Lomami National Park DR Congo

Lomami National Park is a national park located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. Situated within the middle basin of the Lomami River, it straddles the Provinces of Tshopo and Maniema with a slight overlap into the forests of the Tshuapa and Lualaba river basins. It’s the ninth National park that was first created in 1992 and was finally declared on 7th July 2016.On satellite images, the probable area appeared as nearly 40,000 km² of unexplored rain forest showing no roads, human habitation, or agricultural clearings.

Through Lukuru Foundation, John and Teresa Hart, a couple involved in research and conservation of DR Congo’s forests since the early 1980s, launched a dugout up the Lomami River in April 2007. Onboard were several forest teams ready to inventory the area on foot over the next three years. They named the area Tsuapa-Lomami-Lualaba conservation landscape (TL2) after the three rivers Tsuapa, Lomami, and Lualaba, whose forest they explored.

Wildlife species spotted and Recorded in Lomami National Park

The national park has an incredible bio-diversity of some of Africa’s rear and endangered wildlife species which are close to facing extinction if immediate conservation action is not taken the activities include poaching, lumbering, and farming in the area.

Bonobos
Tsuapa red colobus
Lomami red colobus
Scatters Angolan colobus
Northern black mangabey
Katanga red-tailed monkey
Yellow-nosed red-tailed monkey
De Brazza’s monkey
Lomami river blue monkey
Congo basin Wolf’s monkey
Lomami river wolf’s monkey
Lesula
Dryas monkey

Size of Lomami National Park Congo

Lomami National Park measures 8,879 km² (887,900 hectares) of the tropical lowland rain forest with savannah islands in the south and stunning hills in the west, It is home to several nationally endemic species including Bonobo, Okapi, Congo peafowl, and a newly discovered primate species called Lesula, as well as the rare Dryas monkey known locally as Inoko.

The south-eastern range of the bonobo (a Congolese endemic great ape found only on the left bank of the Congo River) was unstudied until 2007.

Location of Lomami National Park

The Lomami National Park is located in two provinces: Tshopo and Maniema. It lies south of Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, and northwest of Kindu, the capital of Maniema Province.

The Lomami River forms the western border at the southern limit of the park and flows through the center of the northern part of the park. This river – as a biogeographic barrier – has influenced the evolution of wildlife in the region. Two other rivers, Tshuapa and Lualaba, define the general east-west limits of the TL2 landscape.

How to get to Lomami National Park

It takes multiple days of air travel for visitors to arrive in the city of Kindu on the banks of the Lualaba River, the greatest tributary of the Congo River, and about 1,200 river miles from where the Congo empties into the Atlantic Ocean. From Kindu, it takes a full day by motorized transport and pirogue (a dug-out canoe traditionally made from a single tree trunk) to reach Chombe Kilima, a village in the park’s buffer zone. From Chombe Kilima, you hike.

The adventure only gets better when you cross open savannahs with orchids and other botanical marvels, and passed through the primary rainforest under the leaf nests built daily by bonobos, one of human’s closest relatives and nicknamed the “make-love-not-war” ape.

Things to do in Lomami National Park

With the full efforts put in the park to protect the endemic species in the area, the park has activities that clients can engage in while visiting the park, and those include.

Bird watching

Lomami national park is home to over 275 bird species both migratory and residential birds, bird watching is very fascinating and enjoyable as you encounter various beautifully colored birds such as grey heron, and Congo peafowl is seen.

Wildlife encounters

Lomami National Park particularly hosts the Lesula (Cercopithecus lomamiensis) a species discovered in 2007 and which is endemic to forests located between the basins of Tshuapa and Lomami other wildlife include okapi, forest elephants.

Research programs

Hardcore scientists can apply for research programs in the national park through their Non-organization Lukuru organization that is overseeing the conservation programs in the area.

When to visit Lomami National Park

The best time to travel to Lomami national park is during the long dry season from May to September, with July markedly the driest month, followed by June. The temperature also drops ever so slightly during these months. There is a shorter dry period in January and February.

Where to stay in Lomami National Park

Being a new national park the park has no improved accommodation facilities and we highly recommend wilderness camping in the park, which means safaris will be arranged based on the camping accommodation option.

For more information about traveling to Lomami national park and the Democratic Republic of Congo travel restrictions please contact us today.