In the site, we base from two main villages: Yasa (3° 45′ South, 21° 21′ East) in the southern portion of the Lukuru and Anga (3° 09′ South, 21° 33′ East) in the northern region. From those two centers of operation, we are able to springboard to much more remote destinations and foray to less accessible locations. Anga is the Headquarters Post of the Parc National de la Salonga (PNS). Yasa is one of the villages associated with the Réserve Naturelle de la Bososandja [Bakomo is the other cornerstone village].

Presentation of the Garde - PNS; facing north, panorama looking out over the park landscape.

Reaching the Lukuru from

Kinshasa

is relatively direct. We charter a bush plane and fly from

Kinshasa

to the site. We may stop mid-route for refueling. Generally the flight is about 2 and ½ hours of air time. We change time zones between

Kinshasa

and the Lukuru.

In the site, we have access to a cleared landing strip for small bush aircraft at Anga that is rather rough and in the middle of dense primary forest. It was originally developed by the 7^th Day Adventists. However, now it is jointly maintain by the village and the park and we have been using it regularly since 2002. In 2001 and 2000 we accessed the site with the support of MONUC (the United Nations Mission in

Congo

) helicopters.

Yasa landing strip

In April 1998, use of all airspace was restricted to government flights only across the whole of the country, forcing us to use overland waterways to escape the approaching rebels as the frontline of conflict fighting swept across the landscape in June 1998. The Yasa landing strip had been closed since April 1998 and we were required to charter flights to into the government controlled airstrip at the administrative zone center of Dekese and travel overland. Earlier this year, we formally reopened the landing area at Yasa, a clearing in the savanna patch.

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