Around Pointe-Noire we find the Mayombe Forest, a magnificent deep rainforest which is part of the geographic Mayombe area with lower mountains up to 900 meter. The region stretches from the Congo River Mouth in the Democratic Republic all the way to the Kouilou-Niari River in Congo-Brazzaville. The park also runs into Angola and Gabon.
The highest mountain in the green hills of the Mayombe is Mount Foungouti which is 930 meters high, all the other mountains are under 900 meter. From June to September it’s the dry season in which the temperature drops below 20 degrees and from October until May it’s the rainy season, in which it’s very hot and humid.
Mayombe consists of thick rainforest and savanna and there are many old trees of several centuries old present, all of them evergreen and up to 40 to 60 meters tall. We can find several species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The park is also home to monkeys, lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. We can also find forest elephants, forest buffaloes, duikers, pangolins, porcupines and birds such as the African gray parrot.
Besides the local expats the region is not known by tourists, while it has a lot of potential given that there are many great sandy beaches and thick forests with wildlife. The neighboring mangrove park in Congo-Kinshasa also offers great tours and there are also manatees present. Our travel starts in Pointe-Noire, the coastal town in Congo-Brazzaville and the second biggest city of Congo. On the first day we will explore Gorges de Diosso, a scenic nature site outside of the city in between the forest and the ocean, together with sandy beaches of the wild coast where the mayombe forest touches the ocean.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Pointe-Noire - Gorges de Diosso and the wild coast
Exploration of the forest and the wild coast north of Pointe-Noire with your guide, return to Pointe-Noire for overnight.
Day 2 and 3: Pointe-Noire - Dimonika Biosphere Reserve
We will go by private car to Dimonika Biosphere Reserve, where we will camp for two nights and will explore the forest by hiking. We will also visit the gold extraction sites where you can see how people are trying to get gold out of the soil.
Day 4 and 5: Jungle exploration in the Mayombe Forest
Two full days in the Mayombe Forest in which we’ll explore the jungle by hiking and also descending the river by rubber bands. We will be staying in a tree hut with magnificent views over the Mayombe Forest.
Day 6: Back to Pointe-Noire by car
We’ll be picked up by car and drive back to Pointe-Noire where we’ll drop you off at your hotel in Pointe-Noire.
Includes:
- Accommodation in Mayombe Forest with meals included
- Train ride through the Mayombe Forest
- Transportation by private car for the other days
- Professional local guide
Doesn’t include:
- Accommodation in Pointe-Noire
- Meals outside the Mayombe Forest
- Drinks
- Tips and gratuities
- Visa
- Flights
“Am just back from a wonderful 2 centre trip to the Republic of Congo. Started with 3 days in Pointe Noire and Conkouati National Park on the coast. The 2 days spent at the chimp rehabilitation and re wilding centre deep inside the park were magical, especially the boat ride up river into dense jungle. The volunteers, Heather, Clement and Chloe, couldn't have been kinder and my CTT guides Badji ( who coped gallantly with my abominable French! ) and Yves really went out of their way to make my stay a happy one. Much appreciated. The second leg took me to Brazzaville and included a ride up the mighty Congo to a fishing village and 2 days in Louna National Park, accompanied by lovely French Canadian Michael, who was the perfect host/guide... ,everything laid on right down to the bottle of Absolut he whipped out of his cold box along with a smoked chicken at our jungle camp. The camp has all mod cons, don't worry. The baby gorillas were beyond cute. The Congolese conservation staff do a fantastic job of caring for the orphaned ( with the hope of re introducing them into the wild ) and the elderly. The river trip was another stunner. In Congo, don't expect to see animals in the vast numbers you might get in the safari parks of Eastern and Southern Africa but the quality of the experience is what counts not the quantity of creatures. I will never forget the brief moment I looked into the eyes of a shy forest elephant only feet away in Conkouati and close encounters with swimming hippos in Louna Park; the boat had to make a rapid getaway from a big male who objected to us lurking around his ladies. CTT does a very professional job... and that's from someone who works in the tourism industry herself! Highly recommended."
- Charlotte Freeman, Singapore/UK, Age 65 , Coast to River Odyssey
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