National Park · Northeastern DR Congo
Garamba National Park
One of Africa's oldest protected areas, established in 1938, known historically for its white rhino population and Central Africa's most significant elephant strongholds.
Travel status: since M23 rebels took control of Goma in January 2025 and Bukavu in February 2025, normal tourism in eastern DR Congo has been disrupted, and most governments advise against travel. We only arrange trips here when parks are officially open and we've confirmed it's safe.
How to get there
Remote; reached only by charter flight given its distance from other tourist infrastructure.
What to find
Savanna landscapes with elephant, giraffe and hippo, in a far less-visited part of the country.
Overview
Garamba National Park, in northeastern DR Congo, was established in 1938 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. It covers wide savannas, woodland and gallery forest near the border with South Sudan, and has been managed with African Parks since 2005.
Garamba was the last wild refuge of the northern white rhino, which is now extinct in the wild. Today it protects one of Central Africa's most important elephant populations and the last Kordofan giraffes in DR Congo.
Highlights
- Remote savanna wilderness
- Elephants, buffalo, hippos and Kordofan giraffe
- A major conservation project in a challenging region
Things to do
Conservation safari
Visits are rare and arranged with the park, usually by charter flight.
Best time to visit
The dry season (roughly December to March).
Getting there
Only by charter flight, arranged through the park management.
Where to stay
Park accommodation, when available.
See accommodation options in DR Congo →
Good to know
- Garamba is a special-interest destination rather than a standard safari.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.