Two giraffes standing among bare trees and green grass under a blue sky

Destination Guide

Garamba National Park

Elephant herds, Congo's only giraffes and white rhinos returning after two decades, across open savanna in the far north-east of DR Congo.

Home / Discover Congo / Garamba

Best for

Safari, elephants, giraffes, rhinos

Region

Haut-Uélé · nearest town Dungu

Currency

Congolese franc / US dollar

Best season

Dry season, roughly Dec to Mar

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Garamba sits in the north-eastern corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Haut-Uélé province beside the South Sudan border. Founded in 1938, it is one of the oldest national parks in Africa, and UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1980. Wide grassland rolls out between patches of dense equatorial forest, so you see far across the landscape.

The park has been run by African Parks together with the Congolese conservation authority (ICCN) since 2005. It holds the largest elephant population in DR Congo and the country's last Kordofan giraffes. Southern white rhinos were brought back in 2023, 2025 and 2026, nearly twenty years after the last rhinos here were lost to poaching. It is a remote park that sees few visitors, which is much of its appeal.

Check before you plan. Garamba is remote, and the wider region has seen insecurity. UNESCO still lists the park as World Heritage in Danger. Read your government's current travel advice and arrange any visit through the park management or a licensed operator, who will confirm access, permits and fees.
Aerial view of elephants walking through green woodland and grass
Aerial view of a river winding through green savanna
Aerial view of hippos resting on a sandbank in a river
White rhinos grazing beside a thatched shelter

Wildlife

Big names, almost no crowds

Garamba is wild country, so sightings are never guaranteed. Go with park guides and rangers, and keep your distance from every animal.

Aerial view of a large elephant herd moving through green grass

Elephants

Garamba has the largest elephant population in DR Congo. Poaching has fallen sharply since 2016, and herds of many animals can be seen on the open grassland.

Two giraffes standing among trees under a blue sky

Kordofan giraffes

The park protects the last giraffes in DR Congo. The Critically Endangered Kordofan giraffe is slowly increasing here, and seeing one is a real privilege.

Three white rhinos standing together on short green grass

White rhinos

Southern white rhinos were reintroduced in 2023, 2025 and 2026, and the park has already recorded births. They are settling in, so ask the park team what is possible when you visit.

A male lion resting in tall green grass and looking to the side

Lions

Lions hunt across the grasslands and are part of a recognised lion conservation unit. They are most often heard or glimpsed at dawn and dusk.

Aerial view of a large herd of buffalo moving through green grass

Buffalo

Large herds of buffalo graze the grassland and wet areas. They are best watched from the vehicle, and keeping your distance matters here too.

A hippo with its mouth wide open wading through a river beside tall reeds

Hippos and crocodiles

Rivers cross the park, and pods of hippos and Nile crocodiles use them. Never approach the water's edge without a guide.

Things to do

Open country, best seen with a guide

Activities in Garamba are arranged through the park and its partners, so confirm what is running when you book.

An open safari vehicle on a dirt track with a giraffe in the distance

Game drives

Open vehicles cover the savanna tracks, with grassland, giraffes and elephants all within reach of the road. Early morning and late afternoon are best.

Elephants moving through green woodland seen from above

Woodland and savanna drives

Garamba mixes open grassland with thickets and forest patches, so elephants and other wildlife move between cover and open ground. Drive slowly and let your guide choose the route.

Aerial view of a meandering river through green grassland

River landscapes

The Garamba and its tributaries wind across the park. Their banks draw hippos, crocodiles and birds, especially in the dry season.

A Nile crocodile resting on a muddy riverbank with its mouth open

Wildlife photography

Few visitors and wide horizons give you subjects and light that are hard to find in busier parks. Keep a safe distance and follow your guide.

Where to stay

Simple lodging in a remote park

Facilities in and around the park are limited. Visitor accommodation is arranged with the park management or a local operator, so check what is included, including meals and transport, before you commit.

Timber-roofed dining and lounge area with wicker chairs and tables

Lodge lounge

Dining and lounge area

Hippos resting on a sandbank seen from above

River setting

Riverbank views

Getting there

Remote, so plan with the park

Garamba lies far from the capital, close to the town of Dungu in Haut-Uélé. Routes, flights and road conditions change, so book a visit through the park management or a licensed operator who handles transport, permits and security briefings. Start by searching flights into DR Congo.

Search flights →

Nearest town

Dungu

Province

Haut-Uélé

Status

UNESCO site

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