The Democratic Republic of Congo, also sometimes known as Congo, is a country situated in the central part of Africa.
The country is one of the few places where you can view mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas in the wild.
It’s also home to some of the world’s endangered species and two of the most dangerous volcanoes in Africa.
List of Congo National Parks
Congo is gifted with eleven national parks, each providing its own unique experiences. The parks can be seen below.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Home to some of the Congo gorilla trekking safaris, Kahuzi-Biega National Park is situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is named after two dormant volcanoes, Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega, found within the park.
The park was established in 1970 by a Belgian photographer and conservationist, Adrien Deschryver.
Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980, it covers an area of 6,000 square kilometers and is home to endangered species such as eastern lowland gorillas, forest elephants, forest buffalos, Alexander’s bush squirrel, owl-faced monkey, and many more, as well as various species of recorded birds.
This park is also a common destination for budget gorilla tours.
Mangroves National Park
Mangroves National Park proudly stands as the only marine national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park was established in 1992, covering an area of 678 square kilometers, making it the country’s smallest national park.
The mangroves in this park are distinct from those found in South Asia.
It is also home to various other species of trees, some of which are endemic to this area, and it supports a diverse range of wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, bush bucks, reedbucks, snakes, and various primate species.
Maiko National Park
Maiko National Park is located near the Rwanda and Congo border, between Kasangani and Bukavu, covering an area of 10,400 square kilometers.
The park was initially established by the Belgian government as Bakumu hunting reserve in 1949 with the aim of protecting wildlife and preventing mineral exploitation.
The park is home to various wildlife species, including forest elephants, aquatic genet, eastern chimpanzees, leopards, bush bucks, and more.
It is a remote area with no lodges or amenities, so tourists planning to visit should bring their own camping gear.
Odzala National Park
Odzala National Park, on the other hand, is one of the oldest protected areas in Congo.
It was first designated as a protected area in 1935 and later as a biosphere reserve in 1977.
In 2001, its status was changed to that of a national park, covering 13,500 square kilometers.
Odzala National Park boasts a diverse range of wildlife, including 100 mammal species, 4,500 species of trees and plants, 440 bird species, and numerous primate species.
Some examples of the park’s wildlife include African elephants, forest buffalos, aquatic genets, and primates like gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and black crested mangabeys.
The park is also home to various bird species, such as the red-capped crombec, grey parrot, African fish eagle, and black dwarf hornbill, among others.
Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border of Rwanda and Uganda, covering an area of 7,800 square kilometers.
It boasts the title of Africa’s oldest national park, established in 1925 by King Albert of Belgium as Albert National Park, with the name later changed to Virunga National Park.
Virunga National Park is home to some of the world’s most active volcanoes, including Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyirangongo.
It is also home to the endangered mountain gorillas, which can only be found in Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.
The park offers unique experiences that every traveler should try out.
Lomami National Park
Lomami National Park is one of the newest national parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, established in July 2016 and covering an area of 8,879 square kilometers.
The park is located in two provinces, Maniema and Tshopo.
Lomami National Park supports some endangered species, including the rare Dryas monkey, Okapi, Bonobo monkeys, Lesula monkey, as well as other animals like forest elephants, leopards, bush bucks, hippos, and crocodiles, among others.
Upemba National Park
Upemba National Park is located in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, covering an area of 10,000 square kilometers.
The park was established in 1939 and was the largest park in Africa at that time before the boundaries were revised in 1975.
Upemba National Park is home to over 1,800 species of wildlife, including the shoebill, wattled crane, spotted ground thrush, African fish eagle, and strange weaver, among others.
Kundelungu National Park
Kundelungu National Park is located near Upemba National Park in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park was established in 1970, covering an area of 7,600 square kilometers.
It is home to various wildlife species including antelopes, hippos, elephants, warthogs, porcupines, buffalos, monkeys, jackals, and many more, as well as various bird species.
Garamba National Park
Garamba National Park was gazetted in 1938, covering an area of 5,200 square kilometers.
It is home to 138 species of mammals and 286 species of birds.
The park is said to have been home to over 20,000 elephants in the 1960s and 70s, but the population dramatically decreased due to poaching.
Garamba National Park’s wildlife includes giant forest hogs, Congo giraffes, okapi, forest elephants, hippos, buffalos, leopards, and numerous birds such as the secretary bird, among others.
Salonga National Park
Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is Africa’s largest tropical rainforest national park, covering 36,000 square kilometers within the Congo River basin.
The park was first established as Tshaupa National Park in 1956 and was changed to Salonga by a presidential decree in 1970.
Salonga National Park was also designated as a World Heritage Site in 1984 by UNESCO. It’s home to various species such as African golden genet, bush pigs, forest buffalo, long-tailed pangolin, Angolan slender mongoose, hippos, dryas monkey, aquatic genet, Thollon’s red colobus, and many others.
Nouabale-Ndoki National Park
Nouabale-Ndoki National Park was established in 1993 and is situated in the northern part of Congo, covering 3,921 square kilometers.
The park is one of the places you should explore while in Congo for a memorable tour.
Nouabale-Ndoki National Park is home to 1000 species of plants and 300 species of birds.
Some of the wildlife in the park includes elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, buffalos, leopards, blue duikers, crocodiles, colobus monkeys, and many more.
Best time to visit
The parks in Congo can be visited all year round, but the best time is from June to August during the drier months.
