Okapi Wildlife Reserve
Democratic Republic of the Congo · Ituri · 750 m
Description
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve covers a fifth of the Ituri forest and holds the largest surviving population of the animal it is named for, a forest giraffe with striped legs unknown to science until 1901. UNESCO listed the reserve in 1996. Mbuti and Efe communities live inside it and guide visitors on forest walks, net hunts and to the honey trees. The station at Epulu on the river was built to breed okapi and still runs as the reserve headquarters. Thirteen primate species live in the canopy along with forest elephants and buffalo. The reserve covers thirteen thousand seven hundred square kilometres. Epulu lies on the road between Kisangani and Bunia.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 6 days (optimal 4 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: January – February or June – July
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Okapi in the Ituri forest
- Epulu station and the reserve headquarters
- Forest walks with Mbuti guides
- UNESCO-listed Ituri rainforest
- Mbuti net hunting and honey gathering
- Epulu river and its rapids
- Thirteen primate species in the canopy
- Forest elephants and buffalo
- Polyphonic Mbuti forest singing
- Birdwatching for Congo peafowl and hornbills