Garamba National Park is a Congolese national park situated in the northeastern part of Congo, covering 5,200 square kilometers. The park was established in 1938 and boasts over 138 species of mammals, 286 species of birds.
The last rhinos in the park were seen in 2000.
Garamba National Park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The park used to have the largest concentration of elephants, numbering 20,000 in the early 60s and 70s, but by 2017, there were only 2000 elephants left in the park.
Garamba National Park is home to over 1000 species of trees, with 5% of them being endemic to the area. The park is fed by three rivers: the Garamba River, the Dungu River, and the Aka River. It is located near the border of Congo and Sudan.
Wildlife & Birds
Garamba National Park is home to various animal species. Some of the wildlife you can spot during a game drive includes buffalos, elephants, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, giant forest hogs, duikers, bush pigs, golden cats, warthogs, waterbuck, mongoose, giant forest hogs, and primates like vervet monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, and olive baboons, among others.
Garamba National Park is a birder’s paradise with over 550 species of birds recorded. Some of the examples of birds found within the park include knob-billed ducks, water thick-knees, squacco herons, pied kingfishers, African fishing eagles, wattled plovers, long-tailed cormorants, pink and white-backed pelicans, spur-winged plovers, black crakes, and many others.
Fishing & Boat Cruise
Fishing in Garamba National Park can be done at one of the rivers like the Garamba River. However, this should be done with the help of a ranger guide and at designated areas.
Tourists interested in fishing should bring their own fishing gear.
Boat cruises on one of the magnificent rivers are a great way to enjoy the park’s flora and fauna. You can enjoy superb views and view wildlife along the riverbanks, with lots of water birds to be seen during the cruise.
Best time to visit
Garamba National Park can be visited all year round, but the ideal months are from June to December when the vegetation is short and not thick.
During the rainy season, some of the roads leading to the park become impassable, and the thick vegetation makes it hard to spot wildlife.
Where to sleep while at Garamba National Park will depend on tourists’ choice and budget. Some of the hotels at the park include Plaza Hotel, Hotel Kisangani, New Cosmos Hotel, Flat Hotel Petit Zoo, and La Trumpette Hotel, among others.
