Congo Safaris

The Democratic Republic of Congo doesn’t receives as many Tourists as Uganda or Rwanda because of insecurity in the Eastern part of the country. This insecurity is a result of civil wars and rebel activity which has led to negative media reports. These negative reports have scared away potential visitors to the country. Is the negative reporting true? It is true that Congo has experienced prolonged periods of instability caused by armed rebellions. It has also lagged because of corruption and poor governance structures. Caution should therefore be exercised while visiting certain parts of Congo and especially areas with UN peacekeeping mission.

However, we cannot afford to generalize the security situation in Congo as we are talking about a country almost the size of Europe. Not all parts of the country is unsafe to visit. It’s also important to note that the government and park wardens take the security of tourists seriously and visitors should expect to undergo several security protocols or be escorted by armed Rangers when visiting the parks. Mountain Gorilla trekking in Congo  and other activities are usually suspended if the park management deem it unsafe for tourists. This all means that whenever a park is open to tourism, it is safe to visit. National Parks in Congo take over the entire planning for Travelers. They will arrange accommodation, visas and activities to ensure that they have control or can protect Travelers once they enter the country.

Security aside, the country has great tourism potential and the people of Congo are extremely welcoming to visitors. The country has some of the world’s most beautiful parks which all teem with a variety of wild plants and animal species. Regardless of the security situation, The Democratic Republic Congo is one of the best places to see wildlife in Africa. Visitors on a Congo wildlife safari will bare witness to the stunning landscapes, endless green forest, water bodies and unique species like the elusive Okapi. If total peace prevailed, the country could easily become Africa’s number one  safari destination.

The capital Kinshasa with its strong diplomatic community and over 10 million residents has interesting places to visit such as the “Symphonies Naturelles” with its cool forests and beautiful paths. While in Kinshasa, one can marvel at the street art or visit historical buildings, the Musée National de Kinshasa, the snake farm (serpents du Congo) and the central Market of Matongé (Marché Central). We are pleased to organize safaris in Congo and many of our tour packages involve combined safaris that involves visiting this part of Africa.

Congo Wildlife Safaris – Where to go for a safari in Congo

Kahuzi-Biega National Park: The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is named after the mountains Kahuzi and Biega. It is located in the south of Kivu.  A UNESCO World heritage site, the Parc National de Kahuzi-Biéga is famous for habituated Lowland gorilla trekking. The Eastern Lowland Gorillas are the largest subspecies of gorillas. They have been threatened by poaching for a while now but efforts by government, conservationists and other well-wishers have helped increase their numbers. Unlike mountain gorillas, tracking eastern lowland gorillas gorillas is relatively easy. Gorilla Permits to Kahuzi Biega can be got on short notice and the need to trek for long distances on steep mountain slopes is avoided. Apart from gorillas, visitors on a Congo wildlife safari can go to spot elephants, chimpanzee and several species of antelope.

Virunga National Park: The Parc National des Virunga is the oldest park in Africa and was establisehed in 1925 to protect the mountain gorillas. Found near Congo’s border with Uganda and Rwanda, the park is a designated UNESCO world heritage site. The Stunning landscape and biological diversity found in Virunga National Park make it one of the most beautiful places to visit on earth. The two main activities while touring the park are mountain gorilla trekking and hiking the Nyiragongo volcano. However visitors on a Congo safari can also spot the endangered but elusive okapi. This creature is a cross between a giraffe and a zebra. Visitors can choose to marvel at the forests, valleys, plains, savanna and swamps or spot Lions, hippopotamus and over 400 species of birds. After mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga National Park, visitors  on a Congo safari can pay a visit to the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage near the Mikeno Lodge. This is the world’s only mountain gorilla orphanage.

Garamba National Park: Though less visited, this is one of Africa’s great national parks and also a UNESCO World heritage site. Visitors to the park should expect stunning views of unending African savanna and grasslands. The park is home to giraffes, hippos, rhinoceros, antelope and several species of birds. Unfortunately, the  large mammals found in the park are threatened by massive poaching. Caution should also be taken while visiting the park on a safari as rebels and armed groups from neighboring countries have sometimes taken refuge in the deeper areas of the park. Consult the park management to find out if they are open to visitors.

Salonga National Park: This is Africa’s largest rainforest and is one of the many UNESCO World heritage sites in the country. The sheer variety of fauna and flora makes visiting this park a must. Visitors will spot peacocks, forest elephants, dwarf chimpanzee and the slender-snorted crocodile among many other rare species.

Mount Nyiragongo Volcano: The Nyiragongo volcano brightens the skies of Goma city and the Virunga National Park. The last eruption occurred in 2021 leaving many homeless and surrounding areas filled with ash. The solidified mountain of lava created the largest Crater Lake in the world. This crater lake still sends smoke up the sky and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Hiking the Mount Nyiragongo Volcano is a two day event that includes sleeping on top the volcano. The reward is close and breathtaking views of the boiling crater.

Lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary: One of the attractive places to visit while in Kinshasa is the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary. Bonobos are endangered pygmy chimpanzees that are only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Bonobos are relatively peaceful compared to their larger cousins but have faced great persecution and are hunted for their meat. Covering a forest area of about 30 hectares, the sanctuary helps protect youngsters left orphaned after the killing of their parents.  Staff and volunteers at the sanctuary feed and protect them from being sold in illegal pet markets.

There are many other activities that visitors can get involved in while on a wildlife tour in Congo that may not have been described in detail above. Some of them include:-

1. Game drives to other national parks in Congo like Maiko which is near the capital Kinshasa.
2. Visiting water bodies like the great river Congo or Lake Kivu with its beautiful islands and boiling methane gas.
3. Visiting the Livingstone and Boyoma Falls
4. Hiking mountains like Nyamuragira (near Nyiragongo) which is Africa’s most active volcano.
5. Visiting stone age caves like Dimba, Matupi , Thysville and Kakanda.
6. Visiting the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.