Salonga National Park
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Salonga National Park DR Congo
Salonga National park was established in 1970 and is divided into two sectors that are the southern and the northern sector which is separated by the road that divides them as it’s the route to Congo’s capital city when connecting from Eastern Park of Congo by Road. Salonga National Park corridor is 4 km wide and is located in the Congo River basin covering about 36,000 km2 or 3,600,000 hectares (8,900,000 acres) extending into the provinces of Mai Ndombe, Equateur, Kasaï, and Sankuru.
The Road infrastructure development within the national park is still very low whereby travelers planning a safari to Salonga should be aware that the explore the adventure of the park will be done using a boat on the river cross as its crossed by that second-longest river in Africa as no road is developed which has left the region with extremely low development in the tourism sector.
The southern region inhabited by the Iyaelima people is accessible via the Lokoro River, which flows through the center and northern parts of the park, and the Lula River in the south.
Many different organizations are currently working on keeping this area of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s critically affected protected wildlife areas, free from poachers and dangers that may cause harm to the life found within its lands. The rare privilege of being able to see even parts of this enormous national park is an experience of a lifetime and one that will surely not soon be forgotten.
Size of Salonga National Park DR Congo
Salonga National Park is the largest reserve in Congo (Kinshasa), Africa, covering more than 14,000 square miles (36,000 square km) and located midway between Kinshasa the national capital, and Kisangani 720 miles (1,160 km) to the northeast. The administrative headquarters at Monkoto (Équateur province), on the Luilaka River southeast of Mbandaka, is accessible only by boat from the Congo River. The park was established in 1970 and has two separate sections, one north and one south of Monkoto; dense equatorial forest provides habitats for parrots, elephants, antelope, and a variety of monkeys and apes—including pygmy chimpanzees, unique to this part of the world. Park visitors observe the animals from motorized riverboats, and hunting is prohibited. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.
Location of Salonga National Park
Salonga National Park is a national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo located in the Congo River basin. It is Africa’s largest tropical rainforest reserve covering about 36,000 km² or 3,600,000 hectares. It extends into the provinces of Mai Ndombe, Equateur, Kasaï, and Sankuru
How to Get to Salonga National Park Congo
Among the hard-to-access national parks of Congo is Salonga national park that is only accessed by water transport means which is done on the boat cruise on the river Congo. Once you arrive at the park, the experience is ever worth the hassle and the time invested during the expedition to the national park
The 1160 km trip from Kinshasa to Kisangani is easily done using a 4 wheel drive and this may require 3 days and travelers must ensure they travel in the dry season as during the wet season some roads are not accessible and also private helicopters can be charted from Kinshasa to the heart of the park.
Things to do in Salonga National Park
A natural treasure in the heart of the Congo Basin, South of the majestic Congo River, in the lowlands of Congo is a natural treasure largely unknown: the Salonga National Park. It is the largest forest park in Africa and one of the last remaining intact tropical forests in the world. Comprising a mosaic of rivers, streams, marshlands, and typical grassy glades called bais and marshes; Salonga is home to 40% of the world’s bonobos.
A boat safari on the Congo River
Due to the limited infrastructure development and the poor tourism services, the only activity in the park is a boat safari on the Congo River that might just give you some of the once in lifetime safari expedition into the Congo basin area which is threatened by the rebel groups causing destabilization in the area anyone wanting to visit the must contact wilderness Explorers Africa for more travel information before traveling to the region
Bonobo tracking activity
Adventures travelers can embark on a journey to discover the only species of the pygmy chimpanzees left in the wild as the forest is facing massive attacks from Human activities that have put most of the wildlife to the brink of extinction.
Birding safaris
Salonga national park is located right at the heart of the Congo basin attracting much of the West African endemics into the area and the presence of the Congo River is also a massive support to the wildlife and birdlife in the area.
Best time to visit Salonga National Park
In the climates and ecological zones of the Republic of Congo, there are actually 2 dry seasons and 2 wet seasons, and the weather is somewhat reversed between north and south as if that isn’t confusing enough. June to December is the best time to travel to Congo’s Salonga national park – It is cool and there are lots of active animals out to the spot.
Where to stay in Salonga National Park
If you have never embarked on a journey discovering the undiscovered destinations this will be one of the top activities to take on and with very low tourist numbers in the area, the national park has no developed safari lodges and a safari to Salonga national park is done by camping through the entire safari.
Please contact Wilderness Explorers Africa for the best travel tips on how, when to travel to the Democratic Republic Congo undiscovered destinations for journeys of a lifetime.
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