Mori Atlas logo
Park geography

Detailed spatial analysis covering regional boundaries, river systems, and terrain features

Geographic Profile and Landscape Mapping of Upemba National Park in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Examine the physical characteristics of Upemba National Park, spanning over 11,730 square kilometers across the Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, and Lualaba provinces. This profile details the park's expansive boundary geometry, diverse river networks like the Lufira, and complex mountain and wetland terrain.

Related tags

wetlandsmiombo woodlandsmontane grasslandslake ecosystemsbirdwatching

DRC's largest protected wilderness spanning highlands, wetlands, and a chain of equatorial lakes

Upemba National Park

Upemba National Park is a vast protected wilderness area in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, encompassing a remarkable range of ecosystems from mountainous highlands to extensive wetlands and freshwater lakes. Established in 1939, it was originally the largest national park in Africa, covering over 17,000 square kilometers, though its boundaries have been adjusted over the decades to its current extent of approximately 10,000 square kilometers of core protected land plus an additional annex zone. The park sits across Haut-Lomami, Lualaba Province, and Haut-Katanga Province, straddling two distinct geographic zones: the lush Upemba Depression with its chain of lakes and marshes centered around Lake Upemba, and the drier Kibara Plateau rising into mountainous terrain. This topographic diversity supports an extraordinary array of habitats, from Afromontane grasslands and forests through Miombo woodlands and tropical rainforests to papyrus-dominated wetlands, making it one of the most ecologically significant protected areas in central Africa.

Location
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Park type
National park
Established
1939
Area
11,730 km²
Upemba National Park Protected Area
Location overview

Provincial placement within the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Upemba National Park Geographic Location and Regional Settings

Upemba National Park is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, spanning Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, and Lualaba. Regional records outline its administrative layout across these three interior provinces.
Countries
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Regions
Haut-Katanga Province, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba Province
Primary location
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic setting
Inland
Boundary and coordinates

Upemba National Park’s stored outline spans 11,730 km²

Upemba National Park mapped boundary and 11,730 km² area

Upemba National Park's stored boundary geometry conveys the vast shape and scale of its 11,730 km² protected footprint. The record holds this overall measurement without land and marine components and without a perimeter value.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
13,184 km²
Boundary perimeter
734.7 km
Northernmost point
8.2754° S
Southernmost point
9.865° S
Easternmost point
27.3129° E
Westernmost point
25.9302° E
Geographic centre
9.0211° S, 26.5824° E
North–south span
175.8 km
East–west span
152 km
Parc national de l'Upemba
Terrain and natural features

Mixed mountain terrain classification and recorded hydrographic features

Upemba National Park Terrain and Mapped Natural Features

Upemba National Park exhibits a mixed mountain terrain classification encompassing multiple recorded streams, rivers, and lakes situated within its boundaries. Linked feature cards supply specific names, types, and spatial relationships for each recorded natural hydrographic entry.

Selected named natural features

Streams

Kabinda

Streams

Buye-Bala

Streams

Lubumbwe

Streams

Kikete

Streams

Luangeji

Streams

Muninga

Environmental setting

Interpreting stored habitat types, water presence, and relief data

Upemba National Park Environmental Settings and Landscape Classifications

Recorded landscape features and habitat types provide complementary perspectives on the physical setting of Upemba National Park. Stored classifications connect directly to related protected area records across the geographic database.
Relief
Mixed relief
Water
Major water bodies
Forest cover
Mostly forested

Landscape features

Mountains · Valleys · Plateau · Lakes · Rivers · Wetland

Habitat types

Temperate broadleaf forest · Mediterranean forest · Tropical forest · Grassland · Wetland · Riverine habitat · Lacustrine habitat

Park atlas

Compare adjacent protected landscapes and trace the regional park geography around Upemba National Park.

Discover Other National Parks and Protected Areas Surrounding Upemba National Park

Continue your journey through central African protected areas by browsing other national parks and protected landscapes within the regional geography surrounding Upemba National Park. Compare their unique ecosystems, from wetlands to montane plateaus, and understand the broader conservation efforts across the Democratic Republic of Congo's diverse natural reserves.
National parkHaut-Katanga Province
16 km away#1 closest

Southeast

Kundelungu National Park National Park: Central Africa's Protected Savanna Landscape

Explore the mapped terrain and dramatic geography of this Haut-Katanga Province protected area.

Kundelungu National Park stands as a significant protected area within the Haut-Katanga Province, offering a deep dive into Central Africa's expansive savanna ecosystems and unique natural landmarks. This national park is defined by its rolling grasslands, dotted with characteristic forest galleries that trace the region's water systems, alongside the awe-inspiring Lofoi Falls. Understanding Kundelungu National Park through its mapped boundaries and geographic context reveals its importance as a protected landscape and a key component of regional conservation efforts within the DRC.

Area
7,600 km²
Established
1970
IUCN
II
Relief
Upland
National parkNorthern Province
209 km away#2 closest

East

Mweru Wantipa National Park: National Park in Northern Province, Zambia

Discover mapped boundaries and regional geography

Delve into Mweru Wantipa National Park, a protected national park located in Zambia's Northern Province. This entry provides detailed geographic context, focusing on the park's mapped boundaries and its role as a protected landscape. Understand its position within regional geography and explore its contribution to the broader atlas of natural areas.

IUCN
II
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Tropical
Access
Highly restricted
National parkLuapula Province
About 214 km away#3 closest

East

Lusenga Plain National Park: Zambia National Park Geographic Atlas

Mapped park boundaries and regional landscape context.

Gain a structured understanding of Lusenga Plain National Park, a dedicated national park situated in Zambia's Luapula Province. This resource details the park's geographic dimensions and its placement within the regional landscape, providing essential context for atlas exploration and a mapped view of protected lands.

Area
800 km²
Established
1972
IUCN
II
Relief
Lowland
National parkZambia
311 km away#4 closest

East

Nsumbu National Park: Zambia's Lakeside Protected Landscape, Map Atlas, and Geographic Context

Mapped terrain and unique shoreline geography.

Nsumbu National Park stands as a vital protected landscape in Zambia, defined by its prominent position on Lake Tanganyika. The park's approximately 2,026 square kilometers showcase a dramatic geographic interplay between terrestrial environments, including miombo woodlands and rare Itigi-Sumbu thicket, and the vast aquatic expanse of the lake. Users exploring this atlas entry will find detailed information on the park's mapped boundaries, distinctive shoreline features like rocky cliffs and sandy beaches, and its overall role in the regional geography of Southern Africa.

Area
2,026 km²
Established
1985
IUCN
II
Relief
Lowland
National parkZambia
About 355 km away#5 closest

Southwest

West Lunga National Park: Exploring Zambia's Sole Evergreen Forest Protected Area

Discover rare Cryptosepalum dry forests and unique mapped geography.

West Lunga National Park offers a distinct atlas exploration opportunity as Zambia's only national park primarily defined by its forest cover. This remote protected area safeguards the largest evergreen forest in Africa outside the equatorial zone, characterized by dense Cryptosepalum trees forming a closed canopy over sandy terrain. Understand the park's unique landscape, its geographic position within the region, and its importance as a conservation area with mapped protected boundaries.

Area
1,700 km²
IUCN
II
Relief
Lowland
Access
Remote access
National parkUvinza District
375 km away#6 closest

Northeast

Mahale Mountains National Park: Tanzania's Remote Mountain Forest & Lake Tanganyika Landscape

Explore unique primate habitats and dramatic protected terrain.

Mahale Mountains National Park stands as a testament to unique ecological convergence, where the Mahale Mountains' dense forests dramatically meet the vast expanse of Lake Tanganyika. This protected area is globally recognized for harboring the largest wild population of eastern chimpanzees, offering a rare glimpse into their behavior within a pristine wilderness. The park's landscape is defined by steep mountain slopes, diverse woodland, and aquatic environments, creating a distinctive geographic context that sets it apart from typical savanna protected areas in Tanzania.

Area
1,650 km²
Established
1985
IUCN
II
Visitors
1.1K annual
National parkNorthern Province
About 448 km away#7 closest

Southeast

Isangano National Park: Exploring Its Protected Landscape and Geographic Identity in Northern Province

Discover the mapped boundaries and regional context of this national park.

Isangano National Park stands as a protected national park within the vast geographic expanse of Zambia's Northern Province. This dedicated entry provides critical context for understanding the park's role as a conservation landscape, detailing its physical geography and its position within regional atlas data. Explore the mapped outlines and natural terrain features that define Isangano National Park, offering a foundational view for broader geographic exploration and protected-area research.

Area
840 km²
Established
1972
Relief
Lowland
Climate
Tropical
National parkMoxico Leste Province
456 km away#8 closest

Southwest

Cameia National Park: Unique Zambezi Basin Wetlands and Miombo Woodlands in Angola

Explore the mapped geography of Angola's sole Zambezi basin ecological sample.

Cameia National Park is a significant protected area in Moxico Leste Province, Angola, distinguished by its status as the country's only representation of Zambezi River basin ecosystems. The park features extensive seasonally inundated plains and characteristic miombo woodlands, offering a unique mosaic of wetland and forest landscapes. Understanding its geographic setting, hydrological connections to the Chifumage, Lumege, and Luena rivers, and its position within the broader Zambezi drainage system provides essential context for this irreplaceable protected territory.

Area
1,445 km²
Established
1938
IUCN
II
Relief
Lowland
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Upemba National Park's Protected Landscape and Geography

Discover the full geographic context and atlas significance of Upemba National Park. Understanding its unique wetland systems, lake ecosystems, and mountainous terrain provides crucial insights into protected area dynamics in central Africa. Continue your exploration to map its boundaries and appreciate its role as a vital natural landscape.

Global natural geography