Bonobos & Endemic Wildlife of the DRC
The bonobo lives in one country on Earth: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meet them at Lola ya Bonobo near Kinshasa or on a Congo Basin expedition.
Where to See Bonobos
Lola ya Bonobo, Kinshasa
The world's only sanctuary dedicated to orphaned bonobos, set in forest at Les Petites Chutes de la Lukaya on the edge of Kinshasa. It cares for bonobos rescued from the bushmeat and pet trade and prepares some for release. It is the easiest way to see bonobos — a half-day trip from the capital.
Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve
A remote rainforest reserve in the central Congo Basin and one of the longest-running field sites for the study of wild bonobos. Access is by expedition only, with flights, river travel and forest walking, and depends on current permissions from the authorities and researchers on site.
Wildlife Found Only in the DRC
Bonobo
Great ape found only in the DRC, south of the Congo River. With the chimpanzee, our closest living relative.
Okapi
Forest relative of the giraffe and a national symbol, protected in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Ituri.
Grauer's gorilla
The eastern lowland gorilla, the largest gorilla subspecies, found only in eastern DRC — trekked in Kahuzi-Biega.
The Congo peafowl, Africa's only true peafowl, is also endemic to the DRC's central rainforests.