Nsele Valley Park
Parc de la Vallée de la N'sele
Park entrance in 2020
TypeCity park
LocationMaluku, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Area20,000 hectares (77 sq mi)
CreatedJune 2018
FounderJoseph Kabila and Olive Lembe di Sita
Owned byJoseph Kabila and Olive Lembe di Sita
StatusOpen all year
Websitehttps://parcdelavalleedelansele.com/le-parc/

Nsele Valley Park (French: Parc de la Vallée de la Nsele), colloquially known as Kingakati Park or N'Sele Nature Reserve, is a nature reserve located in the Maluku commune of Kinshasa in the western region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1] It is bordered to the north by the National N1, to the east by the Batéké Plateau, to the south by the Kindu group, the Nsingi mountains, and to the west by the Mangweme, Kindobo and Bambala villages. The park was established by then-President Joseph Kabila and his wife Olive Lembe di Sita and operates as a subsidiary of Ferme Espoir, an agro-food farm spanning Haut Katanga, Kongo Central, Kinshasa, and North Kivu.[2][3][4][5][6]

Geography

Nsele Valley Park, October 2021

The park's geography is characterized by rolling hills, riverbanks, and floodplains, offering visitors views of the natural surroundings and opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, and boating along the river.[7] Water collection and pumping stations from sources built in the valley have been equipped to bring water back to the 300-meter-long uneven plateau, with piping extending over 700 meters.[6]

The park has a restaurant, nightclub, and VIP lounge housed in transformed plane wrecks. Additionally, the park has green energies, including photovoltaic solar panels, wind power, mechanization, and a small hydroelectric power station.[6]

History

Nsele Valley Park, October 2021

The park was opened in June 2018 by former President Joseph Kabila and his wife, Olive Lembe di Sita. Kabila transformed it into a game reserve before he departed from the presidency. According to Kenya Insights, an independent Kenyan newspaper reports that a large number of animals have been imported from Namibia by Wildlife Vets. The formal acquisition of the land remains shrouded in mystery. It is one of the few Kabila properties that were never touched during an investigation conducted by Bloomberg and the Congo Research Group in 2017.[8][9] The park has become a significant attraction in Kinshasa, with 1,700 visitors flocking to it every weekend for safaris for 50,000 Congolese francs ($21.51).[8][9]

Main exhibits

Nsele Valley Park is a natural setting, designated as a protected area committed to conserving wildlife and plant species.[7] It provides a home to numerous species of animals, such as African bush elephants, African buffalos, Impalas, Sitatunga antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, lions, rhinoceroses, giant elands, Roan antelopes, zebras, giraffes, bushbucks, oribis, giant pangolins, wildebeests, python, primates, and various bird species.[7][2][5]

Activities

Activities or services available to tourists:[10][11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Parc de la Vallee de La Nsele to N'djili International Airport". Parc de la Vallee de La Nsele to N’djili International Airport. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  2. 1 2 "Life after power: Joseph Kabila, the gentleman farmer". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  3. ↑ Okello, Christina; Rolley, Sonia (2021-12-05). "Congo Hold-Up: on the trail of Joseph Kabila's mystery company". RFI. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  4. ↑ Freytas-Tamura, Kimiko de (2018-12-14). "He's Handing Over the Presidency but Not Necessarily His Power". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  5. 1 2 "Le Parc animalier de la vallée de la N'Sele s'ouvre au public le 2 juin" [The N'Sele Valley Animal Park opens to the public on June 2]. www.mediacongo.net (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. May 28, 2018. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  6. 1 2 3 Rolland, Pius Romain (2022-07-04). "En marge de l'inauguration de la plateforme aéroportuaire, Kinshasa : Marie Olive Lembe Kabila dévoile l'origine du Parc de la Vallée de la N'sele" [On the sidelines of the inauguration of the airport platform, Kinshasa: Marie Olive Lembe Kabila reveals the origin of the N'sele Valley Park]. Laprosperite (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  7. 1 2 3 "N'Sele Nature Reserve (34 km2) - Saso Gorilla Safaris Uganda". www.gorillatrips.net/. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  8. 1 2 Insights, Kenya (2019-09-07). "For Joseph Kabila There's A Life After Power | Kenya Insights". Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  9. 1 2 "Document leak shows Kabila family, associates looted DRC funds". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  10. ↑ "LE PARC – Parc de la Vallée de la N'sele". parcdelavalleedelansele.com. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  11. ↑ "PARC DE LA VALLÉE DE LA NSELE: 2023 Ce qu'il faut savoir pour votre visite (avec photos)". Tripadvisor (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  12. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/LINTERVIEW.CD (2021-07-03). "Kinshasa – Kingakati : lancement par Olive Lembe de nouvelles activités attractives en présence de quelques ministres". L'INTERVIEW.CD (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
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