Bonobo Kingdom Expedition – Salonga Rainforest Safari (UNESCO Congo Basin)

Experience Overview

Hidden in the heart of the Congo Basin, Salonga National Park is one of the last remaining untouched tropical wilderness areas on the planet.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, Salonga protects one of the most intact rainforest ecosystems in Central Africa. Covering more than 33,350 km², the park is larger than many European countries and is the largest protected tropical forest in Africa.

Nearly 95% of the park is covered in dense rainforest, intersected by rivers, swamps, and remote gallery forests that remain largely unexplored.

This expedition immerses travelers in the biodiversity of the Congo Basin where they can encounter bonobos, rare primates, forest elephants, and countless species of birds, reptiles, insects, and amphibians.

Few places on Earth offer such an authentic wilderness experience.

Wildlife Highlights

Salonga National Park is home to extraordinary biodiversity.

Travelers may encounter:

Great Apes

• Bonobos (potentially up to 40% of the global population)

Primates

• Golden-bellied mangabey
• Thollon’s red colobus
• Angola pied colobus
• Allen’s swamp monkey
• De Brazza’s monkey
• Black mangabey

Large mammals

• Forest elephants
• Leopards
• Bongo antelope
• Giant pangolins
• Hippopotamus
• Duikers

Birdlife

• Congo peacock (found only in Congo Basin forests)
• hornbills
• palm-nut vultures

Reptiles and amphibians

• slender-snouted crocodile
• diverse rainforest snakes
• numerous amphibian species

More than:

• 51 mammal species
• 223 bird species
• 152 fish species

have already been documented in the park, with many more still being discovered.

Landscapes You Will Explore

Salonga lies south of the Congo River in the heart of the Congo Basin.

The park features:

• vast equatorial rainforest
• swamp forests and wetlands
• gallery forests along rivers
• river channels and streams
• patches of savannah
• seasonal flooded forest ecosystems

Thousands of kilometers of waterways run through Salonga, feeding into the Congo River system and helping regulate climate across Central Africa.

These forests also store enormous quantities of carbon, making them essential for global climate stability.

Activities Included in the Experience

• guided rainforest trekking
• bonobo habitat exploration
• river canoe expeditions
• wildlife observation
• birdwatching excursions
• night rainforest listening experiences
• conservation learning sessions
• community cultural encounters
• nature photography opportunities