33.500 km²
Largest forest national park in Africa and larger than Belgium
95 %
Almost 95% of the landscape is covered by forest.
40 %
The park potentially holds 40% of the world bonobo population.
Importance of the Park to DRC and the World
Dense swampy forest. Bird calls from a high closed canopy. Undulating rivers with sandy beaches on one side and trees and palms marking the edge of the water on the other side. Monkeys high up in the trees greeting passengers in pirogues. A large swarm of disturbed fruit bats hover over an island on the broad river. A fishermen greets from the other side of the National Park border. A small sitatunga antelope jumps into a little stream to get to the other side. A pair of hornbills crosses the sky. A palm-nut vulture circles the sky.
Salonga National Park is the largest protected area of tropical forest in Africa and the third largest forest national park in the world. To date, it remains one of the few areas in the world that is big enough for the evolution process to occur at a natural rate and remain relatively undisturbed by human activity.
Salonga is situated in the heart of the Congo Basin, south of the Congo River. It spans over 33,350 km². It consists of two large blocks (“north” and “south”) separated by a corridor of about 45 km wide . Its shape is reminiscent of human lungs. And really nature breathes here.
Vast biodiversity
What do you hear? A monkey? A bird? An insect? Rain? A bat? A beetle? What do you see? Sunbeam? Glowing mushrooms in the night?
How many African monkeys do you know? Well, one of the most diverse primate communities found in Africa calls Salonga its home. There is the Golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus chrysogaster), Thollon’s red colobus (Piliocolobus tholloni), the Angola Pied Colobus (Colobus angolensis), Allen’s Swamp Monkey (Allenopithecus nigroviridis), the De Brazza’s Monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) and the Black Mangabey (Lophocebus aterrinus). Salonga also harbors the Congo peacock, a majestic bird only found in the rain forests of the Congo Basin. And last but not least the bonobo, the enigmatic great ape known for their gentleness and its one of a kind female that dominates social life.
Hornbills frequently fly over Salonga National Park.
Hammer head bats - the largest bats in Africa - only eat fruit.
There are plenty of snake species in Salonga, of different sizes, living in the trees and on the ground but one rarely has the opportunity to observe them as they are often well camouflaged and mostly active during evening, night and early mornig hours.
Reptiles of Salonga National Park so far have been little studied.
The slender snouted crocodile lives in the rivers in Salonga National Park. Adults usually reach 2.5m length. According to the IUCN Red List, they are critically endangered.
Butterflies often hover over shallow waters and swampy grounds sucking up salts and minerals.
The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) is quite common in Salonga National Park.
Few studies have been conducted on the insect fauna in Salonga National Park.
Lizard relaxing on a leaf.
Moths or nighttime butterflies are an example where new species continue to be discovered in Salonga.
This is a Wolf's guenon monkey. He is a typical inhabitant of Salonga’s forests.
Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) - the biggest and most beautiful antelope in the forest.
De Brazza monkeys live in small groups of 5 to 20. One of them frequently visits the headquarters of Salonga National Park.
“What kind of butterfly will you be when you grow up, caterpillar?”
One can find these delicate white fungi if you look carefully.
The many rivers of Salonga National Park have their own special vegetation like these water lilies which bloom in dry season.
There is lots of forest in Salonga...
... and thousands of kilometres of rivers and streams
…but you can also find patches of savannah.
The forest with its many rivers, streams, and swamps houses many species of amphibians. For sure, not all of them are scientifically described yet.
"What is it?" you might wonder. This is Clathrus sp. a member of the stinkhorn funghis family.
Another beautiful mushroom.
How many legs are there, curled up milliped?
Turtle crossing.
Until now we know of 51 species of mammals, 152 species of fish and 223 species of birds who live in the Park. Surely many more will be discovered in the future. Several of those species are internationally endangered, particularly the forest elephant and the bonobo. Other large mammals are the leopard, nine kinds of antelopes including the bongo and 5 duiker species, giant pangolin and the hippopotamus.
The large and vast forests sequester CO2 and regulate the climate and the rivers and swamps act as a sponge that feed into the majestic Congo River. The park is a reservoir for fish and antelopes and other wildlife used by communities living around the park.
Several species are internationally endangered, particularly the forest elephant and the bonobo.
Threats for the Salonga National Park
The threats to wildlife in Salonga are mostly related to illegal hunting. Generally, Congolese law prohibits hunting in national parks. All hunting inside Salonga National Park is therefore forbidden and considered poaching. The hunting ban is generally not followed leading to a decline in animals. Salonga National Park counters this with law enforcement activities carried out by 250 rangers and active engagement and dialogue with the local communities.
The bushmeat trade
Virtually all species are targeted, especially small primates and duikers. The demand for bushmeat comes mainly from urban areas far from the park where wild animals are sought as a delicacy.
The live animal trade
The demand for this trade generates very destructive methods of capture. It is mainly aimed at young bonobos and gray parrots as well as several monkey species targeted by the pet trade.
The ivory trade
Targeted elephant hunting has contributed to the dramatic fall in numbers and is still fueling illegal ivory trade networks.
Salonga could easily harbour 70000 elephants. To date we have less than 5% of that number.
Destructive fishing
The use of dynamite, poisons and prohibited mesh nets contribute to the depletion and decrease in the average size of some fish species.
Respecting the borders
The issue of respecting park boundaries is another threat because of the risks posed by clearing land, hunting and uncontrolled harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
Population growth
Population growth is also a threat in the medium term. Given the corresponding decrease in available land, (and reduced fallow time) pressures for agricultural clearing on Park lands are likely to increase significantly in the medium term.
A UNESCO world heritage site
Since 1984 the park has been listed as an UNESCO World Natural Heritage.
Salonga National Park was awarded World Heritage Status because it “represents one of the very rare existing biotopes absolutely intact in central Africa. Moreover, it comprises vast marshland areas and practically inaccessible gallery forests, which have never been explored and may still be considered as practically virgin.”
Also UNESCO argued that “The plant and animal life in Salonga National Park constitute an example of biological evolution and the adaptation of life forms in a complex equatorial rainforest environment. The large size of the Park ensures the continued possibility for evolution of both species and biotic communities within the relatively undisturbed forest.”
Inscribed to List of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 1999
During the 23rd Meeting of the World Heritage Committee in 1999 Salonga National Park was inscribed into the List of World Heritage Site in Danger.
The committee decided to move Salonga National Park to the in-danger list because of the excessive poaching taking place at the time and the illegal encroachments. At that time, especially, elephant numbers dropped drastically. The park management at the time was not able to counter the heavy poaching attacks.
In a mission in 2012 IUCN/ UNESCO outlined the steps which need to be taken to remove Salonga National Park from the List of World Heritage Sites in danger.
Since 2011 numerous steps were taken to address these recommendations and as a result, Salonga was removed from the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in July 2021.
However, it remains an ongoing effort to secure Salonga long-term for the well-being of both people and nature.
Steps to further secure Salonga
- Mitigate poaching by increasing regular patrols
- Work together with key stakeholders in the wider landscape surrounding the park to reduce poaching and to organize regular dialogues
- Support communities to sustain and improve their livelihoods with sustainable agriculture and community forestry
- Resolve conflicts around fishing grounds by clearly delineating the park's boundaries with participation of the local fishermen
- Ensure an ecological continuum between the two blocks together with local communities
- Conduct regular biomonitorings to assess wildlife numbers and to inform the anti-poaching strategy
