The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most biodiverse areas in East and Central Africa. The country hosts impressive wildlife that include rare primates like the mountain gorillas and bonobos, lot of wildlife including the rare Okapis. Within Africa’s second largest country, there are lots of amazing wildlife safari experiences. Here are the best five wild experiences that should not miss on your safari in DR Congo;
Chimpanzee Trekking in Virunga
Chimpanzee tracking is a lesser known activity which is open to visitors in Virunga. It is organized close to the park headquarters in Rumangabo. There is only one fully habituated group with about twelve individual chimps. Chimpanzee tracking starts at 6am and the probability of seeing them is high. Unlike gorillas, chimps love to spend time on tree tops. They don’t stay in one place for long and you might have to follow them for some time before taking good photos. Chimpanzee permits in Virunga cost $100 per person.
See Bonobos at Lola Ya Bonobo:
Lola Ya Bonobo begun as AAC sanctuary Bonobo Sanctuary. At that time, it was located in the middle of Kinshasa. It later changed name to Lola Ya Bonobo and was shifted to its current location in Kimwenza – just outside Kinshasa. Visiting Lola Ya Bonobo is an excellent option for tourists who would love to see primates but cannot visit the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve or others. It is one of the most visited places in Kinshasa and sits on a 30-hectare forest. Lola Ya Bonobo is the only orphanage for pygmy chimpanzees in the world.
Bonobos like many of Congo’s wild animals are targeted by not only pet traders but also those who only want bush meat. When an adult bonobo is killed for meat or captured by pet traders, their young are left orphaned. If the infant was not weaned at the time the mother was taken away, it’s chances of survival are minimal. The sanctuary helps rescue these orphaned bonobos. Those that are wounded or traumatized undergo rehabilitation before joining those already at the center. About 60 bonobos can be seen at the sanctuary. They live in similar conditions to their relatives in the wild and can forage on wild fruits or learn how to deal with any dangers lurking in the forest.
Gorilla Trekking in Virunga
Mountain gorillas are one of the most fascinating creatures on earth. Virunga National Park allows tourists to have close encounters with these majestic creatures at a relatively cheap price. Permits cost $400 and there are 6 habituated gorilla groups in Virunga National Park. Gorilla trekking in Virunga starts after the briefing at 7:30am. Only 8 trekkers may visit a gorilla group in a day. Tracking the gorillas takes you deep in the forest hence allowing you to see many of the park animals. It takes about 2 hours to find the primates but you are allowed only one hour with them. After observing the primates, you would need another 2 hours to get to the starting point of the trek.
Meet the Bonobos at Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve
This reserve is located along the Congo river and a remote part of the country known as Mandaka. Visiting this remote reserve provides the best opportunity to observe wild pygmy chimpanzees (bonobos). Apart from spotting bonobos, the reserve is a birders paradise. A more comprehensive tour could take you along the river to visit remote villages and observe the indigenous people of the area going about with their lives. Visiting the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve is recommended for those who love adventure and wish to discover the natural beauty of the country even if it involves enduring long journeys to the unknown. In fact, to get to the reserve, you will need to get a domestic flight from Kinshasa to Mbandaka and then endure a 3-day trip by canoe along the Congo river. Once you reach the closest village to the park, you will have to endure 5 hours of working to get to the park offices where activities begin.
While visiting Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve, you have to forget about all the usual comforts of life. By that we mean learning to use pit latrines and buckets for bathing. There is no electricity, no phone systems or internet in Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve. You can charge your gadgets using solar power but this is not always reliable especially during the rainy season. Tracking the bonobos starts at around 3 or 4am. The Rangers ensure that they know their last nesting site so that they can start the search from there.
Support Conservation and Meet the Congo bloodhounds:
In an effort to curb poaching in Virunga National Park, the management acquired bloodhounds. Bloodhounds are known for possessing a strong sense of smell and can trail humans who enter into the park illegally. The dogs are trained by Dr. Marlene Zahner and have been successfully in tracking mountain gorilla poachers as well as injured rangers. If you happen to be visiting Virunga national park and have some spare time after a morning activity, spare time to meet the Congo bloodhounds. You will learn about their extensive training program and contribution to conservation.
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