Salonga National Park

Salonga National Park is a vast tropical forest reserve in central Democratic Republic of the Congo and the country’s largest national park. It protects extensive lowland rainforest in the Congo Basin and is recognised for high biodiversity and populations of species such as bonobos, forest elephants and many endemic primates.

The park contains large tracts of intact primary forest, river networks and swamp systems that support a wide range of fauna and flora; it is managed as a remote conservation area with limited public infrastructure. Scientific research and carefully authorised tourism or community projects are the main forms of controlled visitation due to remoteness and conservation needs.

Salonga was designated to protect central Congo Basin rainforest ecosystems and the wildlife they support, and it is recognised internationally for its conservation value. The park lies in central DRC across several provinces; the listed administrative location includes Tshuapa province and access is typically via river transport from regional towns.

Geographically the park occupies vast forested lowlands in the interior of the Congo Basin, with river corridors that are the primary travel routes through the reserve and link to regional waterways.

• Size and biodiversity: It is the largest protected area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's rainforest core and an important refuge for species such as the bonobo and forest elephant.
• Access and logistics: Access is difficult and typically by river transport; guided, authorised trips and research visits require permits and logistical planning due to remoteness.