Touristic Attractions and Activities In Upemba National Park, DR Congo Tours and Safaris
Upemba National Park is one of the oldest national parks of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was first established in May 1939 based on a Belgian royal decree with an area of 1.75 million hectares because of its high value in biodiversity. It is home to some 1.800 different species, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and the Katanga impala which is endemic to the park.
Upemba is the only national park in DRC with zebra and cheetah populations. Bird species include several threatened or endangered species, such as the shoebill, wattled crane, and spotted ground thrush. Schmidt's snouted frog is also only known from the park.
The habitat of the park varies from grassland at higher altitudes, through forests, and woodlands, to lakes and wetlands at lowest altitudes.
Since 1993, its valley of the Lufira, from the fall of Kyubo to the junction with the Congo River at Kitembo, has been designated a UNESCO Biodiversity Reserve due to its large concentration of mammals, reptiles, batrachians, birds, fish, and a vast wetland.
Upemba National Park also known as Parc national d'Upemba in French is a large national park in Haut-Lomami, Lualaba Province & Haut-Katanga Province (formerly in Katanga Province) of the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire.
At the time of the creation of Upemba National Park, on 15 May 1939, the park had a surface area of 17,730 square kilometers (6,850 sq mi). It was the largest park in Africa. In July 1975, the limits were revised and today the integral park has an area of 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 sq mi) with an annex of a further 3,000 square kilometers (1,200 sq mi).
Upemba National Park consists of several distinct bioregions, which include a savannah plateau (1,400m-1,800m) with rocky outcrops separating the affluent of the Lufira River which drops down into the Kamalondo depression and from there into the marshes and lakes (585m) of the Upemba wetlands.
In the northeast, the park is dominated by the Kibara plateau with its wooded foothills and high altitude savannah plateau, the center by the basin of the Lufira from the Kiobo waterfall to the marshes that border the lake, and in the south by a straight and long grassy plateau from Kayo to the Lufira.
The park’s deep gorges, cliffs, and waterfalls and its marshes and lakes form a striking contrast to its immense expanse of savannah, making it arguably one of the most magnificent landscapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Its lower section is located in the Upemba Depression, a lush area of lakes and marshes including the eponymous Lake Upemba, and bordered by the Lualaba River. Its higher section is in the dryer Kibara Plateau mountains.
Things to do in Upemba National Park:
Scenery sighting:
The Park has varied beautiful landscapes and ecosystems that make it rich and interesting: valleys, shrub savannah, grassy savannah plateau, high plateaux dotted with forest galleries, and the large marshy valley of the Kamalondo depression, Where flows the river Lualaba, destined to become the river Congo.
Game drives:
During a game drive Small herds of zebra, a few isolated pairs of Oribi, and several troops of baboons and other recorded species include lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, cheetahs, and the Katanga impala which is endemic to the park. A game drive in the park will give you a chance to spot some of these animals.
Bird watching:
The park is also a birding destination. It is home to over 400 bird species, the forests and water bodies like River Congo and Lake Upemba attract various bird species like Red-necked Spurfowl, Common Quail, Helmeted Guinea fowl, African Fish-Eagle, Grey Crowned-Crane, Wattle crane, Chestnut owlet, bee-eater, Racket-tailed roller, shoebill, Dickinson’s Kestrel, barbets, and Angola Lark among others.
Fishing:
Upemba National Park has various lakes and rivers within and around it where fishing is done. Some of these water bodies include; Lake Upemba, Lake Kisale, and River Luabala. Tourists engage in this activity and at the end of it, they go back to their accommodation with their catch and make a meal. Fishing is largely for Tilapia and Capitaine but other than in the ‘off-season’ there are no further restrictions and nothing is known about the lakes’ carrying capacity, optimal harvesting yields, or current off-take levels.
Boat cruise:
The park has various water bodies where a boat cruise can be done. This activity enables tourists to spot various water birds and gives good scenery perfect for taking photos.
Nature Walks and Hiking:
Take guided nature walks or hike along designated trails to appreciate the park’s flora, fauna, and landscapes up close.
Visiting Upemba Depression:
Upemba is a large marshy bowl area (depression) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo comprising some fifty lakes, including 22 of relatively large size including Lake Upemba (530 km²) and Lake Kisale (300 km²). In an earlier era, the area was probably occupied by one large lake. This large depression has delivered the largest known cemetery in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 40 archaeological sites have been identified, but only six have been partially excavated so far.
Cultural visits:
There are several villages within the park that visitors can go to and learn about people's ways of living and many more things to engage in such as handicrafts.
Threats to the Park:
The Upemba National Park is confronted with many threats ranging from poaching, illegal settlements, and the presence of illegal permits to mining and hydroelectric interests. While the park lacks technical and financial resources to minimize the threats, rangers are risking their lives to save the last remaining elephant population of Katanga.
Measures taken to preserve the Park:
In February 2017 the Forgotten Parks Foundation signed a public, private partnership agreement with the DR Congo government to rehabilitate and manage the Upemba National Park under the Upemba & Kundelungu National Park complex. Protecting DRC’s threatened national parks does not come without risks. Rangers, as much as nature, need our help to protect these last remaining wild places for future generations and the sustainable development of the populations living around them.
Access to Upemba National Park:
Upemba National Park is close to the Angola and Zambia border, and most international visitors fly into Lubumbashi International Airport, located 400 kilometers from the park. You can then hire a 4×4 to connect you to the park from the airport or stop in the nearest town to continue your journey after rest.
Best time to visit:
The park is open to visitors any time of the year though the best time of year to visit is during the dry season in the months of (October to January) when the water levels have dropped down. You can drive a long distance on the road to the park or fly to the nearest airport and cut the long journey short.
Accommodation:
Located near Lubumbashi, a bigger town in the region, there are several accommodation facilities where you can find maximum comfort while planning a safari to Upemba National Park. These include Hotel La Source Lubumbashi, Riverside Hotel, Hotel Lubumbashi, and Alliance Guesthouse Williams among others.
Arrange and Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Upemba National Park Safari tour in DR Congo.
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