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

(s) Masisi is a locality and territory in North Kivu province. Above all, it is a beautiful and fertile alpine region known as the "Petite Suisse", which is illuminated by its relief and green hills where animals graze in peace. The Masisi was already very popular and appreciated by Belgian time, also for its mild climate. We feel like being in the middle of the Alps, while the Congolese equatorial forest is not far away… Landscapes and magnificent views that carry miles to the round. This is also where the famous and delicious Goma cheese is produced. Tourism activities tend to develop there: Horse riding, visit of the cheese production, guest houses… Ideal for a green setting and to immerse itself with the beauty of the landscapes of Kivu.

It was on this plateau that James Telford established the first Protestant Mission in the Congo on February 28, 1878. He died 6 months later, having succeeded in launching the Mission. A commemorative plaque bears the following epitaph: "I will offer my body as a stone to build a road into Africa. I will offer my blood as mortar to cement the stones so that others may pass along this road". The church, dating from 1907, is in fairly good condition, as is the pastor's house. Next to the church are two ceramics, one dating from 1878 and the other from 1978. They are similar except for one detail...

This little-visited site can be the starting point for a superb walk down to the river. To do so, go to the main village and ask for the head of the group of eight villages, who can provide you with a guide. The aim: to descend to the river to the historic rock engraved by Diogo Cão, the famous Portuguese explorer who first penetrated the Kongo kingdom. An alternative route can be taken from the RN1 at the level of the monument to the porters; follow the Mpozo river valley and descend towards the river to the Diogo Cão rock. This is also where you'll find the "fishermen's cave". Fishermen stay here for days at a time before heading back up to Matadi with their harvest of small, delicious shrimps. This very hilly walk is for good walkers and can be completed in one day. Bring plenty of snacks and water.

The park was created in 1992 with the dual aim of protecting the biological resources characteristic of these wetlands, and helping to promote tourism. Covering 76,000 hectares, it is divided into three zones: a coastal strip, a terrestrial zone along the river and a zone comprising numerous mangrove islets. The mangrove is a maritime marsh ecosystem with a typical and very rich plant biotope that develops at the mouth of the river. This is a fragile environment. The most notable woody species are mangroves, with the typical aerial outgrowth of their roots, the phoenix palm and the raffia palm. The mangrove is home to a few hippos upstream, various species of monkey, crocodiles, olive ridley turtles, snakes, horse antelopes, eagles and the emblematic manatee. Don't hesitate to stock up on ultra-fresh fish from the fishermen, and enjoy oyster kebabs and those big shrimps known as cossas.

The main dangers associated with the Reserve are poaching, deforestation and the despoiling of beaches and savannahs. Hydrocarbon pollution from ocean liners passing through the mouth and fuel trafficking between Angola and Congo are also a problem. Perenco, which extracts crude oil offshore, is committed to respecting the environment. The park is managed by ICCN. The park is managed by ICCN, and staffed by some twenty well-trained rangers. Boat trips are available through the meandering channels and canals of an inextricable natural environment, with the smells and noises it generates and the visible mark of the tides, which vary by a good metre four times a day. Several small islands are accessible, where fishing families camp. One of these is Bulambemba, where you'll find the ruins of the old fort built in 1942. Accommodation is available on the small island of Kimwabi, littered with oyster shells. Two straw huts with mattresses are available. They're clean but relatively spartan, with no water or electricity. A meal based on oysters and shrimps will be prepared for you by the mothers. 10/night and $25/local meal included.

As a wetland of international importance, including the presence of vulnerable species of fish and waterfowl, the Mangrove Marine Park is listed as a Ramsar site.

A few kilometers from Moanda, the river flows into the ocean. Banana was the oldest colonial post. European trading posts had been established here since the early ^19th century, while the port had been an active slave market since the time of the Portuguese in the^15th century. A few remains can still be seen: ruined cottages, anklets, small rusty cannons... On the other side of the mouth, you can see Soyo in Angola. A project to build a deep-water port has been on the drawing board for decades.

Then there's Tonde, with its eponymous river. This is Moanda's beautiful beach. Located at the foot of the cliffs, this is where young people and families gather at weekends in a very festive atmosphere. The beach is part of the mangrove marine park, and is therefore managed by ICCN. The infrastructure includes sanitary facilities, a bar and straw huts. Further north, Nsiamfumu beach is the other small seaside resort. It seems to be coming back to life with a few bars and small hotels springing up.

After a courtesy call on the village chief, we board the pirogue, which can accommodate up to 8 people. The group of hippos is made up of half a dozen individuals, including a very powerful male. These animals are quite territorial and therefore readily threatening. And it's to cries of "Akas, Akas" ("come") that the guides will try to attract Rambo, Bijou, Dokol or Euphrasie! It's quite common to be able to admire them in the water or on the shore, provided you go early in the morning, when they are on the banks.

Located opposite the port, this 19-meter-diameter giant is no less than 700 years old. It's a naturally hollowing species, which is how explorer Stanley is said to have spent a few nights here in August 1877, hammocked in the trunk. A visit to the site offers an interesting explanation of the explorer's fabulous expedition from the shores of Lake Tanganyika to Boma in his collapsible boat, the "Lady Alice". That's 1,800 km of scares and dangers at every bend in the river.

The Mayumbe forest massif stretches from the north of Boma towards the enclave of Cabinda (Angola) in the west, and extends northwards towards the Republic of Congo. This region has taken on the characteristics of a plateau, with an altitude of 600 to 700 m. For many years, the Mayumbe forests have provided quality timber species. The area of Mayumbe forests was estimated at 500,000 hectares in 1950, but is currently estimated at 54,000 hectares. The main cause of deforestation is uncontrolled logging, both by large companies and by small-scale loggers and farmers.

Luki Biosphere Reserve. Created in 1937 to protect the primary forest of the Mayumbe massif, this 32,800-hectare biosphere reserve is one of three recognized by UNESCO. It is home to a primary sub-equatorial forest surrounded by secondary forests, savannahs and agroforestry farms. The main threats are illegal logging, slash-and-burn agriculture and poaching. It is divided into two zones: a core zone where human interference is minimal, and a zone used for research, training and education, and tourism activities. Projects are being developed in the surrounding villages to make villagers less dependent on forest resources. These projects are based on agroforestry and environmental protection.

Ecotourism trail. Luki offers the chance to immerse yourself in lush natural surroundings. The area is now open to ecotourism. An ecological trail takes you through part of the primary forest, an exceptional environment. With amazing trees, including a 700-year-old giant. The trail lasts 3 hours and is an opportunity to talk to local farmers.

Kinshasa-Muanda tourist route. In 2022, a global agreement has been signed to develop tourism in a way that respects the environment and local populations. This is a 10-year project in partnership with INERA, international donors and civil society. The Luki Biosphere Reserve will be one of the major sites to benefit from the project: installation of a campsite enhanced with local materials, training of eco-guides, marking of trails, development of educational centers, etc. The project is headed by Norbert Mushenzi, honorary curator of the DRC's national parks.

Superb road on 50 kilometers along mountainous escarpments, which alternates the points of view on the hills and the ravines on the sides. In the past, vehicles could not pass each other, so the tom-tom was used to announce the arrival of a vehicle. The last 25 kilometers follow the course of the Rusisi River. The road is passable but not uniformly, the beauty of the landscape compensates. At the junction of Bungarama, a stop is necessary at the small market to taste tasty oranges and mandarins. It is possible to go there by cab or minibus.

Although officially located in Ituri Province, the Mont Hoyo Integral Reserve (6,000 ha) used to be accessed from the border town of Beni by taking the road to Kisangani (113 km) and then a short 13 km stretch of road heading east through the forest. The site has not been accessible to the public since it was closed. The Institut Congolais de la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) is working to rehabilitate the site, following the destruction of the visitor infrastructure, and to improve the access track. The Mont Hoyo site should therefore be operational and open to visitors again, but when? It's a small rocky massif made up of different variants of sandstone, dolomite and schist, with a large number of caves, which the Walese natives refer to as "homa". Hence the name Mount Homa. The first caves were discovered and studied in 1943 by the geological engineer Ruscart. To date, 26 main caves have been uncovered, but a number remain unexplored. This is a major site with the potential to become a major tourist attraction. As is the nearby forest, home to some remarkable specimen trees and numerous deep-set streams whose courses are interspersed with impressive waterfalls (the famous Escalier de Venus) and underground passages. The star animal species is the okapi, whose survival in this ecosystem is under threat.

This small crescent-shaped island, located in the turquoise waters of Lake Kivu, is part of the Virunga Park. It has strong tourist attractions. On a clear day, the island offers a spectacular view of the Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes. A few tents with private sanitary facilities have been installed while waiting for the construction of a future lodge. Only 15 minutes by motorized pirogue from Goma, or via Hotel Ihusi. Ideal for hiking or kayaking, and for observing the many migratory birds that call this place home.

Located about 100 kilometers southwest of Butembo and 250 kilometers northwest of Goma, the Tayna Gorilla Reserve, which covers just over 90,000 hectares, aims to protect lowland gorillas as well as the local populations of these regions. It is located between the Maiko Park, the Virunga Park and the Kahuzi-Biega Park. It is part of a project to create a vast biodiversity corridor linking these different protected areas.

The superb site, nestled at the confluence of the Kiswishi and Kafubu rivers, covers 10,000 hectares of wooded bush into which the reintroduction of animals is underway. The restaurant is located on a wooden platform overlooking the Kafubu River. Activities include quad biking, pedal-boating, cycling, fishing, games room, billiards, table tennis, soccer, swimming pool, tennis, basketball, canoeing and more. A dozen lodges and fully-equipped facilities are available for accommodation.

The Maïko National Park occupies a good part of the Ituri forest on an area of 10,830 km², between the Lubero and Maiko rivers. The least bad access route - for the daredevils or scientists who would risk it - seems to be the Mahulu road (southeast of Kisangani or northwest of Bukavu) and requires a very good 4×4 vehicle, an official guide, as well as a proper authorization from the ICCN despite the somewhat chaotic and confused situation that has reigned around this park for the past few years.

It is one of the parks that have suffered the most from the troubles that the east of the country has known since the late 1990s. Located between the provinces of Tshopo, Maniema and North Kivu, it is not advisable to go there at present. Not only because of insecurity, but also because ICCN does not always have reliable information on the fate of the animal population or on the practical organization of the visit.

The park is home to three endemic animal species: the okapi, lowland gorillas and the Congolese peacock, which are found only here, in addition to a population of forest elephants, light-faced chimpanzees and buffalo, and many other species. Fortunately, not all of the park is affected by poaching, incursions by armed groups, illegal exploitation of the park's mineral resources, bush fires, and deforestation.

The okapi, this strange ruminant mammal of the giraffe species is endemic to the DR Congo and the Ituri equatorial forest where it lives and where it was discovered in 1901. If the okapi was only discovered late, it is mainly because it is an extremely discreet and solitary animal. Today, the number of okapi living in the wild in this specific biotope of northeastern Congo is estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 individuals. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) was created in 1992 to conserve this endangered species and to prevent the destruction of its habitat in the Ituri primary forest.

The RFO covers an area of 13,700 km² and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. It is a reserve and not a natural park, since populations (notably pygmies) live in this territory. The okapi has become the ambassador of conservation in Congo, the animal symbol of the country and its natural wealth in danger.

Discovery tour of the Mbuti Pygmies' way of life: traditional night hunting (with bivouac in the forest), camp visit, forest walk, honey harvesting..

The Epulu station is located halfway along the National Road 4 between Bunia/Beni and Kisangani. It is relatively easy to reach by road from either city. It is a 4-6 hour drive by car or bus. ICCN can also arrange transportation upon request.

The site (1947) includes several relatively well-preserved colonial-era buildings, including the superb mansion with period woodwork, which includes a small museum with old jars and animal bones. Visitors' villas overlook the lake, including the pavilion where King Leopold III stayed in the 50s. And, of course, the reserve, home to superb specimens of trees and vegetation along paths from which monkeys and birds can be spotted.

The Ngiri Triangle Nature Reserve, created in 2011, has an area of 100,000 hectares. It is located at the confluence of the Ubangui River and the Congo River, in the south of the province. This reserve, which is home to many animal and plant species, has the mission of protecting biodiversity and the ecosystem in the Ngiri triangle. One of the last groups of hippos in the country, buffalos, elephants and primates live there. A community component involving local populations has been set up to limit the impact on the area.

Ecosystem ecosystem

This reserve was created in 2006 but its actual opening dates back to 2011. Its management and protection is the responsibility of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), with the assistance of external partners including WWF. The area is 750 000 hectares. It takes its name from Tumba Lake and the Lediima River which runs through it. This reserve is situated in the "Lac Télé-Lac Tumba" ecosystem on the Congo Brazza and the DRC, which also counts the scientific reserve of Mabali, the reserve of the Ngiri (marsh zone in the South-Ubangi) and the reserve of Lake Télé in Congo Brazza. It covers the territories of Bikoro, Lokolela and Inongo (horse on Bandundu province).

Protected species

The purpose of the creation of the reserve is to protect the biodiversity of this lake area, both in the maintenance of its forest cover and in the preservation of threatened animal species such as the elephant (which was thought extinct), the bonobo (several thousands of nests there were inventoried), the buffalo, the Hartlaub duck, the Congolese peacock, various antelopes and primates, many species. birds (parrots)…

Community dynamics

All in a dynamic, including local communities, through the establishment of local natural resource management committees within the villages surrounding the lake (monitoring fishing, improving fish processing…). Moreover, the reserve management plan provides for the reserve, a sustainable area for villagers, alongside protected areas as such. The main pressures and threats to the work are the same as elsewhere: poaching, logging, illegal fishing and demographic pressure.

Access

To get there, drive the expressway by fast canoe until Lokolela (count +/8 hours from Mbandaka). In motorized canoe, count 1 full day and a budget of $ 250 + provide for provisions. From Lokolela, to the station (60 km), choose the bike ($ 100 go/return), speaking to the Kawa coffee plantation 5 km from Lokolela (Mr Georges Nemes: 081 691 81 46). The plantation can also be visited, and you can stay there on the edge of the river. Accommodation is also possible on the reserve.

For all inquiries, please contact the ICCN in Kinshasa or Mbandaka: right of entry, provision of equipment (tents, inflatable mattresses, armed guards…). Who can also assist you in transport from Mbandaka. Or via the head of the site (contact details above) preferably by email, due to a telephone network on the reserve.

Situated 40 kilometres east of Mbandaka, 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.

Created in 1956, the park was extended in the 1970s. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1984. Salonga Park is located in the Monkoto territory, straddling the Tshuapa, Equateur and Kasai provinces, in the heart of the central Congo River basin. The complex is divided into two sections (North and South) covering an area of 3.6 million hectares, mainly covered by lowland primary forests.

A priceless intact heritage. It is also the largest protected area of dense rainforest on the African continent. Several rivers flow through the vast swampy areas and forest galleries, including the Salonga, which gives it its name. Accessible by water, this vast park is home to some of the DRC's most emblematic species: the bonobo, the forest elephant, the Congo peacock, the African gharial, the salt-fishing owl, the giant pangolin, the leopard, the hippopotamus and many more. All of this in a relatively untouched forest area, including zones that are still unexplored to this day. It also plays a fundamental role in climate regulation and carbon sequestration mechanisms. This makes it of outstanding universal value. The park's biodiversity is unique in Central Africa.

Conservation and threats. The park's size and isolation make it difficult to protect natural species (ivory trafficking, bushmeat, etc.) and their natural habitat (bushfires, illegal logging, etc.). One third of the park's southern sector is home to groups of Pygmies. The stakes involved in conserving this exceptional heritage are therefore particularly high, and now more than ever, protection measures need to be stepped up and the appropriate resources put in place. The integration of local communities living in the corridor between the two sectors of the park is an important condition for safeguarding the park and its natural resources.

Access. The visitor center is located in Monkoto. To get there, it takes two or three days from Boende to Monkoto, crossing various rivers in ferries. Or one day by fast canoe. On site, allow at least 5 days for several forest outings, accompanied by park trackers. For accommodation, you can stay in the Etate village in the WCS NGO camp. Organized tours are available from Kinshasa via Danico Tours (+243 81 68 58 699).

A popular district of Ngaliema, originally rural. It is mostly crowded on weekends for its proximity to the river and the panorama on the Kinsuka rapids and Mimosa Island. In the dry season, the river is transformed into an open-air quarry, where people come to collect rubble and sand. The best thing to do is to watch the sunset from the restaurants facing the river, including Chez Tintin, La Voix du Fleuve, Delikate, Mbudi Nature, and many others. It combines the sounds of the city with the impressive sound of the river flow.

A wonderful place to relax, 80 km from Kin. Nestled on the banks of the river, which forms a narrower channel at this point, you can see the banks of the neighboring Congo 5 kilometers away. The green hills in the distance are reminiscent of Lake Kivu! Catering (fresh fish) on site. River canoeing and swimming. Busy at weekends. You can get there by river from Kin or via the Maluku road along the river.

A few metres from the Garden of Eden. Nothing new under the sun is the usual formula: barns, swimming pool, barbecue, children's games, volleyball, jet-skiing, swimming in the river Nsele, boat ride… Possibility of accommodation and restaurant. Wooden pontoon overlooking the river and géants of giant bamboo on the banks. One alternative to a Sunday break, or a fiesta in green on Saturday evening. More popular than other addresses in the corner, hoping that it will continue with time…

A beach located in the commune of Ngaliema, about thirty kilometers from the center, not far from Mbudi. It offers a peaceful view of the river, with the two banks barely 1 km apart. The natural beauty of the landscape and the fine sandy beach make this a magnificent location. This is one of the narrowest stretches of the river, dotted here and there with large stones that emerge in the dry season. Watch out for the current! The site is roughly equipped, so bring your camping kit. Bushwalking possible in the surrounding green hills.

With its 200 hectares of forest and ponds, the estate - classified as a protected area - is one of the last vestiges of primary forest. On the menu: walks (on foot or by bike), fishing or visits to the few caves and surrounding villages. Meals and picnics available on site. Located just a few minutes' walk from the Kintambo Magasin square, this spot not far from the bustling city is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the silence of nature. You can also buy arts and crafts.

A green lung in the heart of the city, it presents a sample of Congolese biodiversity, with about a hundred species of trees on seven hectares. Created in 1933, the garden has become a place for environmental education and nature conservation in DRC. It is a place for strolling, discovery and relaxation in a pleasant setting. Young Congolese come to walk, flirt and even study, in the shade of the treetops or around the palaver tree... The large hall and the central garden host cultural events.

Created in 2006, this reserve covers an area of 362,500 hectares. It is accessed through Basankusu, 200 km from Mbandaka. The reserve is part of the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba forest landscape, and adjoins the Lomako forest. The forest zone covers 80% of the reserve's surface area, while the remaining 20% is made up of swampy areas. The interest of this reserve lies in the presence of a large number of bonobos, among many other typical species.

Located 130 km from Kin, this former hunting area (1968) covers 350 000 hectares on the border with Kwango province. It takes its name from rivers that delineate the protected reserve (savanes and forests). Originally, the site was very rich in wildlife, but there isn't much left today apart from some birds or antelopes. However, this is a magical place to recharge, in a picturesque setting. An arrow hiking hike (between two and four hours) and swimming in the Lumene River, which spans a bridge to liane. But beware, the rapids are close… and cases of drowning have already been reported. Cottage accommodation ($ 25/double room), guest house ($ 20/double room), tent of 8 persons ($ 30/tent), or with its own tent ($ 10). No electricity, attention to mosquitoes and cool nights in dry season! Provide for his food. Pending the rehabilitation announced… On return, a passage advised by the village of Dumi, known for its féticheurs and market.

The highlight of the place is the magnificent Vampa Falls. It is difficult to do without a guide who will charge you a few dollars for the hike to the falls. Count a little hour to go there from the barrier. We progress in the high grasses and along some cultivated lands. Then, crossing the liana bridge and crossing the mango forest to the Vampa River which goes up to the waterfall. Nice picnic spot with a recommended swim in a life-size shower. A real little corner of paradise.

Another of these leisure and leisure sites along the Nsele River. Probably not the best, but history to change a little, in a "arty" and "roots" register. Quite basic despite the announcement effects ("luxury VIP pools"). A few basins where to dip and tables and chairs where to take their beer or sweet with family or friends, in a green setting that saves the bet. One good point: it is probably less frequented than the addresses more well known and known in the area.

Less well known and frequented than the nearby lake Mon Valley, and yet it's an equally charming spot for a Sunday green. The lake lies in the middle of an impressive valley of a plateau. Restaurant where to order some local dishes. And while waiting to be served, a small boat tour or walk in the surroundings, or even to the beautiful church Sainte-Marie de Kimwenza located at the top of the plateau (Catholic Jesuit mission). A few animals in cages… All sprinkled with handcrafted palm wine to finish in beauty.

Originally, the site was part of the Présidentiel Presidential Park, hence its ideal location and superb setting. Several VIP accommodation options: villas, bungalows and chalets on the edge of the river. A dock is even arranged for boat docking and water activities (jet-ski). Hiking or cycling in the surrounding countryside. Very nice pool with pay access if you don't sit on the spot. Music animation on weekends. Several dining areas including a large terrace on the floor overlooking the river.

A pretty little recreational site with a beach on the banks of the Nsele River, which we're told is "calm and music-free". More of a rest and relaxation area, where you can have a bite to eat, swim and soak up the beautiful surrounding nature. Fishing, pirogue rides on the river, jet-skiing, volleyball, pétanque... Congolese specialties and grills. Picnics and barbecues for $5 per person, in one of the private paillotes. Accommodation available in a two-bedroom pavilion. A great way to unwind, just 30 minutes from the airport.

Less popular than Chez or Mbudi Nature, but to visit! The attraction? Old limousines, remnants of the Ali-Foreman battle in 1974, which failed there. But the other attraction is the Kiudi Island accessible on foot, more or less easily depending on the level of the river… Hiking, enough roots, to enjoy a fresh beer in the island bar (prevention at Tatem before). Swimming possible (fast!). And the classic barbecue or picnic by staying on the main site, with beautiful sunset. She's not beautiful life?

Nice and recent small address, which starts to make it talk about it through a good mouth… Quite rightly: Only minutes from the city centre, it is a beautiful natural site along a small artificial lake, with white sand beach, and which for once resists the trend "VIP" and bling-bling to offer something rustic but clean and friendly. Top! Access only by filling in the complete formula (with BBQ buffet). The package does not include drinks or liboke (supplement). And there's not a picnic permit. Upon reservation.

Support Centre for Integral Development of Mbankana. Active ngos since 1995 with the rural population of the Batéké plateaus, through agroforestry, agriculture, drinking water supply, beekeeping, etc., with the aim of remedying the poverty of the soil and thereby increasing the income of local operators, while improving their living conditions (habitat, schooling, health). The-hectare site stretches over a magnificent hill near the village of Mbankana, with deep valleys irrigated. A ecotourism component develops in parallel which, in addition to a visit to the site and activities, allows an immersion in this beautiful preserved and specific nature of the Batéké plateaus. Swimming allowed in the Lufimi with forced passage by the bridge liane. Housing in pavilions equipped (25-30-35 $ per person - ask Mrs Bijou), or camping on the site Le Paradis, on the edge of the river (✆ +243 97 00 67 051). Catering with local products.

Located 15 km from the center of Mbuji Mayi, these springs are an opportunity for a little escapade with the possibility of taking a dip or going for a ride in a dugout canoe. They are located next to the Bracongo brewery and the SNCC bus station. Lukelenge has its own charm and remains, given the short distance from Mbuji Mayi, the preferred place of escape for the locals. This water is amazingly clear.

About 100 kilometres from Kananga in the direction of Mbuji Mayi, on a dirt, but relatively maintained, earth road. The lake has the shape of a human being in a lying position, the arms aside. Several legends surround the history of this lake, the approaches of which are so relaxing and the water so clear… Possibility to spend the night in modest accommodation of missionaries or a few private.

On the territory of Dimbelenge, within 41 kilometres of Lake Kadiata, Lake Fwa has a Transparent Water giving the sensation of changing color. He's very fish. It is advisable to stay in the region a few days to enjoy this little corner of paradise.

Located in the territory of Chur approximately 200 kilometres from Kananga, it is a protected area created in 1958 and administered today by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation. The area is approximately 4 700 000 ha. There are hippos and buffalo in particular.

The Congo River rises in Katanga, at an altitude of 1,740 meters, on a marshy plateau near the village of Mufosi, close to the Zambian border. Access is via the Kilela Balanda track. The sources of the Congo River are made up of several small rivers, one of which, the Lualaba, is considered the official source discovered on September 14, 1892 by the Bia, Francqui and Cornet expedition. It is from this modest river that the Congo River is formed by the accumulation of water in a basin covering 3,691,167 km². Beyond the thrill of being at the source of such an extraordinary river, the reality of the place is a simple sheet of clear water in a calm, shady spot. The interest of this place is above all symbolic. Before visiting the spring, the village chief performs a ceremony in the name of the ancestors. The visitor must first beg the ancestors for mercy before being allowed to approach the spring. The visitor is then invited to throw some money into the water and make a wish. Each visit is accompanied by a cheerful village escort. Clearly a place to be exploited from an ecotourism perspective, involving the local population. But access by road is difficult, and it would be interesting to organize accommodation to enable visitors to take part in other activities in the village and stay overnight. It is possible to stop off at the Catholic mission in Kilela Balanda.

Kundelungu National Park is linked by an ecological corridor with Upemba Park. Initially a private hunting area, it was declared a national protected area in 1970. It is made up of two zones, the western part of which (called the annex zone) was added more recently. The area of the park covers 250 thousand hectares in the reserve part located on the plateau, to which are added about 550 thousand hectares of annex zone. The ecosystem is of the grassy savannah type on immense steppes dotted with forest galleries, characteristic of Katanga. And the fauna that it is supposed to shelter is composed of antelopes, jackals, servals, porcupines, warthogs, a great variety of birds (cranes, egrets, marabouts, pelicans...), snakes, monkeys, buffaloes, hippopotamuses, crocodiles... There is also mention of some lions, cheetahs (of which the park would be the last refuge in DRC), leopards, zebras... But no one knows, particularly in the case of the big cats, if there are really any left. However, it is extremely rare and complicated to see them, so don't count on it, and be satisfied with the splendid landscape which is worth the detour. Starting with the Lofoi waterfalls, the highest in Africa (384m in a single stream), even more impressive in the rainy season. The site includes other majestic falls, of which the two most emblematic with the Lofoi are the Masansa ("shower") and Lutshipuka ("pool") falls where it is possible to swim. And that we can reach in one day.

On a practical level, the dirt track has been recently groomed and is therefore much more comfortable than before. But a good 4x4 remains essential to circulate on the tracks of the park. The drop-off point of the reserve is the Katwé station which has a lodge ($30 per night). For the same price, you can camp in the park - on top of the falls for example to observe the sunset or sunrise - with equipment and armed guards. In both cases, it is necessary to reserve and pay for lodging at the ICCN in Lubumbashi and to buy the permit ($40) for expatriates plus $15 per vehicle. The lodging is clean but rudimentary and without electricity of course, so remember to take everything with you before leaving Lubumbashi: food and water supplies, including for the driver, sleeping bag (it can get cold at night), torches,...

Another hill with a view of the city and the installations of Gécamines, owner of the site. It serves as a memorial to the copper eaters who worked the red metal long before the arrival of the Belgians. In 1975, a statue was erected on this hill made up of embankments, in homage to these ancestral craftsmen. There is also the tomb of a director and some remains of installations dating from the time when Saint Eloi was celebrated.

The Marian domain of Likasi is a hill at the entrance of the city topped by a large cross with a Marian grotto. Local pilgrims come here to pray the rosary on the steps leading to the statue of the Virgin. For the others, it is the occasion of a short and pretty walk with a magnificent panorama on the city and the mining installations of the surroundings. All tinted with the ochre color characteristic of the region. At the departure as well as at the arrival, you will be escorted by a bunch of smiling local children..

In 1482, Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão discovered the mouth of the Congo River. It was on this occasion that he had the following engraved on a rock: "Here arrived the ships of the most enlightened king Dom Jean II of Portugal. Diogo Cão". Two years later, Diogo Cão returned, accompanied by a team of missionaries. He disembarked at Mpinda, a small port close to the river mouth. A European way of life was to be introduced and remain in the area until Portugal abandoned it in favor of Angola. Four centuries later, in 1879, Stanley arrived.

The Lomami National Park covers an area of 887,000 hectares. It straddles the provinces of Tshopo and Maniema with a slight overlap in the forests of the Tshuapa and Lualaba river basins. The national park was officially opened on July 19, 2016. It is the ^9th national park in the country and the first to be established since 1992. And it includes the Lomami-Lualaba Wildlife Reserve. In Maniema, it occupies part of the Kailo territory, in the Balanga and Bangengele sector. In addition, they are invited to become involved in the initiative, as in the case of the integrated conservation models and community projects developed by ICCN in its other natural parks. The project - initiated by John and Terese Hart, a couple of American biologists who have been in the Congo for more than 40 years - that led to the creation of the park and is still ongoing today, is called TL2, named after the three rivers that form the borders of the park: Tshuapa, Lomami and Lualaba. The initial goal of TL2 was to determine how many bonobos still live in the pristine forests in the heart of Congo bounded by these three rivers, as well as to survey other large animals, and to identify threats to these species in order to protect them. It appeared that in addition to bonobos, okapi, Congolese peacocks and forest elephants have also found refuge there, and there is even talk of a new species of monkey..

The originality of this stone lies in the natural and completely improbable superposition of a second (large) stone tilted and placed in unstable balance, but which does not fall. The stone of Mwa Kandala obviously nourishes many myths and is revered locally.

The Dipera Falls (about ten metres high), on the North Kalule River, are a priori accessible, to be combined with the nearby Kayo Falls (within the Upemba Park), and the Falls on the South Kalule (Dikolongo and Kawa).

Among the other falls for the moment inaccessible:

the 20-metre-high Kamwanga Falls, which was accessible until the 1980s up the North Kalule River. It is the third part of a fall apparently described as "much more important and spectacular". This fall is represented on a national currency note.

kabundji Falls from a height of 120 meters, located on the South Kalule, about fifteen kilometers from Lubudi.

The old records also mention the fall of the North Kalule, 42 kilometres from Lubudi on the Bukama road, and the fall of the Lubudi.

Without doubt one of the most impressive on the North Kalule River, Kayo Falls (80 meters high) is a small jewel set between lush vegetation and this rocky cliff so particular with its structure similar to a giant mille-feuilles. The access to the foot of the waterfall starts from the park office, which serves as a small lodge. The descent is delicate because made slippery by the permanent drizzle. But the result is clearly worth the effort to admire all the force that emerges from these quantities of water thrown with fracas on the rocks.

15 kilometres from Lubudi, upstream of Dikolongo (at the junction, on the left), still on the South Kalule, are the powerful Kawa Falls (+/- 90 m high) which flow in three levels. A moving show that you can't get enough of. Access is via a small path along the river, dotted with electric pylons and charming streetlights from the colony. The former staff house and especially the buildings of the power station itself are worth a look. It is possible to visit the installation and the tools permanently at a standstill but which remain impressive. Everything has remained in place since the closure in 2005....