Are you a wildlife enthusiast willing to do whatever it takes to visit what you feel will achieve your dream? If yes, then add Garamba National Park where nature still remains unexplored. This Park is truly a hidden gem that you shouldn’t miss to visit for a Safari in DRC. Garamba National park is one of the largest National Parks found within the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most fascinating thing about this National Park is that it is a home to the Giraffe sub-species called the Congo Giraffe.
This National Park is situated in Haut-Uélé district (within Orientale Province) in North-eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the border with South-Sudan, and used to be a haven to the World’s last popular wild population of the Northern White Rhinos but due to massive poaching and conflicts, the park has become one of the most feared destinations and the Rhinos were added in the list of World Heritage Sites in danger in 1996. Nevertheless, this is gradually changing because the Park is now managed by African Parks Network that is doing its best to curb down poaching. With the restoration of Peace in Democratic Republic of Congo, more tourists are making their trips to this National Park.
Garamba National Park was gazzeted in 1938 making it one of Africa’s oldest National parks and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. This Park covers an area of 4920 square kilometers/1900 square miles and lies with an area of between 700 meters/2300 feet and 1065 meters/3500 feet above sea level. The landscape of Garamba National Park is characterized by a vast plateau and marshland depressions, scattered with inselbergs comprised of granite. This Park is a place of pure beauty and is widely known for the White Rhinos, but it is feared that in the next few years they will become extinct because of the high rate of poaching within the Park.
Garamba National Park is run by the management of the African Park Limited (APL) from 2005 and the Institute Congolais Pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 with extraordinary wildlife species which consist of several plant species providing refuge to 4 largest mammal species in the world including the elephants, Rhinos, Hippos and Giraffes. Since its establishment, the Northern white Rhinos have reduced due to illegal hunting which has recently put them at the edge of extinction in the wild. There is also other subspecies of Rhinos known the Southern white Rhinos and the Black Rhinos have kept on moving in their natural environment.
Others include Buffaloes, the African elephants found within the Gangala-Na-Bodio elephants station-one of a kind in the whole world, Hippos and the Congo giraffes among others. It is believed that the Elephants that are found within Garamba National Park are hybrids of the Savannah and the Forest Elephants. This magnificent National Park is characterized by exceptional tree species, the common ones being the fascinating Sausage tree-one of Africa’s magical tree species characterized by the fact that they overbear fruits that are used to treat some skin ailments and they produce a red dye used for several traditional practices. A large grown-up sausage tree can grow only to 0.6 meters tall and can weigh only 6.8 kilograms.
Even with all the unexplored beauty of the park, it still remains among the least visited places in this country due to the presumed civil unrest within the area and the high rate of illegal poaching to the point that poachers even use helicopters to kill the wildlife within the National Park.
Exceptional wildlife of Garamba National Park
Garamba National Park established based on the rare project called the Gangala Na Bodio Elephant domestication center in 1920 primarily to domesticate elephants to work in agricultural lands. There are about elephants representing 550 members in Garamba conservation area surviving in hundreds. This elephant program trained numerous elephants to be saddled in that tourist could explore their backs. In addition, there are also buffaloes endemic sub species of the Congolese giraffes, hippos, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Oribi, Uganda Kob, Duiker and nocturnal striped bongo as well as predators that are commonly sighted around the savannah areas especially the spotted hyenas, lion, leopards, spotted serval and house cat, all of which support wildlife safaris in Congo. There are many diurnal primates mainly the shaggy colobus, the patas monkeys with their mustache, the smiling vervet monkeys, bearded De Brazza’s monkey and chimpanzees.
For bird lovers, there are over 340 bird species that are inhabited within the Garamba National Park, some of which include the colored red and blue carmine bee eater can be sighted concentrated on the forested banks of River Dungu and several egrets. The Garamba national park is one of the premier conservation areas, which is credited for its art conservation. The most exciting tourism activities for you to explore include wildlife monitoring with the park management where you will engage in research especially about the chimpanzees, hyenas and lions and this will offer you great opportunity of wildlife exploration. The park’s vegetation cover is comprised of woodland and savannas and marshlands depression.
For visitors who are planning their safaris to Democratic Republic of Congo, don’t miss out to participate in aerial tours in Cessna 206 which is owned by the Garamba national park management. Aerial safaris are yet extraordinary experience that rewards with spectacular views of the vast savanna grassland and the thick tropical rain forests as well as bird viewing. For visitors who come for wildlife viewing in Democratic Republic Congo, you are encouraged to par take camping experiences at the extreme side of the park of the Gangalana Bodio station that provides visitors a chance to explore the ultimate African wilderness of Garamba national park. At night while you are at the camping ground, you will be thrilled by the hyenas howling along with the rare songs of most nocturnal and catch a glimpse of sun set and sun rise over the beautiful savanna plains. You can also engage in cultural walks in adjacent local communities, food markets, churches, schools for authentic Africa encounters.
Best time to go Garamba National Park
The rainy season in Garamba National Park starts from the months of June to December. For visitors who would like to visit this park for thrilling safaris in Democratic Republic of Congo, then you can travel from January to June when the grass is short that offers clear and spectacular game sighting of savanna wildlife species.
How to reach Garamba National Park
Nagero park station is located 1800 kilometers from the Kinshasa capital city. For interested tourists to Garamba, they should note that the road network connecting to Garamba National Park is challenging to transverse through when it is the rainy season which begins from the months of June to December. Tourists are encouraged to use charter flights to the Garamba Park and for visitors who will connect from Uganda; they can be picked at Arua on the border of Uganda by the Garamba Aircraft which takes nearly 50 minutes to arrive at Nagero park station.
Accommodation in Garamba National Park
There are campsites accommodations for budget tourists and camping is also done within the Garamba national park. Also there is Garamba Safari Lodge, a luxurious facility in the entire Democratic Republic Congo. It is comprised of 10 immaculate chalets and a spectacular central lodge building and restaurant.
In conclusion, Garamba National Park is one of the best safari destinations for you not to miss top explore while on a tour in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park features several tourism activities that are worth exploring including among others birding and wildlife monitoring experiences for you explore chimpanzees, lions and hyenas in the African wild. For visitors who are searching for wilderness destinations in Democratic Republic of Congo, think about Garamba National Park for ultimate African experiences.
In conclusion, Garamba National Park is a destination of pure beauty because it is a home to white Rhinos, buffaloes, elephants and several exceptional tree species that include the fascinating sausage tree.