Democratic Republic of the Congo National Parks and Safaris

(Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC, CD, Central Africa)

Whilst historic monuments might be scarce in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, wildlife parks and nature reserves certainly are not.

Together, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's parks offer a multitude of wildlife, from rhinos and water buffalo to giraffes and mountain gorillas - all against a backdrop of some rather magnificent scenery.

The most popular include the national parks of Bombo Lumene, Garamba, Kahuzi Biega, Okapi, Salonga and Virunga.

Virunga National Park

Address: Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CD / DRC, Africa
Virunga National Park covers a vast area and a rich diversity of landscapes, from snow fields in the mountains to swamps down below. The park is home to mountain gorillas, as well as thousands of hippopotamuses. Visitors can also take the opportunity to admire the many volcanoes and dramatic mountain scenery that lies within the park's boundaries.

Bombo Lumene Park

Address: Plateau de Batke, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CD / DRC, Africa
Situated on the Plateau de Batke, this nature reserve is predominantly made up of savanna grassland. Visitors can follow trails into the valleys below, explore the park's forests or simply enjoy spotting wildlife, such as antelope and water buffalo. A chalet built in the 1950s offers onsite accommodation for tourists.

Kahuzi Biega National Park

Address: Bukama, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CD / DRC, Africa
The majority of the Kahuzi Biega National Park is given over to tropical rainforest. Whilst it supports a vast array of animals, it is particularly well known for its population of lowland gorillas. Sadly, only around 250 survive in this area today.

Garamba National Park

Address: Faradje, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CD / DRC, Africa
Garamba National Park has been in existence since the late 1930s, making it one of Africa's oldest. The park is perhaps best known for its wild Northern White Rhinoceros population, which nowadays amounts to some 30 individuals. Other large mammals found in the park include elephant, giraffe and hippopotamus.

Okapi National Park

Address: Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CD / DRC, Africa
Situated in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi National Park is home to numerous primate species as well as some 5,000 okapi. Although the animals are clearly the main attraction of the park, the scenery is also rather splendid, including waterfalls and a rich variety of lush African flora.

Salonga National Park

Address: Lomela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, CD / DRC, Africa
Said to be Africa's largest tropical rainforest, Salonga National Park is also a special place to visit because of its populations of dwarf chimpanzees (bonobos), Congo peacocks and forest elephants. Look out for African crocodiles, who make their home in the Congo River.