The Democratic Republic of Congo introduces a different face of African Travel with Africa’s verdant Tropical rainforests being at the central point of this Central African country. This country’s is one of Africa’s unexplored safari destinations yet boasts of extraordinary attractions. The vast pristine Congo Basin has often been referred as the Earth’s second Lung and takes prides in being an Important Biodiversity hotspot.
Not only that, most of Africa’s unique and endemic fauna species such as Mountain gorillas, Bonobo, Eastern lowland gorillas (or Grauer’s gorillas), Okapi, Congo Peacock and African Palm civets call the Democratic Republic of Congo home.
When you talk of Congo Safaris, mountain gorillas trekking within Virunga National Park based in the East of the country is the first picture that comes in any traveler’s mind. Over 200 mountain gorillas (25% of the World’s mountain gorilla population) live in the 7800 -square kilometer Virunga National Park, part of the extensive Virunga Conservation Area that also includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south-western Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in North-western Rwanda. Also found in this park are two active Volcanoes –Mount. Nyamuragira and Nyiragongo but the latter is most-hiked during Congo Safaris.
Other wildlife species in Virunga National Park are hippos, chimpanzees, forest elephants, lions, forest buffaloes, Okapis, warthogs, giant forest hogs and sitatunga among others. There is more to this biodiversity hot spot than mountain gorilla trekking.
Still within the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is Kahuzi-Biega National Park where the Eastern lowland gorillas (largest gorilla species) can be trekked and as you drive through the Provinces of Sankuru, Mai Ndombe, Kasai and Equateur you will be ushered to Salonga National Park, another wonderful safari destination and biodiversity hot spot in this country.
This park is also set on the lush Congo River basin and shelters leopards, golden cats, Hippos, bushbucks, Dryas monkeys, bush pigs, Yellow-backed duikers, African slender-snouted crocodiles, forest buffaloes, Angolan slender Mongoose, Giant pangolin, Okapi, water chevrotain, Thollon’s red colobus, sitatunga, Congo peafowl Bonobos and forest elephants among others. Other amazingly raw and untouched safari destinations to explore during Congo safaris are Lomani National Park, Upemba National Park, Garamba National Park, Kundelungu National Park and Maiko National Park.
Best time to do Congo Safaris.
Congo safaris can be undertaken all year round. Because of DRC’s massive size, effect of rainforests, the Congo basin, its strategic position and unique topography, it becomes difficult to predict significant weather patterns. The question of Congo’s tourism is not “which months are dry and wet?” but instead “when does it rain more and less?” Months of January, February, May, June, July, August, September and December receive less rain and are characterized by low water levels than their counterparts.
Months of March, April, October and November receive more rain and high water levels in the Congo basin. These months are usually avoided for Congo safaris because forest floors, trails and Park roads become muddy/slippery and literally impassable.
Where to stay during Congo Safaris?
Where to stay depends on destinations being explored during Congo safaris but the top and most popular places to stay are Mikeno Lodge, Exodus Bukavu, Lulimbi Tented Camp, Lodge Coco, Hotel Royal Kinshasa, Orchids’ Safari Club, Tchegera Island Tented Camp, Hotel Begonias Bukavu, Mount Kahuzi Hotel Bukavu, Fleuve Congo Hotel, Hotel Horizon, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Goma Serena Hotel, Hotel Elais Kinshasa and many others.
