Mangroves National Park is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was created in 1992 and covers an area of 768 square kilometers. It is the smallest national park in Congo.
The park is known for its wetland system and is listed as a Ramsar wetland site. It is the only marine national park in the country and has mangrove forests that are different from those found in South Asia.
The name of the park comes from the mangrove trees.
The park has wetlands, forests, mangroves, oak trees, walnut trees, red cedar, African oak, coconut trees, grasslands, and more. These features make the park beautiful to explore. Below are some of the activities tourists can enjoy in the park.
Tourist Activities
You can go on boat cruises on the Congo River basin. During the cruise, you may see hippos, crocodiles, manatees, and many water birds. The river and forest views are peaceful and interesting.
Fishing is another activity tourists can enjoy in the park. The Congo River basin has many fish species. However, visitors must bring their own fishing gear if they want to take part.
Mangroves National Park is not just about mangrove trees. It is also home to many animals like southern reedbucks, bushbucks, crocodiles, snakes, hippos, manatees, bush pigs, and monkeys.
Bird lovers can see different birds in the park. Some examples include kingfishers, Ayres hawk eagles, African fish eagles, goliath herons, red-billed tropicbirds, long-tailed cormorants, and many more.
Best Time to Visit
Mangroves National Park can be visited at any time of the year. Each season offers a different experience. If you want to swim and relax by the ocean, the best time to visit is during the dry months from June to August.
If you are visiting during the rainy season, remember to bring strong mosquito repellent because there are many mosquitoes.
There is no hotel inside Mangroves National Park yet. Visitors can bring their own camping gear or stay in Muada town, where there are hotels ranging from budget to mid-range and luxury.
How to Get There
You can reach Mangroves National Park by road or by flying to Muada town. From Muada, tourists can drive to the park.
