World Heritage Identification Number: 280
World Heritage since: 1984
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Continent: Africa
UNESCO World Region: Africa
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Salonga National Park: A Giant Tropical Rainforest Reserve in the Heart of Central Congo Basin
Salonga National Park, situated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is a vast expanse of pristine tropical rainforest that covers approximately 36,000 square kilometers or 3.6 million hectares. This expansive protected area, which stretches across the provinces of Mai Ndombe, Equateur, Kasaï, and Sankuru, is Africa's largest tropical rainforest reserve and holds significant importance for biodiversity conservation.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Salonga National Park is Africa's largest tropical rainforest reserve. Situated at the heart of the central basin of the Congo river, the park is very isolated and accessible only by water. It is the habitat of many endemic endangered species, such as the dwarf chimpanzee, the Congo peacock, the forest elephant and the African slender-snouted or 'false' crocodile.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (vii): Salonga National Park represents one of the very rare existing biotopes absolutely intact in central Africa. Moreover, it comprises vast marshland areas and practically inaccessible gallery forests, which have never been explored and may still be considered as practically virgin.
Criterion (ix): The plant and animal life in Salonga National Park constitute an example of biological evolution and the adaptation of life forms in a complex equatorial rainforest environment. The large size of the Park ensures the continued possibility for evolution of both species and biotic communities within the relatively undisturbed forest.
Encyclopedia Record: Salonga National Park
Salonga National Park is a national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo located in the Congo River basin. It is Africa's largest tropical rainforest reserve covering about 36,000 km2 or 3,600,000 hectares. It extends into the provinces of Mai Ndombe, Equateur, Kasaï and Sankuru. In 1984, the national park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its protection of a large swath of relatively intact rainforest and its important habitat for many rare species. In 1999, the site has been listed as endangered due to poaching and housing construction. Following the improvement in its state of conservation, the site was removed from the endangered list in 2021.Additional Site Details
Area: 3,600,000 hectares
Number of Components: 2
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
Coordinates: -2 , 21
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Salonga National Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Salonga National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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The Bonobo Pan paniscus (Mammalia: Primates: Hominidae) nesting patterns and forest canopy layers in the Lake Tumba forests and Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
Research reveals a strong correlation between bonobo nesting patterns and specific forest structures within Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Bonobos preferentially nest in mixed mature forests with closed understories, where leaf-covered areas (LCA) at mid-storey elevations (4–16 m) are significantly higher compared to non-nesting sites. This preference is not observed in open or secondary forest types. The study systematically analyzed 134 transects, measuring canopy cover, structure, tree densities, and basal areas, while calculating LCA for seven forest types. Notably, nesting sites exhibited greater mid-storey leaf cover (55–55%) than non-nesting sites (39–42%), suggesting that bonobos favor habitats with complex vertical stratification. These findings highlight the importance of closed-canopy, mature forests in bonobo habitat selection and conservation efforts.
Inogwabini, B.-I. (2015). The Bonobo Pan paniscus (Mammalia: Primates: Hominidae) nesting patterns and forest canopy layers in the Lake Tumba forests and Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 7(12), 7853–7861. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.o4217.7853-61
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Use of forest products by the local people of the Salonga National Park in the Congo
Local communities in Salonga National Park, Congo, exhibit a positive attitude toward forest resources, with their diverse needs aligning closely with the park's vast potential for sustainable product exploitation. A survey across four villages revealed that the park's forests could meet population demands without compromising long-term resource conservation, suggesting a viable model for sustainable forest management. This study highlights the critical role of local knowledge and community participation in balancing material needs with ecological preservation, advocating for integrated policies that prioritize both human well-being and biodiversity protection.
Ibesoa, J. M. (2014). Use of forest products by the local people of the Salonga National Park in the Congo. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 57(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun200957010051
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Fishes of the Salonga National Park (Congo basin, central Africa): a list of species collected in the Luilaka, Salonga, and Yenge Rivers (Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo)
A comprehensive list of 152 fish species, including nine potentially new taxa, has been documented from the Luilaka, Salonga, and Yenge Rivers around Salonga National Park, Africa's largest protected area. This study addresses a significant gap in knowledge regarding the ichthyofauna of the Congo basin, particularly in the central region where taxonomic and distributional data are scarce. The findings provide a foundational dataset for future research, though the authors acknowledge its likely incompleteness due to limited sampling efforts.
Iyaba, R. J. C. M., & Stiassny, M. L. J. (2013). Fishes of the Salonga National Park (Congo basin, central Africa): a list of species collected in the Luilaka, Salonga, and Yenge Rivers (Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo). Check List, 9(2), 246. https://doi.org/10.15560/9.2.246
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New evidence for self‐medication in bonobos: Manniophyton fulvum leaf‐ and stemstrip‐swallowing from LuiKotale, Salonga National Park, DR Congo
Researchers present new evidence supporting the hypothesis that bonobos engage in self-medication by consuming leaves and stemstrips of Manniophyton fulvum without chewing, a behavior observed at LuiKotale in Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. The study meets four out of six criteria proposed by Huffman for identifying plants ingested for medicinal purposes, suggesting that bonobos may use this plant to alleviate parasite infestations or other stressors. Analysis of 1,094 dung piles and phenological data revealed that ingestion occurred seasonally, correlating with rain and temperature patterns, which are predictors for parasite development and immune response challenges in hosts. The findings also highlight potential pharmacological effects of the plant, drawing parallels to its ethnomedicinal uses by humans.
Fruth, B., Ikombe, N. B., Matshimba, G. K., Metzger, S., Muganza, D. M., Mundry, R., & Fowler, A. (2013). New evidence for self‐medication in bonobos: Manniophyton fulvum leaf‐ and stemstrip‐swallowing from LuiKotale, Salonga National Park, DR Congo. American Journal of Primatology, 76(2), 146–158. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22217
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Congo Peafowl use both primary and regenerating forest in Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
A study on the Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis) reveals that this endangered species, endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, significantly favors regenerating secondary forest over primary forest for habitat use. Researchers analyzed two contiguous forest blocks in Salonga National Park—one primary and one secondary, with regeneration exceeding 30 years—using systematic transect surveys and exhaustive searches for secondary signs like feathers and droppings. Results showed a higher frequency of peafowl presence in secondary forest, with 19 out of 31 bird sightings occurring there. Microhabitat preferences also differed: birds in secondary forest were closer to watercourses, had fewer large trees, and exhibited lower plant species richness. Additionally, droppings from secondary forest contained fewer taxonomic groups, suggesting dietary or ecological differences. This finding underscores the critical role of old regenerating forests in peafowl conservation, emphasizing their inclusion in habitat connectivity planning to support this vulnerable species.
Mulotwa, M., Louette, M., Dudu, A., Upoki, A., & Fuller, R. A. (2010). Congo Peafowl use both primary and regenerating forest in Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Ostrich, 81(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.455811
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