Top Things To Do In Okapi Wildlife Reserve in DR Congo

Top Things To Do In Okapi Wildlife Reserve  in DR Congo 

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest wildlife conservation areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is found in the northeastern part of DR Congo close to the borders of Uganda and South Sudan.

Size and History of Okapi Wildlife Reserve:

At approximately 14,000 km2, it covers approximately one-fifth of the area of the forest. In 1996, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its large population of endangered okapis and its high overall biodiversity.

About Okapi Wildlife Reserve:

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. Traditional nomadic pygmy, Mbuti, and Efe hunters inhabit the reserve.

Wildlife 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 northeast of the DRC identified in the Reserve, are the aquatic genet, and the giant genet. The Reserve provides refuge to 17 species of primates (including 13 diurnal and 4 nocturnal), the highest number for an African forest, including 7,500 chimpanzees.

The Reserve also contains one of the most diverse populations of forest ungulates with 14 species, including six types of cephalophus. It also provides refuge to the largest population of forest elephants still present in eastern DRC, estimated at 7,500 individuals, and it is important for the conservation of other forest species such as the bongo, the dwarf antelope, the water chevrotain, the forest buffalo, and the giant forest hog. It is also documented as one of the most important protected areas in Africa for the conservation of birds, with the presence of numerous emblematic species such as the Congo Peafowl, as well as numerous endemic species in eastern DRC.

About the rare Okapi:

The okapi also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, and zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal that is endemic to the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only species in the genus Okapia.

The animal stands about 1.5m tall and has a long neck and although the animal has striped markings a symbolic feature of zebras, it is more closely related to the giraffe.

Okapis are solitary animals, coming together only during feeding, and are herbivores eating tree leaves, buds, grasses, fruits, fungi, and ferns. Their gestation period is between 440-450 days and always give birth to a single calf.

The Okapis inhabit forests and are treated as endangered species as many have been poached for their bush meat and skin. They can be widely seen in many DRC Congo reserves such as the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Threats to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve:

The primary management challenges facing this Reserve are immigration control in the development area, prohibition of agricultural encroachment within the 10 km wide strip located along the road, and ensuring the involvement of the indigenous populations, Mbuti, and Efe pygmies, in the management of the Reserve. Another key challenge concerns the control of commercial poaching and artisanal mining. While the Reserve benefits from support from various NGOs and additional funding, it is imperative to obtain human and logistical resources to ensure the effective management of the property and its buffer zone.

Arrange with ULTIMATE WILD SAFARIS to have sightings of these unique animals.

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