Penetrate the Congo’s dense rainforests and seek out one of man’s closest relatives - the remarkable lowland gorilla - in its natural habitat near Ngaga Camp.
Based in the heart of the great Central African rainforest, purpose-built camps in Odzala-Kokoua National Park offer an easy and slightly adventurous approach to view lowland gorillas in a safe, gentle, unhurried and relaxed environment. Naturally, you’ll see a host of primates, mammalian life and rich birdlife, but one of the greatest highlights of your stay is the two (or possibly three) separate gorilla tracking opportunities with at least an hour spent each time in contact with a habituated family group going about their everyday life.
Other activities include a guided kayaking trip downstream, taking in the beautiful nature and birdlife as you slowly glide your way from Mboko to Lango Camp, followed by a nature walk in the wilderness, passing through forest elephant trails and wading through small creeks.
Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
Daytime flight to Brazzaville. On arrival you will be met and transferred to a comfortable hotel in the city centre.
Accommodation: Hotel in Brazzaville, 1-night
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Day 2:
Fly to Ngaga Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Today you can enjoy a relaxing morning or join a city tour and explore this fascinating and vibrant capital city, built on the edge of the Congo River. Highlights include the local handicraft market, the stunning St Anne’s Basilica Church with its impressive green-tiled roof, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial, and other cultural and historical sites.
In the early afternoon, transfer to the airport and board a scenic flight to Mboko Airstrip inside Odzala-Kokoua National Park. On arrival you will be met by a guide for the three to four hours' drive across savannah and through forest to Ngaga Camp, your base for the next few days. Later you will receive an extensive briefing on western lowland gorillas, and if time allows, there will be a short introductory walk in the forest and sundowners by the Ngaga River.
Accommodation: Ngaga Camp, 3-nights
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Days 3-4
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Ngaga Camp, lowland gorilla tracking
Each day, after an early wake-up call and light breakfast, you depart on foot with a guide and trackers to track gorillas. Using the expert skills of the trackers, you start at the spot where the designated group slept overnight and follow their tracks through the forest, in hope of being able to locate them as they forage.
After this exhilarating experience, you return to camp to freshen up and enjoy a substantial brunch before spending the middle part of the day at leisure. In the afternoon after tea, you can enjoy a guided walk in the forest in search of birds and primates, as well as forest duiker.
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Day 5:
Optional gorilla tracking & Mboko Camp
This morning, after another early start and light breakfast, you have an opportunity to set out again on foot to track gorillas (optional: additional cost of around US$285 payable locally in cash). The expert trackers again follow the tracks through the forest, until you find the group and enjoy watching them resting and foraging.
Later this morning a road transfer is taken through Mbomo Village before continuing through Odzala-Kokoua National Park in time to reach Mboko Camp for lunch. A late afternoon river cruise is included; boat safaris here are one of best ways to view forest animals due to the excellent visibility they afford. As you glide downstream, you may spot various animals cooling off on the riverbank, such as forest elephant, forest buffalo, primates such as putty-nosed monkey and de Brazza’s monkey, slender-snouted and African dwarf crocodiles, birds, bongo (the largest of the forest antelopes), and the reclusive sitatunga (marshbuck).
Accommodation: Mboko Camp, 1-night
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Day 6:
Kayaking & walk to Lango Camp
One of the highlights of this area is the chance to get even closer to nature by kayaking the Lekoli River while you soak in the atmosphere of your surroundings.The kayak trip takes around two hours, paddling downstream with the gentle current. Finally, a walk of around one hour, which involves wading through the knee-deep clear water of forest streams and creeks, brings you to Lango Bai, a habitat rich in wildlife.
Once at camp you have an opportunity to settle in, freshen up and have lunch before embarking on a short late afternoon activity (time permitting), which may consist of a walk around Lango Bai and the forest fringe, or birdwatching from the camp deck.
Accommodation: Lango Camp, 2-nights
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Day 7:
Birdwatching in Lango Camp
This morning a guided walk to a bird hide can be enjoyed to watch for African grey parrots in the bai before returning to the camp for lunch. This afternoon you can choose how active (or inactive!) you may wish to be with the opportunity to join a forest and bai walk to observe for wildlife near the camp or take a dip in the Lango bai.
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Day 8:
Lango Camp to Mboko Camp
An early morning wake-up is followed by a light breakfast and coffee on the main deck, after which you embark on your first activity for the day. This is a walk from camp through Lango Bai along a wooden pathway before joining a vehicle safari transfer through the savannah to Mboko Camp
Back at Mboko Camp enjoy lunch and rest period before you head out again later for the afternoon activity – these can include a river cruise on the Lekoli River, swimming or a guided bai and river walk.
Accommodation: Mboko Camp, 1-night
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Day 9:
Fly to Brazzaville
After an early start and a light breakfast on the deck at Mboko Camp, you depart for nearby Mboko airstrip, normally arriving back in Brazzaville late morning. Back in civilisation, you have time to unwind and digest this incredible adventure on your last night in Brazzaville.
Accommodation: Hotel in Brazzaville, 1-night
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Day 10:
Depart Brazzaville
Today, depending on the departure time of your international flight, you may want to join a cultural activity in the city or simply indulge in the hotel spa before heading to the airport for an overnight flight home.
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Day 11:
Arrive UK
