MAIKO NATIONAL PARK

The Maïko National Park occupies a good part of the Ituri forest on an area of 10,830 km², between the Lubero and Maiko rivers. The least bad access route - for the daredevils or scientists who would risk it - seems to be the Mahulu road (southeast of Kisangani or northwest of Bukavu) and requires a very good 4×4 vehicle, an official guide, as well as a proper authorization from the ICCN despite the somewhat chaotic and confused situation that has reigned around this park for the past few years.

It is one of the parks that have suffered the most from the troubles that the east of the country has known since the late 1990s. Located between the provinces of Tshopo, Maniema and North Kivu, it is not advisable to go there at present. Not only because of insecurity, but also because ICCN does not always have reliable information on the fate of the animal population or on the practical organization of the visit.

The park is home to three endemic animal species: the okapi, lowland gorillas and the Congolese peacock, which are found only here, in addition to a population of forest elephants, light-faced chimpanzees and buffalo, and many other species. Fortunately, not all of the park is affected by poaching, incursions by armed groups, illegal exploitation of the park's mineral resources, bush fires, and deforestation.