Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site comprises Mount Hoyo (1,450 m) and the surrounding, approximately circular, area of forest. The site is located at the northern end of the Rwenzori range, in north-eastern DR Congo, between the Lendu plateau (IBA CD007) to the north and Virunga National Park (CD010) to the south, some 125 km north of the town of Béni. It lies close to the border with Uganda and between the Bombu, Yaonda, Kalakala and Loya rivers. It forms the eastern part of the Ituri forest and is linked to Virunga National Park by a corridor between the Makayova and Abia rivers. The mountain is riddled with caves and there are some waterfalls. Human population densities are low.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. The site may be expected to hold a good selection of species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome.
In addition, one species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome has been recorded (see Table 3). Up to six species of the Albertine Rift mountains EBA and 23 of the Afrotropical Highlands biome may be expected to occur (see Tables 2 and 3).
Non-bird biodiversity: The mammal Okapia johnstoni (LR/nt) has been recorded. An exceptional cave-dwelling fauna occurs.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The site was established as a ‘Réserve Intégrale’ in 1947 and is managed by ICCN. Its inclusion in Virunga National Park has been proposed. Mount Hoyo used to be a renowned, albeit rather sparsely visited, tourist attraction.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Hoyo Reserve (Congo, The Democratic Republic of the). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-hoyo-reserve-iba-congo-the-democratic-republic-of-the on 22/11/2024.
