Congo: National Parks, Wildlife and Nature Experiences

In Congo, nature experiences range from seeing endangered species and river waterfalls to mountain activities on an active volcano. Salonga, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and Virunga offer different starting points for a trip: parkland and wildlife habitats, waterfalls on named rivers, and specific activities in the mountains. When choosing a destination for a hotel stay, it may help to start by asking which of these themes matters most to you.

National Parks, Rivers and History

Salonga National Park covers 3,600,000 ha across two separate sections. Its area and division are both important for understanding its extent. The park provides a habitat for endangered bonobos, forest elephants and Congo peafowl. Salonga can therefore be described both by its size and by these three specifically named animal species.

One historical reference point is Upemba National Park: it was established by royal decree in May 1939. For travelers who would like to consider the history of a protected area alongside its natural features, the date provides a clear point of reference.

Waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers are located in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The river names give this landscape feature a specific connection to the reserve. The themes of the protected areas are therefore already quite distinct: here, Salonga represents area and wildlife habitat, Upemba a historical founding date, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve waterfalls on two rivers.

Virunga: Wildlife and Mountain Activities

Virunga National Park covers 790,000 ha. Virunga National Park is home to 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species. The area and species figures highlight different aspects of the park: one indicates its extent, while the others name parts of its biodiversity. The two park areas are also clearly distinct when compared with the stated area of Salonga.

In the southern sector of Virunga National Park, visitors can reach the summit of the active stratovolcano Nyiragongo, camp on the crater rim and observe the lava lake. Before traveling, check whether these activities are currently available.

In the northern sector, visitors can climb the 5,109 m Rwenzori Mountains. You should also check before traveling whether this activity is currently available. The two sectors therefore differ in their main focus: the south centers on the summit, crater rim and lava lake, while the north is focused on climbing in the Rwenzori Mountains.

Planning Your Trip

The headquarters and tourist area of Kahuzi-Biega National Park are 30 km from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province.

Road travel times to Garamba Lodge are stated as at least 3 hours from Durba, 4 to 8 hours from Dungu, at least 6 hours from Aru and at least 10 hours from Isiro. Depending on road conditions, journeys may take considerably longer. When planning, pay particular attention to the range given for travel from Dungu; the other figures are minimum times, not fixed arrival times.

The different details help with different planning questions: areas and species help you understand the natural features; Virunga’s activities can be distinguished by their focus; and the starting point and road conditions matter when planning travel times to Garamba Lodge. So first decide which experience is important to your trip, then base your hotel search on your itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Kouilou, Cuvette, Biaro‎, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Mpita, Brazzaville, Bas-Congo, Katanga, North-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, Niari, Orientale

For the overview of destinations: Africa.