Lola ya Bonobo Congo was founded by Claudine Andre in the year 1994, it’s located at the suburb of Kimwenza in Kinshasha Democratic Republic of Congo 8 kilometers off Matadi road . There are about 60 orphaned Bonobos leaving in the sanctuary covering an area of about 30 hectares of primary forests.
Claudine established the sanctuary in order to safe and keep orphaned Bonobos rescued from bush trade. People poach Bonobos for meat and others sell them as pets to rich tycoons. A few fortunate Bonobos rescued are confiscated and taken to the sanctuary go start a new life.
The Bonobos live in the sanctuary as though their in the wild because they forage all day in the primary forests that full of plants and fruits and just as they would in the wilderness. Bonobos just like Chimpanzees share 98.7% of their DNA with humans.
The word Lola Ya Bonobo was derived from Lingala language translated to mean “paradise for Bonobos. The infants at the sanctuary are taken care of by a substitute Han mother and later released to other Bonobo grow. Up groups.
Scientists allover the world have also been able to study and research about Bonobos easily through Lola ya Bonobo Congo. Bonobos can’t be found elsewhere in the world except in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bonobos were discovered early 1920s in a Bonobo village along River Congo hence deriving the name Bonobo chimpanzees. Unlike other apes, Bonobo communities are dominated by female Bonobos and usually solve conflicts through sex.
Lola ya Bonobo can be reached within 1 and half hours from Kinshasha the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo. Hiring a car from Kinshasha will cost about $100 when the weather is good during the dry season but the price is hiked to $200 during the wet season.
By visiting the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary, you are helping the community and volunteering partners in saving Bonobos of Congo as their endangered with only 50,000-70,000 Bonobos left in the wild. There is a place to stay while at the sanctuary if you would love to spend a night.
Gorilla trekking
You can also add gorilla trekking in Virunga national park to your list while visiting Congo. Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of primates only found in Virunga national park in Congo, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda.