Salonga National Park, Forest national park in Congo Basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Salonga National Park is a vast forest reserve in the Congo Basin featuring networks of rivers, wetlands, and natural forest clearings throughout its territory. The landscape alternates between dense forest and more open areas shaped by water.
The area was first protected in 1956 under a different name but received its current boundaries and name in 1970. This redesign fundamentally reshaped how the park is organized today.
Local communities work alongside park staff to monitor and protect the forest and its wildlife. Their knowledge of the land shapes how the park operates today.
Access to the park is only by boat through river routes, as there are no roads. Visitors should prepare for long travel times and wet conditions throughout the year.
The park shelters roughly 40 percent of the world's bonobo population, making it a vital habitat for these apes. It also protects the Congo peafowl, a rare bird that serves as the country's national symbol.
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