Garamba National Park—an anchor of hope in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A visit to Garamba National Park is rarely on top of the list for Africa aficionados. Once known for its domesticated elephants, to date the only of its kind in Africa, Garamba has seen a lot of armed conflicts, poaching and instability over several decades. Since 2017, the security situation has improved considerably, thanks to African Parks efforts in partnership with the local Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature.

About Garamba National Park

Garamba National Park does not reveal its beauty instantly. It takes some time to appreciate the sacrifices and dedication that are needed to protect this amazing wilderness. The park is 5,133 km2 and is surrounded by three hunting areas that form the Garamba Complex with a total area of 14,760 km2, half the size of Belgium. In the north, the park shares a 270 km long border with South Sudan. The park has several major rivers and its intense drainage system feeds into the mighty Congo River.

The three-month long dry season, from mid-December through mid-March, is short and the vegetation grows tall. Garamba has an ecosystem of global importance, lying in the transition zone between the dense tropical forests of the Congo Basin and the forested grassland of the Guinea-Sudano savannas. Although the buffer zones are called hunting domains, no hunting is permitted in the DRC. 

Garamba giraffes, rhinos and conservation 

Due to heavy poaching for decades, the potential density of animals has been significantly reduced. Because of its mixed ecosystem, Garamba has hybrid elephants (forest/savanna) and also hybrid buffaloes which are brown and smaller than the black cape buffalo. The Kordofan giraffe is also at home in Garamba. The population has grown significantly but is nowhere near the numbers found in Zakouma National Park, Chad.

Since 2006, no northern white rhino has been seen in Garamba National Park, suggesting it’s been poached out. African Parks introduced southern white rhino in 2023, in an effort to stabilize the ecosystem and reduce the encroachments of trees into the savanna. In the years to come, more rhinos will be translocated to reach a viable herd.

By feeding on the grasslands and damaging small trees, they keep the grasslands low and manageable. Rhinos are essential to allow other animals to thrive once again in Garamba. The arrival of the rhinos was welcomed by the local communities. The fact that African Parks brought rhinos to Garamba meant that the park and its surroundings were safe now. This change of mindset cannot be underestimated as it is boosting willingness in the local communities to support the park. Conservation only works with the buy in of local stakeholders.

Key wildlife of Garamba National Park

Key species that can be seen are southern white rhino, lion, Kordofan giraffe, buffalo, Lelwel’s hartebeest, Ugandan kob and hyena. Seeing an elephant in the park is rare. But solitary males visit Garamba Lodge during the mango season from March to May. Of the 20,000+ elephants that once roamed the Garamba grasslands, an estimated 1,200 are left. The numbers are stabilizing and, with the anti-poaching efforts undertaken by the park, the population should grow in the years to come.

Garamba has many water sources and animals can access water within five kilometers anywhere in the park. This limits the concentration of animals in a particular place, which is a phenomenon found in drier climates with a long dry season. With these circumstances, finding animals can be a bit more challenging than on safari elsewhere. Garamba has 350 bird species of which around 60 are migratory. From December to March, big flocks of Abdim storks arrive in Garamba. The grasshopper buzzard is also around during the dry season. Some birds that are migratory in other regions permanently stay in Garamba, such as the woodland kingfisher. Palm-nut vultures are often seen and rare elsewhere. The Abyssinian ground hornbill, which looks slightly different than the southern ground hornbill, is also frequently spotted. During the first months of the year the standard winged nightjar displays its extended wings just after sunset. It is a truly spectacular sighting.

How to reach Garamba National Park

Reaching Garamba National Park is an adventure in itself. There is no international airport close by and the road infrastructure is poor. Goma is the closest international airport with regular flights to Addis Ababa and easy access to Rwanda.

There are irregular flights from Goma to Aru on the border to Uganda. Alternatively, Aru can be reached from Entebbe, Uganda by flying to Arua in the Northwest of Uganda and crossing the border to Aru. From there the unpaved national road leads first to Durba where a stopover can be made to break the journey. Another three hours will take you to Nagero, the village at the edge of the park and where Garamba Lodge is situated.

Lodging options for Garamba

There are currently no accommodation options inside. The nearest accommodation is Garamba Lodge. Self-drive is not allowed in the park. Garamba can be visited on a pre-arranged game drive which is organised from Garamba Lodge.

Every vehicle is accompanied by rangers who either follow the safari vehicle or sit at the back row, depending on the number of guests. The safari road network in the park is still limited but will get extended over the years to come. Community visits can be arranged and a visit to the nearby town of Faradje will provide insight into the Congolese culture.

A cathedral, built during the Belgian colonial times, can be toured on request. Faradje also has a memorial for the victims of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) attacks in the region during Christmas/New Year in 2008-2009. It is a friendly town where visitors are welcome. Other regions outside the park are difficult to reach due to limited infrastructure.

A deeper look into the history of Garamba will reveal its global importance as a protected area. Thanks in part to the efforts of African parks, the communities are looking to a better future, after decades of instability and many setbacks. Many locals are grateful that Garamba National Park exists as it gives them the reassurance that the brutality they endured is a thing of the past.

If you're a no-frills traveler looking for a safari off the beaten path, Garamba National Park may be just the ticket.  

About Ruth Westrick

Ruth was born and raised in a Swiss mountain town. She was bitten by the travel bug visiting British Columbia, Canada to spend three months on a ranch at the age of 19. Since that trip, she's visited over 60 countries and has been to every continent except Antarctica. Ruth’s been fortunate to have worked in the travel industry for nearly 30 years. A large part has been in Switzerland but she’s also spent time in Manila, Philippines, employed by a local tour operator. Recently, Ruth worked in two of Zambia’s national parks, where she managed luxury safari camps. When Covid struck, she returned to Switzerland where she obtained a Master of Science in Business Administration with a major in sustainability and circular economy. She was able to return to Africa in 2023, where she worked for African Parks in Garamba NP, DRC for two years. Ruth will be starting a new role as Tourism and Commercial Manager in Iona National Park, Angola in 2025.

Best time of day for a game drive:

Early morning, before sunrise

Favorite animal:

I don't have one

Favorite bird:

I don't have one

Favorite animal noise:

Call of the African Fish Eagle

Sundowner of choice:

It's less about the drink and more about spending time with people who are close to my heart.

Where have you not been on safari but would love to go?

A horse riding safari anywhere in Africa!