The lonely planet indicates DR Congo as a destination worth visiting. The Democratic Republic of Congo formerly Zaire is the ultimate African adventure with absolutely nothing neither soft nor easy about it but providing the most enjoyable experience that no tourists will ever forget. The country is located in South Central Africa with a narrow strip of land on the northern bank of the Zaire River.
It is bound by the Republic of Congo and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola to the southwest, Zambia to the southeast, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda to the east, Sudan to the northeast and the Central African Republic to the north and northwest.
DRC literally has everything you would desire in a destination ranging from impressive water resources especially eye-popping waterfalls, beautiful National parks, several Primate Species (especially 3 sub-species of gorillas that include the Eastern lowland gorillas, the Mountain gorillas and the Western lowland gorillas) and luxuriant forests.
This country is full of special native attractions and only found within its borders or vicinity. The list of attractions in this incredible country is endless and will need a whole magazine to explore some of them. Nevertheless, this article provides a comprehensive list of the assorted phenomenal attractions in DRC you must add to your bucket list.
1. Parc National des Virunga (Virunga National park)
This destination is definitely the top on the list of precious jewels of this country because it is a home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park or Parc National des Virunga (in French) covers an area of 7800 square kilometers making it the largest of the 3 national parks within the Virunga Massif and runs from the Virunga Volcanoes in the South to the Rwenzori Mountains in its North. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was gazzeted in 1925 making it one of the oldest National parks in Africa and currently over 218 mammal species including more than 24 species of primates (200 of the world’s remaining the mountain gorillas), about 780 bird species including 24 Virunga Mountains endemic species, 78 Amphibian species and 109 reptile species call the jungles of Virunga National park home. This park is not only known for its wildlife and Bird species, it is also a home to 75% of the Volcanoes in the Virunga Massif. It is for these fascinating attractions that it was added to the CNN’s top 5 African National parks you must visit in 2017. Then tell me what is stopping you from making a trip to this country to explore what others describe as beautiful.
2. Parc National des Kahuzi-Biega (Kahuzi-Biega national park)
The list is incomplete without the Kahuzi-Biega National Park situated in the Eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the western bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwanda border. This Park spans at 6000 square kilometers and was created in 1939 with an aim of conserving the endangered Eastern lowland gorillas (remember is only found in the lowland tropical rainforest of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo) and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Imagine yourself visiting the gorillas that are found in only and only one country. The park was named after the two dominant mountains in this place-Mount Kahuzi (at 3308 meters above sea level) and Mount Biega (at 2790 meters above sea level). What makes this Park a treasure is the fact that it homes over 135 mammal species-the prominent ones of course being over 250 Eastern lowland Gorillas, mammals in IUCN Red List of threatened species such as the African Forest elephants, the Eastern Chimpanzees and the Albertine Owlet and mammal species listed under IUCN Red List of least concern mammals such as the Giant Forest Hogs and the Lowland Bongo among others, and several bird species that include the Rockefeller’s sunbird, Congo Peafowl, Yellow-crested Helmet shrike and the African green broadbill among others.
3. Okapi Wildlife Reserve
Situated in the North-Eastern side of DRC is a wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site created in 1992 to conserve the only population of the Endangered Okapi (only found in DRC). These giraffid artiodactyls mammal species look like Zebras but are actually the closest relative of the Giraffes. Besides these mammals that are well known in this Reserve, there are over 17 primate species, over 2000 Leopards, 4000 forest elephants, the Giant ground Pangolin, water chevrotain, African dwarf crocodiles and over 370 bird species. If you are interested in visiting a destination with few tourists, then make your next trip to DRC’s Okapi Wildlife Reserve and you will yearn to stay for more days.
4. Lake Kivu
Standing at a height of 1,460 meters above sea level, lake kivu covers a total surface area of some 2,700 km2 (1,040 sq mi) Some 1 370 km2 . The lake lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift but the largest part of the lake is in DRC taking 58% of it. The lake bed sits upon a rift valley that is slowly being pulled apart, causing volcanic activity in the area, and making it particularly deep. The lake is free from crocodiles and hippos and can therefore support swimming, fishing, birding and wild life watching all interesting to the travelers.
