Salonga National Park
Africa's largest rainforest national park is reachable only by river or air, and protects roughly half the world's bonobos alongside one of the last unbroken stretches of the Congo Basin.
Africa's largest tropical rainforest reserve
At roughly 36,000 km², Salonga is the largest protected tropical rainforest in Africa and the second-largest in the world, sitting at the heart of the Congo River basin. Established in 1970 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, the park is split into a northern and southern sector separated by an unprotected 45 km corridor.
Because it has no road access, Salonga has stayed extraordinarily intact. Surveys between 2015 and 2018 confirmed the park as DRC's stronghold for bonobos and forest elephants, with researchers estimating around 15,000 bonobos and 1,600 forest elephants living within its boundaries.
The forest holds 51 recorded mammal species, over 220 bird species, and endemic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth, including the Congo peafowl and the African slender-snouted crocodile. Of 735 identified plant species in the park's southwest, 85% rely on animals to disperse their seeds, a sign of how tightly the ecosystem's evolution is bound to its wildlife.
A visit here is a genuine expedition rather than a conventional safari: riverboat travel along the Salonga's tributaries, ranger-led forest walks, and long stretches of untouched canopy, best paired with a look at our Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve guide for a fuller picture of bonobo conservation in the central Congo Basin.
What makes Salonga distinct
Salonga's isolation has preserved a rainforest ecosystem few researchers have fully mapped, anchored by the world's largest bonobo population.
Bonobos
Salonga holds an estimated 15,000 bonobos, roughly half the world's population, spread through both the northern and southern sectors.
Forest elephants
An estimated 1,600 forest elephants persist here despite decades of ivory poaching pressure across the wider Congo Basin.
Congo peafowl
The Zaire peafowl, first described to science in 1936, is endemic to Salonga's forests and rarely seen outside them.
Slender-snouted crocodile
Salonga's rivers and swamps shelter the African slender-snouted or 'false' crocodile, an increasingly rare species.
Bongo & giant pangolin
Striped forest antelope and three pangolin species move through the understorey, alongside black-crested mangabeys and leopards.
River & wetland habitats
Broad, curving rivers and marshland dissect the forest, creating a network of tributaries only navigable by boat.
How a Salonga river expedition comes together
There are no roads into Salonga; every itinerary is built around river or air access, so timing and logistics matter more here than almost anywhere else in the DRC.
Fly or travel to Mbandaka or Kinshasa
Most routings begin from Kinshasa or the river port town of Mbandaka, gateway to the Congo River system.
River transfer into the park
Motorized riverboat travel along Salonga's tributaries carries visitors into the northern or southern sector, a multi-day journey best planned with a specialist operator.
Ranger and research camp
ICCN and partner research camps provide a base for guided river and forest excursions.
Wildlife viewing by boat and on foot
Riverboat cruising and short forest walks offer the best chances of spotting bonobos, forest elephants, and Salonga's rich birdlife.
Return via river or charter flight
Departures typically retrace the river route or connect via charter flight, depending on season and water levels.
The world's stronghold for bonobos, and a park still under pressure
Salonga has been on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger since 1999. Despite its remoteness, bushmeat hunting to supply urban markets as far as Kinshasa, and a resurgence of elephant poaching driven by ivory prices, have pushed park authorities and partners including WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society to expand ranger patrols and community programmes across the Salonga Landscape.
For travellers, Salonga is as much a conservation story as a wildlife destination: tourism and research revenue help fund the ranger network defending one of the world's most important bonobo strongholds. Our travel guide covers current access conditions before you book.
Planning questions, answered
How do I get to Salonga National Park?
Salonga has no road access. Visitors travel by riverboat along the Congo River's tributaries from Mbandaka or Kinshasa, or by charter flight, best arranged with a specialist DRC operator.
How many bonobos live in Salonga?
Surveys between 2015 and 2018 estimated around 15,000 bonobos in Salonga, roughly half the world's known population, alongside about 1,600 forest elephants.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season from June to August offers the most reliable river travel conditions, though the park is wet for most of the year like much of the Congo Basin.
Is Salonga developed for tourism?
No. Salonga has minimal visitor infrastructure and is best suited to travellers seeking an expedition-style experience with a specialist operator rather than a conventional lodge-based safari.
Why is Salonga on the World Heritage in Danger list?
Salonga has been listed since 1999 due to bushmeat hunting and elephant poaching pressures, despite the park's isolation and largely intact forest.
More of the DRC to plan around Salonga
Ready to route a Salonga river expedition into your trip?
Our team builds itineraries around Salonga's river access, seasonal water levels, and the wider Congo Basin bonobo landscape.
What to do here
Top experiences in Salonga National Park
- BonobosSalonga holds an estimated 15,000 bonobos, roughly half the world's population, spread through both the northern and southern sectors.
- Forest elephantsAn estimated 1,600 forest elephants persist here despite decades of ivory poaching pressure across the wider Congo Basin.
- Congo peafowlThe Zaire peafowl, first described to science in 1936, is endemic to Salonga's forests and rarely seen outside them.
- Slender-snouted crocodileSalonga's rivers and swamps shelter the African slender-snouted or 'false' crocodile, an increasingly rare species.
Entry requirements for visiting Salonga National Park
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.
Nearby & similar