Okapi Wildlife Reserve – Congo Safari Guide

Welcome to the Authentic Guide to Okapi Wildlife Reserve Congo featuring information like where to stay, when to visit, getting there, Trusted tour operators in Congo, Okapi Wildlife watching, Birding in Okapi, Primates in Okapi Wildlife reserve, Congo Safaris, Gorilla Trekking in maiko, Guide to Travel Around, Local communities with dependable sources of information.

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo river basin, of which the reserve and forest are a part, is one of the largest drainage systems in Africa. The reserve contains threatened species of primates and birds and about 5,000 of the estimated 30,000 okapi surviving in the wild. It also has some dramatic scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers. The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters, Planning the Visit to Okapi , Get the detailed information from below.

Getting Around Okapi

Planning a congo wildlife safari to Okapi, Accessibility and routes to Okapi, Visitors traveling to Okapi wildlife reserve can secure their transport to okapi through Entebbe international Park and seek an Overnight stay before embarking on  a road transfer to Okapi , there are Various Ways to enable you visit Okapi Check out for details. Accessibility to Okapi Requires a 4×4 Safari Jeep take a note.

Where to Stay in Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Okapi Wildlife Reserve is listed on the a World Heritage Site and its located in Democratic republic of congo, its open to tourists/visitor are advised that no five star hotel/ safari lodge near but there is budget accommodation and mid range with the option of Camping for travelers in the reserve tourism field/ headquarter.

When to Visit Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Planning a visit to Okapi wildlife reserve in democratic republic of congo, don’t get worried visiting democratic republic of congo as it can be visited throughout the year but mostly recommended to visitors during the months of Dry season, Due to the fact that democratic republic of congo has topical rain forest climatic conditions.

Congo Tour Agents.

As its well known that for the last 3 years tourism has been booming in South & North kivu in the eastern province of congo ( Kahuzi Biega & Virunga National Park), there are various safari companies that can tailor make the Okapi wildlife safari adventure even if it includes visiting the south kivu national parks as they have the right experience in offering Gorilla Trek Africa Safaris including Uganda, Rwanda & Democratic republic of congo for a wonderful Gorilla safari holiday.

How to Combine a Congo Safari within National Parks.

Democratic republic of congo has over 10 National Park and over 4 wildlife reserves, planning a combined congo safaris holiday to visit various national parks like Kahuzi Biega National park, Virunga National Park, Maiko National Park, Okapi wildlife Reserve may require you to find the most trusted tour operator that can handle the challenges that may involve in the adventure , it will be the most exploration adventure to Africa as it will encompass Gorilla Trek in Africa ( Eastern Lowland gorillas & Mountain Gorillas, Nyiragongo Hike and Watching Okapi).

About Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Congo is one of the African countries that is highly endowed and to be specific it is the most endowed country on this continent. Amongst the parks that this country boasts of is the Okapi national park which occupies over 13,700 km of Ituri forest in north Eastern part of DRC.

This Wildlife Reserve was established in 1992 and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996.This reserve has majorly helped in protecting the habitat of the okapi and preserve rare plant and animal life, as well as the lifestyle and culture of indigenous people.

Endangered Species in Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

The Reserve contains 101 mammal species and 376 species of documented birds. The population of the endemic species of Okapi , a forest giraffe, is estimated at 5,000 individuals. Among the endemic mammals of the forest in the north-east of the DRC identified in the Reserve, are the aquatic genet and the giant genet . The Reserve provides refuge to 17 species of primates , the highest number for an African forest, including 7,500 chimpanzees.

This reserve is home and habitat to the Okapi, chimpanzees and over 13 species of other primates. It also houses other forest animals like elephants, leopard, forest buffalo, bongo antelope, water chevrotain and a wide variety of birds and insects, are among the wildlife harbored in the Reserve.

The Ituri forest is not only a habitat for animals and primates, but also the cultural center of the Mbuti and Efe pygmies who are true hunter-gatherers and deep forest-dwellers living traditional lifestyles as they have for centuries. Their activities generally enrich the overall composition of the forest by providing pockets of secondary vegetation a source of plants on which the okapi feed.

This reserve has a lot of projects that strive to see that it is not encroached upon and ill utilized which include the Okapi Conservation Project whose presence in the region and its role as a coordinator and supporter of the Reserve has helped to provide stability for the Mbuti and Efe pygmies to continue to live off the bounty of the forest as they have for thousands of years.

The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) was founded in 1987 for the protection of the okapis and their habitat. The okapi are only found in DRC and are seen as the major flagship species of the Ituri Forest. The OCP has about one hundred staff members and one hundred and ten government rangers under the direction of the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature. The Okapi Conservation Project is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network. In 1992 the project helped create the Okapi Wildlife Reserve encompassing 13,700 square kilometers of the Ituri Forest and in 1996, it was designated as a United Nations World Heritage Site.