastern Congo within the Virunga Mountains. This striking park gazetted in 1925 shares boundaries with the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda- a combination of these 3 makes up the Virunga Conservation Area.

Popularly, Congo Virunga park (a Unesco World Heritage Site) is known for its great Mountain gorilla population and even Nyiragongo Volcano.

The southern sector of this park encompasses the northern shore of Lake Kivu, Mount Mikeno, Nyiragongo, and Nyamuragira volcanoes. Its central sector covers around 2/3 of Lake Edward up to the border of Uganda in the eastern part of Congo. Then, in its northern sector is the Semuliki basin.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Virunga National Park

Things to see in Virunga Mountains National Park (former Albert National Park) are many but, we are going to discuss the key ones for you and these include;

  1. Mountain Gorillas in Congo Virunga Park

Several tourists who come to visit Virunga park come to watch the endangered Mountain gorillas. Gorillas are giant great apes weighing about 135-220kg. These mighty apes live in groups called families and each group is led by a dominant male called the Silverback gorilla. It controls all the activities in the group.

Gorillas are enormous humanlike primates sharing over 98% of the DNA of man.

  1. Bird species

Over 706 species of birds including Albertine endemic birds, forest birds as well as savannah birds in some areas. Some of the notable birds in Virunga park include the Blue-headed sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Turaco, Regal sunbird, and Kivu ground thrush.

Barred long-tailed cuckoo, grey-throated barbet, Mountain sooty boubou, Yellow-billed barbet, Black-billed turaco, Narina trogon, Tropical boubou, White-necked raven, Mountain oriole, Brown-necked parrot, and Red-chested cuckoo, among others, are common.

Most of the birds in this Mountain gorilla park in the eastern part of Congo can be spotted during the gorilla trekking expeditions and other nature walks.

iii.  Mount Nyiragongo

In Africa, Mount Nyiragongo (3,470m high) is the most active volcano. The violent recent eruptions of Mount Nyiragongo occurred in May 2021 and today, volcanicity is still taking place within the crater at its summit.

At the summit of Mount Nyiragongo, there’s a boiling lava lake. Hikes to explore this lake are possible

  1. Other wildlife species in Virunga National Park

Though many people know Gorillas, over 196 mammal species are recorded in Virunga National Park. Among these include primates like; Chimpanzees, Central African red Colobus, Olive Baboons, Bush squirrels, Red Tailed Monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, etc.

Forest Elephants, Buffalos, Hippos, Nile crocodiles, Lions, Okapis, Forest hogs, Waterbucks, Warthogs, Duikers, Uganda kobs, and Leopards, also dwell in Virunga park.

Main Tourist Activities in Virunga National Park

Visitors undertaking Virunga National Park safari will enjoy various amazing tourist activities and among these include;

  • Mountain gorilla trekking
  • Hiking Mount Nyiragongo. On the hike, you can see stunning views of other volcanoes and even Lake Kivu
  • Climbing Mount Nyamuragira
  • Birding
  • Going for nature walks

It’s possible to combine Congo safari tours in Kahuzi Beiga with the gorilla trekking safaris in Virunga National Park.

2. Kahuzi Biega National Park

Kahuzi Biega National Park Gorillas

Kahuzi Biega National Park is also among the popular parks in Congo. This spectacular park (6000km2) in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo was named after two volcanoes in the park; Mount Kahuzi and Biega. Most of its area is covered in lowland rainforest, marshes, swamps, and bamboo forests.

In 1970, a Belgian photographer & conservationist- Adrien Deschryver established this park and in 1980, it was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. These efforts aim at conserving its great biodiversity including the Lowland eastern gorillas.

About 349 bird species, 1,178 plant species, and over 136 mammal species inhabit Kahuzi Biega NP.

Among African countries, Congo is the only country to have lowland gorilla trekking tours in Kahuzi Beiga park.

Amazing Tourist Attractions in Kahuzi Beiga National Park

  • Eastern lowland gorillas
  • Birds
  • Stunning Volcanoes; Mount Kahuzi and Biega
  • Numerous Monkey species including the owl-faced monkey
  • The beautiful Vegetation of the Congo basin
  • Other animal species such as; African Forest Elephants, Forest Buffalos, African golden cats, and Alexander’s bush squirrel.

Top Tourist Activities in Congo Kahuzi Beiga National Park

  • Eastern lowland gorilla trekking
  • Mountain climbing
  • Bird watching
  • Going for nature walks
  • Community visits to neighboring communities that hold different amazing ethnic groups

3.Garamba National Park

When we talk about the major national parks in Congo, never leave out Garamba National Park! Congo Garamba National Park spans over 5,133km2 of land (nearby the South Sudan border) in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s characterized by savannah grasslands, woodlands, rivers, and an equatorial forest.

Garamba National Park Congo is among the oldest African parks, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Over the decades, this great park has endured extensive ivory poaching, periods of armed conflict from rebel groups, and even civil wars and this has led to a rapid decrease in the population of wildlife in this park. Also, these threatened its UNESCO listing.

In 2005, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) entered into a park management agreement with the African Parks to manage Garamba National Park. Hopes are there that, this area will be one day among the best parks in Africa since patrols are made regularly.

Notable animals in Garamba National Park include;

  • Bush Elephants
  • Lions, Leopards
  • Forest Buffalos
  • Kordofan giraffes
  • Indigenous Congolese Giraffes
  • Hippos
  • Spotted Hyenas
  • Primates like; Chimps, Olive Baboons, Vervet monkeys,
  • Forest hogs and,
  • Various Antelope species, etc.

Note;

  • Over 138 mammal species and 550 bird species are recorded in Garamba Park. It’s said that in the 1960s, about 20,000 Bush Elephants inhabited this park however, their population dramatically reduced due to poaching.
  • Garamba park is among the few parks in Africa to see the wild northern white Rhinos. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, World Wildlife Fund, among other organizations are doing their best to see that wildlife in this park is rehabilitated. Park rangers are recruited to monitor the park.

Congo safari activities in Garamba National Park

  • Birding
  • Guided nature walks
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Fishing in Garamba River
  • Boat cruising on River Garamba & River Dungu

4. Maiko National Park

Congo okapi

Maiko National Park Congo covers approximately 10,885km2 in the most remote of this vast country.

Congo Maiko National Park is divided into 3 sectors, spanning the provinces of North Kivu, Maniema, and the province of Orientale. The park holds various wildlife species however, it’s renowned for inhabiting 3 of the endemic animals in Congo; the Okapi, Grauer’s gorilla, and Congo peafowl.

Other amazing wildlife in Maiko park of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the African forest Elephants, Chimpanzees, and even the endemic aquatic Genet. It’s a wonderful place to visit by tourists on Congo gorilla safaris.

Note that, before this park was gazetted by the Belgian colonial government in 149, it used to be a sport hunting reserve.

The best things to do in Maiko park;

  • Game viewing
  • Birding
  • Going for guided nature walks

5. Salonga National Park

Salonga National Park is situated within the Congo River basin. It’s a breathtaking forest park covering around 3,6000km2 and this makes it the largest tropical rainforest park in Africa. The landscape of this park features mainly a deep rainforest, wetland, woods, and even meadows.

Congo’s Salonga National Park was established in 1956 and it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1984.

Some of the notable animals in Salonga park include; the uncommon Salonga Monkey, African golden cats, Bonobos, Congo Peacocks, Forest Elephants Okapi, African narrow-snouted crocodiles, Leopards, and Bongo antelopes, Black-crested mangabeys, among others. 300 species of birds inhabit this park.

During a vacation in DR Congo, Salonga park is among the best national parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo to go for bird watching.

This park can only be accessed via Lokoro River.

Tourist activities in Salonga National Park

  • Game viewing
  • Primate watching
  • Undertaking guided nature walks in Salonga park
  • Birding in Salonga tropical lowland rain forest

6. Mangroves National Park

Mangroves National Park is also known as Muanda Marine Reserve. This scenic park is found along the shores of the legendary Congo River spanning over 768km2 of land- the smallest national park of Congo gazetted in 1992.

Despite the small size of Mangroves National Park, this parkland has been declared a Ramsar site due to its thrilling biodiversity and vast mangrove forests. It’s the only marine park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Note that, the mangrove forests of this park are distinct from those in South Asia.

Tourists on Congo safari trips in Muanda Marine Reserve can spot Hippos, Bushbucks, Snakes, Crocodiles, primates, and even the Southern Reedbuck, among other rare species.

Main things to do in Mangroves National Park;

  • Boat tours
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Birding
  • Fishing

7. Odzala National Park

Odzala National Park is one of the oldest protected game parks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and this park spans about 13,500 square kilometers.

The park holds a diversity of wildlife, including 100 animal species, 4,500 tree species, and around 440 birds plus numerous primates.

Some of the game animals in this park include; African Elephants, Aquatic genets, Forest Buffalos, and primates such as; Black and white colobus monkeys, Black crested mangabeys, and Chimpanzees. It’s a great place to be to learn about chimpanzee conservation.

The notable birds in Odzala park are the Grey parrot, Red-capped crombec, African fish eagle, and even Black dwarf hornbill, etc.

Tourist activities in Odzala park;

  • Undertaking guided nature walks
  • Boat tours
  • An encounter with the Ba`aka People local community
  • River boat cruises

8. Lomami National Park

Situated in the provinces of Maniema and Tshopo, Lomani National Park is situated in the center of the River Lomami. It was founded in 1992 and inaugurated officially in 2016.

Currently, the park is 8,879km2 in size, with numerous hills on the western side and a rainforest plus savanna grasslands on its southern side.

African Elephants, Okapi, Bonobos, Grey parrots, Salonga monkeys, Congo peacocks, Lesula monkeys (found only in this park), the uncommon Dryas monkey, and various smaller primates can also be found in the park.  There is much to explore in the interior regions of Lomami National Park and its extensive woodlands.

The biggest threat to the park comes from hunting for elephant tusks and bush meat. Larger creatures that live on the outer edges of the forest have been targeted by poachers, whereas the inside parts of the park are still unaltered.

Memorable tourist activities in Lomami National Park;

  • Tracking primates
  • Birding
  • Guided nature walks
  • Cultural encounters with local communities (local populations) around for instance, Mbole, Ngegele, Tetela, Mituku, and other fascinating ethnic groups

Other amazing Congo national parks;

  • Upemba National Park
  • Kundelungu National Park- the Kundelungu National Park holds many animal species including Hippos, Bush Buffalo, Jackals, and Antelopes species, among others.
  • Nouabale Ndoki National Park

Best Time to Visit Congo National Parks

National parks in DRC can be visited by travelers on Congo safari tours any time of the year but, we suggest that you visit in the dry months. During the dry season (June to August and December to February), parks like Virunga National Park are dry and activities like gorilla trekking are wonderful since the trails are drier. Forest walks, and Mount Nyiragongo hiking expeditions are also lovely during this time.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it normally rains in most hours of the day from March to May and even from September to November but, tours remain possible. Infact, this is the ideal time for budget gorilla trekking in Congo Virunga National Park. Some lodges give discounts to visitors in this low season.

Contact our Congo safaris specialist for any inquiries about when to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo!

What to Pack for a Safari in Congo National Parks

Safari-Packing-List

Visitors interested in exploring the game parks of Congo should have the following for a wonderful trip in the Democratic Republic of Congo;

  1. A warm sweater
  2. Rain jacket
  3. Insect repellent
  4. Sunhat
  5. Comfortable safari shoes
  6. A camera
  7. Travel documents
  8. Comfortable safari clothes including long trousers
  9. A simple backpack
  10. Sandals for evenings while at the lodge
  11. Personal toiletries
  12. Sunscreens
  13. Garden gloves
  14. A small torch

FAQs About Congo National Parks

1.      How Many National Parks Are in Congo?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has around 10 parks and among these, Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Beiga National Park are the most popular. These are known for Mountain gorilla safaris in Congo and it’s why DR Congo is becoming one of the most popular visited countries in Africa.

2.   Why Is Virunga National Park Famous? | What Is Special About Virunga National Park?

Congo Virunga park is famous for its Gorillas and even its two active volcanoes; Mount Nyiragongo and Mount Nyamuragira. Travelers on Congo safari tours can do both Mountain gorilla trekking and Nyiragongo hikes.

3.  Why is Virunga National Park in danger?

Despite Virunga park’s being one of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Congo, this park is usually threatened by poachers, natural disasters like Nyiragongo volcanic eruptions, and even some rebel groups that try to do several deadly attacks on rangers. Some nature conservation organizations are trying their best to see that the park turns into an ideal destination for African safari tours. Park rangers always monitor the area.

Visiting DRC national parks is a wonderful decision as you plan to undertake a safari in East Africa. Most parks in Congo inhabit rare wildlife species including Mountain gorillas, Bonobos, Chimpanzees, and other amazing tourist attractions such as a volcano holding a boiling lava crater on its summit. Virunga National Park & Kahuzi Beiga National Park are the most popular parks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to explore.

Read this blog to explore other Congo safari parks. Please, feel free to inquire anything about gorilla trekking tours in Congo.

 

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