Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary
The world's only sanctuary dedicated exclusively to bonobos rescues, rehabilitates, and rewilds orphans of the wildlife trade, just outside Kinshasa.
A second chance for Congo's orphaned bonobos
Lola ya Bonobo, meaning 'paradise for bonobos' in Lingala, was founded by Claudine André in 1994 and has operated as the world's only sanctuary dedicated exclusively to bonobos since opening to the public in 1997, now located at the Petites Chutes de la Lukaya just south of Kinshasa's Kimwenza suburb.
Bonobos arrive at Lola almost always as orphans, victims of poaching or the illegal wildlife trade, often malnourished, ill, or traumatised. Trained Congolese caregivers act as surrogate mothers, providing the emotional support and structured social learning young bonobos need to recover.
Today more than 70 bonobos live across the sanctuary's 30 hectares of primary forest, cared for by the NGO Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo (ABC). Lola's long-term goal is rewilding: healthy bonobos are prepared for eventual release back into protected habitat in the DRC.
Bonobos share approximately 98.7% of their DNA with humans, found nowhere on Earth outside DRC's forests south of the Congo River; pair a Lola visit with our Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve guide to see bonobos in the wild afterward.
What makes Lola ya Bonobo distinct
Lola ya Bonobo offers the closest and most reliable bonobo encounter anywhere in the world.
Semi-wild forest enclosures
Bonobos live across 30 hectares of primary forest, as close to natural habitat as a sanctuary setting allows.
Surrogate caregiver programme
Trained Congolese caregivers form close bonds with orphaned infants to support their psychological recovery.
Rescue and rehabilitation
Most arrivals are orphans of poaching or the illegal wildlife trade, requiring both physical and psychological rehabilitation.
Rewilding programme
Lola's long-term mission includes preparing healthy bonobos for release back into protected DRC habitat.
No-contact visitor policy
Visitors observe bonobos without direct contact, protecting the animals from human-transmissible illness.
Guided educational tours
Guided tours led by trained staff explain bonobo behaviour, social structure, and conservation challenges.
How a Lola ya Bonobo visit comes together
Lola is one of the more accessible wildlife experiences in DRC, reachable on a day trip from central Kinshasa.
Arrive in Kinshasa
Lola ya Bonobo is a straightforward addition to any Kinshasa stay, roughly 25-35 km from the city centre.
Arrange transport for the day
A hired driver or tour operator typically covers the roughly one-hour drive from central Kinshasa.
Guided sanctuary tour
A trained guide leads a walking tour through the forest enclosures, explaining the sanctuary's rescue and rehabilitation work.
Observe feeding time
Some visits include watching caregivers feed bonobo groups from a boat along the sanctuary's waterway.
Return to Kinshasa, or stay overnight
Some visitors opt to stay in the sanctuary's eco-lodge before returning to the city.
Direct conservation impact you can see in a single visit
Because bonobos exist only in DRC and only south of the Congo River, and reproduce slowly, roughly one birth every five years per female, losing even a small number of individuals to poaching has an outsized impact on the species' recovery.
Lola ya Bonobo's rescue and rehabilitation work, alongside advocacy and habitat protection efforts including a push to return bonobos to protected territory in Basankusu, makes it one of DRC's most direct forms of conservation tourism. See our travel guide for practical visit details.
Planning questions, answered
Where is Lola ya Bonobo located?
At the Petites Chutes de la Lukaya, roughly 25-35 km south of central Kinshasa, near the suburb of Kimwenza.
Is Lola ya Bonobo open every day?
No, it is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed to visitors on Mondays.
Can visitors touch the bonobos?
No. Visitors observe bonobos without direct contact, a policy designed to protect the animals from human-transmissible illness.
How many bonobos live at the sanctuary?
More than 70 bonobos currently live across the sanctuary's 30 hectares of primary forest.
What happens to bonobos once they recover?
Lola's long-term goal is rewilding: healthy bonobos are prepared for eventual release back into protected DRC habitat.
More of the DRC to plan around Lola ya Bonobo
Ready to plan a visit to Lola ya Bonobo?
Our team can build Lola ya Bonobo into any Kinshasa stay, with transport and guided tour arrangements handled for you.
What to do here
Top experiences in Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary
- Semi-wild forest enclosuresBonobos live across 30 hectares of primary forest, as close to natural habitat as a sanctuary setting allows.
- Surrogate caregiver programmeTrained Congolese caregivers form close bonds with orphaned infants to support their psychological recovery.
- Rescue and rehabilitationMost arrivals are orphans of poaching or the illegal wildlife trade, requiring both physical and psychological rehabilitation.
- Rewilding programmeLola's long-term mission includes preparing healthy bonobos for release back into protected DRC habitat.
Entry requirements for visiting Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary
Every traveller needs a visa in advance. Read our step-by-step DRC e-visa and Congo tourist visa guide for the official DGM portal walkthrough, letter of invitation (LOI) requirements, fees, processing times and airport entry checks.
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