Garamba National Park

Garamba National Park DR Congo

Once home to 22,000 elephants as recently as the 1970s, militarized poachers reduced the population to fewer than 1,200 today; and the northern white rhinos were poached to local extinction in the early 2000s. These highly incentive poachers made up of South Sudanese armed groups, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and others; continue to target the region’s remaining elephants for the sale of their ivory to fund their criminal activities, wreaking havoc on people and wildlife as they go.In a region with little economic opportunity, Garamba employs over 500 full-time local staff with 2,000 more on short-term contracts. Our growing ranger force provides security not only to wildlife but also to tens of thousands of people living around the park, slowly returning peace to this corner of the world again.

With vast undulating grassland savannah and dense dry forest, Garamba is one of the oldest and most well-known national parks in Africa and home to the only notable elephant and giraffe populations in the region.

Flora of Garamba National Park

The southern part of the park is predominantly grassland savannah with scattered trees. Further north the vegetation is mainly mixed woodland, with dense, dry forests as well as riverine and swamp forests. In contrast, the hunting areas are predominantly dense bush savannah, mixed deciduous woodland, and forests.

Fauna of Garamba National Park

With abundant food and water resources, Garamba provides excellent habitat for elephant, hippo, buffalo, and Uganda kob, while less common species such as giraffe and roan antelope, although rare, can also be found.

Carnivores in Garamba National Park

The predator species that roam Garamba are notably spotted hyena, leopard, lion, and Serval amongst several smaller carnivores.

Primates of Garamba National Park

These include the Guereza colobus, Patas monkey, Vervet monkey, the De Brazza’s monkey, and the chimpanzee.

Other Species Hippopotamus and Nile buffalo are the two most prolific species in Garamba. Other species found in the park includes red river hog, warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck, Ugandan kob, Lelwel’s hartebeest, roan antelope, Sitatunga, bongo, blue duiker, yellow-backed duiker, and Oribi.

Avifauna of Garamba National Park

Bird diversity is high with more than 340 species recorded with Spectacular colonies of carmine bee-eaters are common along the banks of the River Dungu and clouds of cattle egret can be seen circling over the large herds of buffalo.

Threatened Species of Garamba National Park

Prior to 2005 Garamba’s elephants were being poached at an alarming rate and the park was experiencing negative population growth. However, by 2019 poaching had decreased by 90% and the population has since stabilized. In addition, the Kordofan giraffe subspecies is critically endangered, with only 48 remaining in the park and the entirety of the DRC.

Size of Garamba National Park

Garamba National Park spans 5,133 km2, with 9,663 km2 of adjacent domains de chasse, and is situated in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) bordering South Sudan. It is one of Africa’s oldest national parks, recognized in 1930, and in 1980 was declared a World Heritage Site. But this critically important landscape has had a tragic past and is often referred to as ground zero in the elephant poaching wars in Africa.

Location of Garamba National Park

Garamba National park is located in the North-Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the transition zone between the vast tropical forests of the Congo basin and Guinea- Sudan savannahs. The Park comprises the last worldwide population of the Northern white rhino, endemic-subspecies of Congolese giraffe, and a mixed population of elephants, which include forest elephants, bush elephants. The park’s vast savannah, grasslands, and woodlands, distributed with gallery forests along the river banks and the swampy depressions are home to four large mammals: the elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, and above all the white rhinoceros.

How to get to Garamba National Park

Garamba’s location off the beaten path means it receives far fewer visitors than Virunga. It also means it’s far less-serviced. There are no commercial flights from Kinshasa.
Qwikflight offers flights from Kinshasa to Beni and to Dungu, which is not too far from Garamba. They also provide helicopter flights, for those looking to do aerial filming or who may wish to land even closer than an airstrip can provide.

Air Tropiques also offers regional and charter services within DR Congo include:

You must find a domestic flight to Aru, at which point they will have to switch to a charter prop plane for a 50-minute ride to Nagero, the launch point for expeditions into the park. It’s theoretically possible to travel by land from Aru (Aru is a territory of Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the name of the territory’s administrative capital, Aru Town. The territory is located at the northern edge of the province, on the border with Uganda to the east and South Sudan to the north) to Nagero, but you would have to be crazy to try, both due to the impassibility of the roads.

Garamba is within driving distance of Juba, the capital of South Sudan. At present, Your African Safari does not advise getting to Garamba via South Sudan. It is also possible to drive from Virunga to Garamba, but conditions are very rough, and the drive is estimated at over 10 hours.

Activities to do in Garamba National Park

Garamba was home to the world’s last known wild population of northern white rhinos, but it has suffered greatly from Congo’s decades-long civil war, with heavy poaching and 50,000 refugees fleeing from Sudan into the park. The last white rhinos were likely killed by poachers by 2008, and the species is expected to be announced extinct within the next few years.

Rhinos, less the park remains one of the last true wilderness areas of Africa, and its jungles and Savannah remain true wonders to be held.

Wildlife game drive in Garamba National Park

Game drives can be arranged in the park through the national park in search of wildlife and birdlife in the iconic national park.

Guided Nature walks in Garamba National Park

Rangers can take you on guided walks to look for the abundant birdlife and some of the wildlife in the area

Community visits

Clients can take guided walks to visit the nearby communities around the national park and interact with them on how they live their life.

When to visit Garamba National Park

The wet season in Garamba is from June to December. The best time to visit Garamba National Park is from January to June when the grass is still short enough to allow for good game visibility.

Where to Stay in Garamba National Park

Garamba lodge

Travelers can stay at the lodge that is the only upmarket property in the area that will give you the true wilderness serene in one of Africa’s oldest national parks during your safari

Camping

Visitors with their own camping gear can camp at the park headquarters and you must take your own food and drinks.