The Salonga National Park located in the Congo River Basin is the Largest Tropical Rain-forests reserve in Africa covering approximately 36,000 square kilometers.
It runs from the provinces of Kasai oriental, Kasai Occidental, Equateur, and Bandundu. It houses a broad range of animals like the bonobos, Dryas monkeys, Congo Peacock, leopards, African slender-snouted crocodiles, long-tailed pangolin, Angolan slender mongoose African golden cat, Okapi, Bush-buck and much more.
Birds’ species include the cattle egret, yellow billed stork, and black stork. Vegetation includes the vast rainforests, marshland areas, and gallery forests.
Like other parks in the DR Congo, poaching and vegetation removal by the locals is the primary threat facing these ecosystems. The Management Authority of Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation manages the park.
Activities
Wildlife viewing
The diversity of the salonga national park supports various wildlife some of which are endemic to this area or the Congo basin examples of animals seen are; the dwarf chimpanzees, Congo water civet, golden cat, giant ground pangolins, leopards, elephants, tree pangolins, duikers, Angolan mongoose, pygmy cape Buffalo, Sitatunga, bonobo, dwarf crocodile, wolf monkey, Okapi, red River hog, side stripped jackal, golden bellied Mangebay, red colobus monkey, black colobus monkey, Allen’s swamp monkey, potto monkey, mono monkey, white rhinoceros, dwarf bush baby, thollon red colobus and dryad monkey among the rest.
Bird watching
Bird watching can also be done at the Salonga national park over 300 species is have been recorded and half of this birds are this areas residents some birds found at the park are; Congo peacock, black stork, cattle egret, Congo peacock, yellow billed stork, grey parrot, palm but vulture, black bellied bustard and many more.
Fishing
A part from wildlife, those interested in aquatic life can go on a fishing safari at in e of the Parks Rivers; travellers are advised to always come with their fishing gears to carry out this activity. The park is said to be having over 400 species of fish.
Hunting
Tourists can explore more of the wilderness by going for a hunting experience safari and his should be done with an armed game ranger guide.
Cultural experience
The park has got the native people of the iyalima people who have very unique ways of life and culture are worth visiting and interacting with.
Nature guided walks
Where to stay
Where to stay will vary according to tourists’ choice or budget accommodation tents, bandas and luxurious bandas.
There are some accommodation facilities around Ilebo town, which is located in Kasai district, Kasai-Occidental province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The notable accommodations include the Douze Maisons Motel, Guesthouse woodland, Hotel Med, Guesthouse La Vernaise, Hotel Amika and many more.