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The Democratic Republic of Congo has the greatest extent of tropical rainforests in Africa, covering over 100 million hectares. The eastern forests in the eastern sector are amazingly diverse as one of the few forest areas in Africa to have survived the ice age. Almost 50% of the Democratic Republic of Congo is covered by primary forests which hosts countless large mammal species driven to extinction in other African regions. For long Congo has had a tremendous conservation potential and has a history of concern for its environment. In 1925, Congo became the first country in Africa to create a national park, the Virunga National Park well known for the protection of the endangered mountain gorillas. From the total land area covered by Congo, 4% is protected in reserves and the government (though traditionally unstable) aims to expand these conservation areas to 8-15% of the country. Though institutions in Congo are notoriously weak, still many of the country's reserves are fairly safe from encroachment by virtue of their inaccessibility.
Amongst all protected areas in Congo the most well managed national park is the Virunga National Park which protects the endangered mountain gorillas. The Virunga National Park covers an area of 790,000 ha. It comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. This park protects mountain gorillas, some 20,000 hippopotamuses that live in the rivers as well as Siberian migratory birds that spend the winter there. This park is mainly funded mostly by fees collected from tourists going to see the mountain gorillas.
For a time the unstable political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo appeared to have actually helped the conservation forests by discouraging investment in wood logging as well as the development of infrastructure which would allow logging of tropical timber. This has made Congo a country with a vast potential for sustainable tpourism development. Despite of this immense potential the unstable political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the neighbouring countries has afffected wildlife conservation. Wildlife and forests are threatened by refugees fleeing civil strife in Rwanda and Sudan. Amongst the parks that have been severely affected by fleeing refugees is the Garamba national park where Sudanese refugees and Ugandan rebel groups have always camped. This led to a loss of over 31 nothern White Rhinoceros and about 230 Savanna Giraffes. Refugees are also reported of hunting wildlife with automatic weapons and poaching endangered species for body parts (ivory, horns, etc.).
Several conservation reports also indicate unsustainable impacts of the past political turmiol in Congo. According to the World Wildlife Fund, Zaire's national parks, including Virunga, Garamba, and the Okapi Fauna Reserve, were threatened with collapse during the fighting between Mobutu Sese Seko and Alliance of Democratic Forces of Laurent Kabila. Reportedly, anti-poaching and conservation equipment were looted. The northern white rhino population fell from 31 to 24, while at least 12 mountain gorillas were slaughtered. In addition, 44 park guards were killed and the hippo population has fallen from 30,000 to 3000 in the past decade. The Okapi Faunal Reserve has been ravaged by refugee migrations and marauding bands of militias. Militias heavily damaged and looted forest service equipment and poached game in the reserve, while refugees burned forest for fires and hunted wildlife.
Despite of the above discouraging political situation, Congo's political and security situation is normalising and tourism has been highly encouraged in Congo. Below are the major protected areas where safaris can be taken from Congo:
Parc National des Virunga
This park comprises of savannah grasslands, expanse of volcanoes, forests, jungles, lakes and riverine habitats. It is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and it is Africa's oldest national park.It covers an area of 12,000 square kilometres (4,633 square miles). It can be accessed by road from Goma or by light plane. The park is home to just under half the world's 700 remaining mountain gorillas. Other animals living in the park include antelope, baboon, buffalo, chimpanzee, crocodile, elephant, hippopotamus, hyena, jackal, leopard, lion, warthog and a wide variety of birds. Comfortable accommodation is available in the park as well as observation camps at Bukima and Jomba and Tongo Camp where chimpanzee can be observed.
Epulu Reservation
This reserve comprise of a dense forest cover. It can bae accessed by very roads from Bunia or Isiro. Basic accommodation is available and the park is open all year round. Originally named the 'Station de Capture d'Epulu', it was established to capture and export wildlife to zoos around the world.
Parc National de la Garamba
This savannah park covers an area of about 400,000 hectares. It can be accessed by roads from Isiro or Bunia or by light aircraft usually from Goma. Basic accommodation is available in the park. The park hosts various animals such as antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, hippos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, lions, warthogs, white rhinoceros and a wide variety of birds. Of special interest are the domesticated elephants which are available as game viewing 'vehicles' - one of only 2 places in Africa where this is possible.
Parc National de Kundelungu
This park comprises of grasslands, forests and riverine habitats. It can be accessed by road from Lubumbashi and basic accommodation is available to tourists in the park. It hosts animals such as antelopes, baboons, hippopotamus, leopards, lions, warthogs, zebras etc.
Parc National de Maiko
This dense tropical rainforest is reported to host the eastern lowland gorilla.
Parc National de L'Upemba
Thsi savannah park straddles the Lualaba River and include several lakes. It can be accessed by road from Lubumbashi or by light plane usually from Lubumbashi. Basic accommodation is available in the park. It hosts various animals which include antelopes, baboons, crocodiles, hippopotamus, leopards, lions, warthogs, zebras and a variety of aquatic birds.
Parc National de Salonga
This park protects the pygmy chimpanzees.
Parc National du Kahuzi-Biega
This park comprises of densely forested mountains and high savannah. It can be accessed from Goma or Bukavu by road. Basic accommodation is available in the park. The park was established to protect the endangered eastern lowland gorilla (gorilla gorilla beringei). Animals living in the park include buffalo, chimpanzee, eastern lowland gorilla, elephant.
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