A visit to lomako-yokokala faunal reserve in congo : We recently took a trip to the Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve in Congo. The reserve is a remote area that’s home to many rare and endangered animals. This reserve is located deep in the rainforest, which is surrounded by mountains. The air is thick with humidity and the vegetation is very dense. We didn’t know what to expect when we first got there, but we enjoyed our trip. We brought some binoculars with us so we could get a better view of the wildlife.
Wildlife at Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve in Congo
The biggest tourist attraction to Lomako Yokakota is the gorilla sanctuary which is home to eight orphaned mountain gorillas. These gorillas are originally from a conservation project in Rwanda and have been relocated to the reserve to live out the rest of their lives in safety. We saw more than 60 species of mammals in the reserve including baboons, elephants, gorillas, buffaloes, bushbucks, and duikers.
There are also many species of birds, reptiles, and fish at the reserve. The animals are so peaceful that you could easily walk up to them and pet them if you wanted to. We also saw a crocodile that was approximately 18 feet long! The largest mammal we saw was a gorilla named Boomba who weighed about 330 pounds. He was so cute and playful. We also saw a lot of other smaller monkeys who were also really cute! One of the funniest things we saw was a group of hippopotamuses in the lake. They are pretty scary looking creatures but they are pretty cool when you get to know them. All in all it was an amazing trip and we really enjoyed it!
Lodging at Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve in Congo
We spent one night sleeping in the jungle in a hammock – it was quite an experience!! The food was good, we tried some delicious local cuisine such as cassava, fufu, rice, plantain and potatoes and we were well looked after by the rangers. We had a shower in the morning and woke to a beautiful sunrise over the trees. It was such an amazing experience and we can’t wait to go back!
Activities at Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve in Congo
Bird watching; some of the birds found at this reserve include eagles, hornbills, kingfishers, storks, vultures, egrets, parrots, turacos, guinea fowl, francolins, and other water birds. Other activities are; Canoeing on the lake and exploring the river, Mountain biking through the forest trails, Hiking through the rainforest to learn more about the plants and animals, Scenic drives along the forest roads, Night walks through the forest, Animal photography, Swimming in a natural pool in the river, Game drives and sightseeing, Rest and relaxation too! All these can be enjoyed on your Congo safari tour.
How to Get There
Lomako Yokakota is a wildlife reserve in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The nearest town is Gisenyi which is about an hour away from the reserve by road. There are several tour operators such as Explore Rwanda Tours that can organize safaris to the reserve.
Congo government is deliberate about conserving its rich biodiversity and natural heritage as part of its sustainable development strategy. The country has reserved huge areas of land in its national parks and forests in order to safeguard the country’s diverse fauna.