Salonga National Park

Salonga National Park is a true gem of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the heart of the Congo River basin. Covering an astounding 36,000 square kilometers, it is Africa’s largest tropical rainforest reserve and a testament to the country’s dedication to preserving its natural wonders.This UNESCO World Heritage site was established in 1956 as the Tshuapa National Park and redefined in 1970 by a presidential decree. Salonga National Park’s vast and diverse geography spans multiple provinces, including Mai Ndombe, Equateur, Kasaï, and Sankuru. While the park’s accessibility is limited to rivers, it has done little to dampen its ecological splendor.The park boasts of an unparalleled and highly biodiverse ecosystem, with over 85% of the plant species relying on animals for seed dispersal. The southern region of the park, where the Iyaelima people reside, is accessible via the Lokoro and Lula rivers. The Iyaelima people have been critical to the park’s conservation efforts, with their villages used as guard posts and contributing to the high densities of bonobos near their settlements.Salonga National Park is home to a plethora of magnificent mammals, including Bongo antelopes, black-crested mangabeys, leopards, and bonobos. The park is also one of the last remaining strongholds of forest elephants in the region, a testament to the park’s conservation efforts. Other animals that call the park home include the Dryas monkey, Thollon’s red colobus, pangolins, African golden cat, bushpig, and okapi.The park’s avian population is equally impressive, with over 200 bird species identified, including the threatened Congo peafowl, which is endemic to the Congo Basin and the national bird of the Democratic Republic of Congo.Salonga National Park is also home to 56 fish species, including catfishes and African slender-snouted crocodiles. The park’s rich ecology is a testament to the country’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage, and the co-management of the park by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature and the World Wide Fund for Nature since 2015 has been a critical aspect of its success.Despite being added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1999 due to poaching and housing construction, the park has made significant strides in improving its state of conservation, resulting in its removal from the endangered list in 2021. Salonga National Park is a must-visit for any nature lover and an awe-inspiring testament to the country’s commitment to protecting its natural heritage.