The most beautiful natural sites to discover Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The world's only sanctuary dedicated to bonobos, one of the DRC's four endangered great apes and man's closest cousin. This 35-hectare sanctuary, located 25 km from Kin, was founded by Claudine André, who has been taking in orphaned bonobos since 1994. Today, the site is home to some sixty specimens, which can be observed throughout the hour-long tour of this magnificent setting, depending on the time of day and their activities. Unique in the world, since the bonobo is endemic to the DRC! And a must-see in Kin.

Seli Safari Zongo is located along the Inkisi River, not far from the famous Zongo Falls, 135 km from Kinshasa. The facilities and rooms are modern. An excellent place to relax. The waterfalls that fall with a thundering sound from a height of 67 meters impress the visitor and refresh from head to toe. The visit can be completed with a walk in the surrounding forest and swimming in the pool or in the lnkisi river. A short walk to the place where the Inkisi River flows into the river is picturesque and wild.

Also known as "Chez le Conseiller". A lovely place to relax, overlooking the river and its bubbling rapids. Enjoy the large stones lining the beach. Given the dangerous nature of the rapids, swimming is prohibited. Small children's playground, basketball court, straw huts, barbecue, picnic areas, open-air museum... With different rates between the plain and the hill: between $1 and $5. 6 small bungalows for lodging ($50 for 2 pers.). Popular on weekends and holidays.

Area 9 000 hectares to 135 km east of Kin. The Choroni project promotes integrated rural development on three fronts: environment, economic and social. The environmental objective is implemented through the principle of forest carbon sinks, of which Aerosmith is the only beneficiary recognized in DRC by the United Nations. This concept consists of "storing" the Co ₂ by reboisant the grassy savane while ensuring sustainable soil management. The economic component is to improve the production and marketing of agricultural (cassava) and forestry (charcoal) products, operated by local populations according to the principles of agroforestry, while providing them with jobs and income, and the construction of schools and clinics. The site is that all year round. Accommodation in dormitories or in individual room (from $ 15 to $ 75) with local meals. Upon reservation. At the end of the stay, each visitor plant a tree and symbolically brings his stone to the building. As of 2017, new ecotourism trips will be offered in South Kwamouth.

The bamboo trees offer a magnificent view of the Congo River. A rather nice setting with a vintage design of baked brick buildings. The comfort is there with sofas, air conditioning and a terrace overlooking the river. This change of scenery is accessible at about 10 km from Kisangani. On the banks, we observe the fishermen on their dugouts, each one with his own technique. The result is not always satisfactory but fresh fish is always on the menu. In liboke or grilled, it is the specialty of Bamboo.

garamba Park covers almost 14,000 km², including hunting grounds. It is home to immense grassy or wooded savannahs interspersed with gallery forests and swampy depressions. The park is home to the world's four largest land mammals: elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe and hippopotamus. The rivers are home to hippos, Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards and more. And over 300 species of bird have been recorded.

This is one of Africa's oldest national parks, created in 1938. However, until quite recently, thousands of animals were wiped out, mainly as a result of war and poaching. From 22,000 elephants in the 1970s, militarized poachers have reduced the population to less than 1,200 today. As for northern white rhinos, they were poached to total extinction in the early 2000s. The sale of the proceeds of these massacres (horns and ivory) was used to finance criminal activities, wreaking havoc on the populations in the process. The reintroduction of white rhinoceroses is currently being studied and is scheduled for 2023-24. In 2005, African Parks signed a park management agreement with ICCN. Rangers and local communities in the area were granted a higher level of professionalism and security measures. Since then, a significant reduction in illegal activities in the park has been observed; elephant poaching has fallen by 98%, no Rangers have been killed by poachers since 2017, and key wildlife populations are stabilized or increasing. garamba Park guarantees over 500 full-time local jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs. 2022 saw the effective re-launch of the park, officially closed since 1995. Several groups have already visited the park, which is a veritable environmental nugget. The trips are organized by the Kivu Travel agency. At present, access to the park is only possible by chartered plane from Entebbe or Arua in Uganda. Allow an hour's flight from Arua and 2h15 from Entebbe.

The lodge has a dozen comfortable and charming bungalows. A visit to the park can be combined with a visit to the nearby towns of Faradje and Dungu or other places in Haut-Uele province.

A little Eden thirty kilometers to the west. You can go pedal-boating, fishing or hiking around the man-made lake (complete tour: six kilometers), or in the small forest that borders it. No swimming, however. Paillotes where you can have lunch with local classics, but remember to order before your visit... Picnics available (for a few dollars). The site is very touristy and crowded at weekends. Possibility of combining with a visit to the bonobos next door.

Seaside declination of the same name in town (Lingwala). Although one looks like the other looks like a little slower, it is reported. Private concession along the river, with green space, terrace, parasols and a scene to host concerts (Werrason…). The young kinoise is found there on the weekend to decompress and give itself a typical show MTV and Miss T-shirt wet… It is necessary for all tastes.

Located seven kilometers from Mbandaka on the left bank of the Ruki River, the garden was founded by Belgian botanist Emile Laurent in 1906. The aim of the botanical garden, then called Bokoto, was to promote the study of indigenous flora. It was complemented by a trial garden to acclimatize useful exotic plants, and a model farm to encourage cattle breeding. Today, the site still extends over 370 hectares, 170 of which are forest reserves. 70 hectares are home to the exotic species planted at the time. In all, the garden boasts 10,000 different species: 3,500 planted species and 6,500 endemic species from the original tropical rainforest. It also boasts some forty fruit species and numerous edible plants. It also boasts a vast palmetum collection. Eala is also a botanical and agronomic research center, with a nursery, a library due to be renovated, a herbarium awaiting digitization... In short, things are moving slowly and an awareness of the inestimable value of the Eala garden is emerging to preserve this magical place. The World Bank has promised to finance the rehabilitation of the site so that visitors can arrive by boat. A few straw huts are already available for weekend refreshments and picnics overlooking the river. From the riverbank, you can see Yala Island, the place that is supposed to welcome bonobos reintroduced from the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in Kinshasa.

A green, airy site with straw huts, terraces on stilts, shimmering decor, a small stage for concerts (Koffi) and house bands. But above all in this case: swimming, walks on the Nsele River, and hikes on the adjacent 16-hectare island. Literally enchanting! Accommodation (twelve rooms and two apartments) and on-site catering (garden). Special package for departing travelers, for one night and a free river hike ($45) before resuming their flight to Ndjili. A real treat!

Lake Edouard is shared by the DRC and Uganda. Located at an altitude of 916 meters, the lake has a total surface area of 224,083 hectares, of which 166,872 (74%) is Congolese territory. Lake Edouard is shallow and very rich in fish, and fishing is authorized for the riparian population at three locations on the Congolese shores. 20 years ago, this was the site of the world's largest hippopotamus population, of which several individuals remain today. The meeting point between the Semliki River and northern Lake Edouard in the Ishango area also represents an interesting option in terms of tourism, thanks to the presence of numerous savannah animals (elephants, hippos, crocodiles, birds...) and the magnificent view of the volcanoes and Ruwenzori. There are also opportunities for hiking along the river and lake, and discovering the archaeological site of Ishango, where the famous sticks of the same name were found. Ishango is little used or visited at present, but the site is accessible on request (for more information, contact the park's office in Beni). From Mutsora station (northern zone) to Ishango, 78 kilometers. Eventually, this area should become part of the "plains circuit" (under development), with a crossing over the lake to link the Rwindi plains (Lulimbi) to Ishango. This would enable "safari"-type tourism for the large savannah mammals that live there.

Situated 40 km from the city, this lake is accessible from the rivers Ruki and Libele, with its meanders bordering the equatorial forest. The lake has a population of hippos and many birds.

This lake is the largest of the large lakes with an area of 35 000 km 2. It is also the second largest lake (1 435 m) after Lake Baikal. The lake is fed by the waters of Lake Kivu via the Ruzizi River, and its liquid masses flow to Lualaba by the Modern River. It is less spectacular than Lake Kivu, but it is a lot of fish and is found in the Nile pole or Captain, called on sangala.

Among other tourist sites, one can cite in particular: The rapids of Watalinga to Beni, trained by the river Semliki with its falls covered in vegetation, the landscapes around Blessed on planted hills, the Ruwenzori and its ascent, the monastery of Naolum in Lubero, the Kabasha Escarpment near Lake Edouard, the lava fields in the region of volcanoes, Ishango on Lake Edouard, the island of Kivu on Lake Kivu, its snakes, Kyavinyonge along the river Semlinki on Lake Edouard and renowned for its large gatherings of birds such as pelicans, marabouts and flamingos, etc.

Lake Kivu and its torrentueux outlet, the Ruzizi River, form one of the pearls of black Africa. With an altitude of 1 460 m, Lake Kivu is the highest in Central Africa and is cut in a wonderful setting in the middle of the Graben. The area is approximately 2 700 km 2. To the north, the shores of the lake are formed by lava blocks that go up to the volcanoes that dominate the entire region. The west bank, wild in its northern part, is dominated by the mountain chain where the Graben is located and ranges from 1 900 m to 2 500 m with the peak of the Biega at 3 300 m.

The southern part consists of many islands and headlands, particularly in the Bay of Bukavu. The eastern shore consists of the mountains of Rwanda.

Unlike other large lakes, Lake Kivu has little fish. However, in the 1950 s, we introduced the tilapia that today flourished there.

The national park is one of the first protected areas in Africa and has, in an exceptional environment, many species of plants and animals. The park covers an area of 790 000 ha.

In the plain, it is the woody savannah where alternating bushes and tufts of euphorbia alternating. There is a variety of wildlife: elephants, buffalo, antelopes, lions, leopards, hyenas…

Around Lake Edouard, in aquatic vegetation, there are hippos, crocodiles, pelicans colonies, cormorants, serpentaires, Nile geese, Ibis… On summits, in the bamboo forest, you can discover the gorillas.

With the border war with Rwanda and the influx of refugees, the park area has escaped from regular control and is subject to significant pressure both in poaching and in its deforestation to provide firewood.

The park has been inscribed as a world heritage at risk by UNESCO since 1994.

The Upemba National Park was created in 1939 on an area of nearly 1,200,000 ha. It presents a variety of landscapes and ecosystems: valleys, shrub savannah, a grassy savannah plateau, high plateaus dotted with forest galleries as well as the large swampy valley of the Kamalondo depression, where the Lualaba River flows, which was to become the Congo River. It is in this depression that lakes Upemba, Mulenda, Kabwe and Kayumba are located. The park offers a beautiful diversity of environments conducive to a typical and varied fauna. The zebra, the roan antelope, the Cape eland, the hartebeest, the great kudu... are found in the highlands sector, while the savannahs are still home to one or another herd of elephants, buffaloes and antelopes. The swamps are home to several species of waterfowl, including many palearctic migrants, as well as hippos and crocodiles. At its inception, it was one of the most biodiverse reserves in the country and one of the few places to house zebras and cats, such as the large Upemba lion. But the park did not escape the consequences of the civil unrest that the country experienced in 2004 and to which it paid a heavy price (deforestation, poaching by Mai-Mai armed groups) to the point of threatening its survival.

Great efforts have been made, but access to certain areas of the site remains difficult, even for teams specializing in animal census. But the rest more than makes up for it. ICCN is also studying the possibility of a repopulation program in the two Katanga parks, in agreement with the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The park also includes various lakes, waterfalls (Kayo, Ipera, Kwanza, Munte, Dikolongo, Kalule) and some caves. Although it has existing infrastructure (renovated guest house, roads, bridges, hydroelectric system), the site has the potential to become a tourist attraction with some additional development. As elsewhere, a good vehicle is required to get there (about ten hours from Lubumbashi). Enter through Lubudi in the south, or Lusinga in the north (to enter the lakes area). Permits can be purchased and booked at the ICCN liaison office in Lubumbashi or through a travel agency.

A 500-hectare mini-safari where you can observe servals, giraffes, baboons, boas, pangolins, ostriches, zebras, kudus, camels, hyenas, gazelles, wildebeest, dik-dik, warthogs and more, on foot, by bike, by buggy or by jeep. The site also boasts an artificial lake (pedal boat and boat) and a children's playground. That said, the park has been running a little slowly of late. Rumors are circulating that the park's animal population has suffered some serious losses... New since 2023, bungalows for accommodation.

Beautiful leisure framework to admire the rapids of the river, and the impressive ancestral technique unique to the world of fishing Name. Possibility to dine with fish of course caught and prepared locally.

A World Heritage site since 1980, Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located west of Bukavu. It covers the provinces of Sud-Kivu, Nord-Kivu and Maniema. This 6,000 km² park boasts a remarkable biodiversity of flora and fauna, fostered by a variety of ecosystems spread over different altitudes. Primary tropical and swamp forests with abundant bamboo reserves follow one another up to the two extinct volcanoes that give the park its name: Mont Kahuzi (3308 m) and Mont Biega (2790 m). With its exceptional biological diversity, the PNKB is one of five World Heritage sites in the DRC. In total, the park is home to 136 mammal species; 335 bird species; 69 reptile species; 44 amphibian species and several hundred plant species, 145 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Watch lowland gorillas. Kahuzi-Biega Park is best known worldwide for the Grauer's gorilla(Gorilla beringei graueri), also known as the lowland gorilla (which distinguishes it from the mountain gorilla found in Virunga Park). It is the largest of all primate species and is found only in the east of the DRC, mainly in the PNKB. Its survival was greatly threatened during the war in Kivu. A visit to these remarkable hosts begins with a 1-2 hour walk through the forest with experienced guides who will take you to the location of one of the families accustomed to human presence. You can observe them feeding, playing, resting... It's a very impressive and magical moment. As well as allowing you to visit the park and contemplate its exceptional vegetation, the approach walk to the gorillas is also a must.

A 21-kilometrecircuit of footpaths starting from the Tshivanga station, allowing you to discover the park's unique ecosystem. A further 18 km 4x4 circuit takes you to the Mbayu-Mugaba bird-watching site.

Ascent of the Mount Kahuzi volcano (3,308 m), which takes 7 hours round trip from the Tshivanga station, where accommodation is available.

Another social component concerns the pygmy populations living around the park, and aims to improve their living conditions and involve them in the park's conservation project. The overall aim is to increase tourism and the visibility of the site. This will also involve the construction of a reception infrastructure (in progress), the previous lodges having been destroyed during the war... The area includes straw huts for welcoming visitors and for catering, with a view over the lake. It will also be possible to camp at the foot of the volcanoes.

Practicalities. The PNKB is easily accessible from Bukavu via a good road (allow 40 minutes). By cab: $150. Motorcycle: $10. Fuel and road tolls included. Or ask us to organize the trip for you via ICCN or travel agencies (same price range).

The park entrance is at Tshivanga, on the east coast. Follow the road from Kavumu airport, turn left at Miti and continue straight on to the Tshivanga visitor center.

You need to organize your visit in advance. You can either contact ICCN, travel agencies or hotels in town, which can also take you there.

The Kakobola Falls on the Lufuku River will leave visitors spellbound. It is about 50 meters wide and 20 meters high. The tumultuous water falls with force, creating a deafening noise and a refreshing mist in the surroundings. The power of this waterfall creates a unique ecosystem with lush vegetation and a variety of wildlife. A small and hospitable farming village nearby allows you to pitch a tent or even be welcomed in a hut after meeting the village chief.