想要逃离金沙萨的嘈杂与交通拥堵,邦博卢梅内自然保护区(Bombo Lumene Natural Reserve)是大多数在刚果(金)生活者的首选。这个距离首都约135公里的自然秘境位于广阔的巴特凯高原(Plateau de Bateke)上,占地面积达到35万公顷左右。这里没有城市里的尾气,只有卢菲米河(Lumene River)清凉的河水和连绵起伏的草原。作为刚果(金)历史较久的保护区之一,它的狩猎区部分早在1968年就已设立,而核心保护区则在1976年确立,至今仍由刚果自然保护协会(ICCN)与相关基金会共同管理。
从金沙萨中心城区出发到保护区入口大概需要3小时到4小时的车程。前半段路程是相对平坦的N1国道,过了机场后路况会逐渐变得复杂。说个实际的细节,过了机场分岔口一定要向右朝基奎特(Kikwit)方向行驶,如果向左就跑到了马卢库(Maluku)码头。快到达目的地时,你会看到路边醒目的保护区指示牌,这时候真正的考验才开始。进入保护区内部的沙土路非常松软,建议驾驶底盘较高的四驱车前往,否则在雨季极容易打滑或者陷车。虽然只有短短几公里的土路,但开起来并不轻松。
保护区内海拔高度在450米到700米之间,这种海拔加上开阔的地形使得这里的早晚温差很大。清晨六点半左右起身时,即使在热带你也会感到透骨的凉意,甚至需要抱个热水杯暖手。随着太阳升起,气温会迅速爬升,这种强烈的气候变化是巴特凯高原独特的自然节奏。这里的风景不像东部大猩猩区那样茂密,更多的是稀树草原,视野极度开阔,给人一种荒蛮而辽阔的视觉震撼。
卢菲米河与邦博河(Bombo River)是这片土地的灵魂,两条河流最终汇聚成迈恩东贝河(Mai-Ndombe)。在保护区里最出名的玩点就是跳进卢菲米河里游泳或者顺着水流漂浮。河水由于含沙量和矿物质的原因呈现出一种铁锈红或深褐色,但实际上水质非常干净清爽。你可以从河边的小码头跳下去,利用湍急的水流让自己顺流漂到下游的小沙滩上。河岸两旁长满了茂密的原始植被,这种从开阔草原瞬间切入热带雨林的包裹感非常奇妙。如果你热爱钓鱼,这里还是挑战姆本加虎鱼(Mbenga Tiger Fish)的好地方,这种鱼生性凶猛且极难捕捉,很多资深钓友专门为此而来。
说到看动物,得先给你打个预防针,这里的体验和肯尼亚那种大规模兽群迁徙完全不同。由于历史上的盗猎压力,这里的动物密度不算高,想看到大型哺乳动物需要极好的运气和一位老练的护林员。保护区内记录有超过113种鸟类,其中包括非常稀有的海氏林鵖(Cossypha heinrichi),是观鸟爱好者的天堂。如果运气不错,在清晨四五点钟趁着露水还没散去,你可能会在盐坑附近看到丛林小羚羊(Duiker)或是体型稍大的林羚。至于传说中的水牛,现在已经难觅踪影,即便存在也多躲在密林深处。在这里游玩的主题更多是感受自然本身的静谧和萨瓦纳的落日。
钱的问题也得算清楚,目前保护区的单人门票大约在15美元左右,车辆进入通常还会额外收取一笔费用。住宿方面这里提供几种档次,最受游客欢迎的是带露台的木屋小别墅(Chalet),虽然设施非常简陋且没有长期稳定的电力供应,但那个露台视角无敌,正对着山谷和草原。如果你是露营发烧友,自带帐篷只需要支付约10美元的营地费。如果你图省事,营地也提供大型帐篷出租,价格通常在30美元左右。这里没有移动信号也没有互联网,到了之后手机基本就是个拍照工具,正好让人彻底断网放松。
吃的东西必须全部自备。金沙萨市区的超市是最好的补给站,出发前建议买好木炭、新鲜肉类、瓶装水和零食。保护区的工作人员非常热情,他们会帮你在露营区升起篝火或者点燃烧烤架,甚至在第二天清晨帮你刷洗餐具,当然给几美元的小费是符合当地礼仪的。深夜坐在篝火旁抬头看,那是你在市区永远见不到的银河,繁星密布到让人窒息。这种没有任何现代干扰的夜晚是邦博卢梅内最动人的时刻。
虽然通往保护区的大部分路段是柏油路,但从国道转向营地的最后几公里是深沙地和泥路,普通轿车极易底盘受损或深陷。建议至少租用一台底盘较高的四驱SUV,特别是在11月到次年2月的雨季,非四驱车辆几乎无法通过内部路段。
保护区内部没有任何商店或餐馆,所有消耗品包括饮用水、主食、肉类和调料都必须从金沙萨带过去。虽然管理处有时能提供木炭,但为了保险起见,建议连烧烤用的炭火也自己备好,否则只能生吃冷餐。
邦博卢梅内目前对游客开放且有ICCN护林员驻守,整体比较安全,但出发前必须了解最新的地区局势。因为巴特凯高原周边偶尔会有部族冲突或土地争议,建议联系当地旅行社确认当前路况和安全通告,尽量避免夜间在公路上行驶。
每年的5月到9月是刚果(金)的旱季,这也是游玩邦博卢梅内的黄金期。这几个月不仅蚊虫较少,而且沙土路相对坚实好走,卢菲米河的水位也适合游泳漂流,只是夜晚气温可能会降至15摄氏度以下,需要带件厚外套。
Mustapha Galai Nice place
THE AMAZING INDIAN EXPLORER Bombo lumene natural reserve 125 km from Kinshasa the capital city of democratic republic of congo.bombo lumene best visit place for families You can enjoy mother nature Night camping Bon fire And lots of amazing experience that get in bombo lumene natural reserve
Krishna Bombo Lumene lies directly on the N1 to Kikwit at about 100km from Kinshasa. After driving past Ndjili International Airport, continue driving on the N1 for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes until you cross the Pont Mai-Ndombe. From the Mai-Ndombe bridge it is another 15 minute drive before reaching the reserve’s main entrance. The drive time from downtown Kinshasa until the reserve’s entrance usually takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. No restaurant available there, so you have to carry your own drinks and food. Good nature scenery 👍 and a natural river inside forest as well….
Ιλια Κεχαγια The place is magical!!! You should definitely visit it!!! The staff is very helpful and kind. The scene is clean and tidy! In the river it is very beautiful you can sit all day. Early in the morning you can request a guided tour of the savannah! Loses a star because it could have showers and toilets!
Kimberly Hall Depending on traffic about 3 hours outside of Kinshasa city. You can bring your own tent or use the ones they have. I would recommend using the ones on the platforms. They have solar power attached so you can have light and can charge your devices. The hike down to the river is very steep, it's possible to drive down but you need a bigger 4x4 drive to maneuver the track down there. Some persons also camp by river instead of up by the campsite. No solar power down here though. Some people jump in and float down the river, ensure you are a strong enough swimmer or bring life jackets to keep you afloat. The currents are pretty strong. They are still working on improving the facilities and the bathroom situation isnt the best. But I know it's something for the future. They now have the facilities to offer cooked meals however you need to arrange this a few days before you get there. A meal of half a chicken/fish and veggies/beans is currently about $10. It costs $15 per person to enter and then more depending on your tent. You can ask for a bonfire to be made and they have rangers that do morning, evening walks and night drives with you to explore the flora and fauna of the reserve. Highly recommend doing this.