This tour focuses on Congo-Brazzaville and Cameroon. We’ll start our tour in the capital of the Republic of Congo: Brazzaville, from where we will go overland all the way to the southern border of Odzala. Odzala is the most beautiful park in the Republic of Congo and is known for its gorillas and forest elephants. The park is over 13.000 sq km and was created in 2001. It is managed by African Parks, WCS, WWF and the Congolese government. We mainly find pristine rainforest and a bit of savannah as well. Throughout the forest there are several clearings of which the soil is rich in minerals and water, attracting a lot of animals who come to feed on it such as buffaloes, bongos, elephants and more. Besides mammals the park is also refuge to a great variety of birds. During your stay in the park you will go look for elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, gorillas and we’ll also encounter many beautiful exotic birds and colorful insects, butterflies and reptiles.
After Odzala, we’ll continue our travel to Ouesso, which is located in the north of Congo. After Ouesso, we will cross the river and go to the headquarters of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, where we will stay for a few days to do gorilla tracking and also stay at the viewing platform near Beli Bai to see animals such as elephants.
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is located north-east of Odzala and borders Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Just like Odzala we can find many gorillas, elephants, buffaloes, chimpanzees, pangolins, duikers, red river hogs, sitatungas, bongos and other species. The park has given its status in 1993 and is part of the Sangha Trinational together with Lobéké and Dzanga Sangha. It’s a little under 4.000 sq km and mainly consists of rainforest. The park is managed by the WCS and is currently being restructured. It will reopen in 2023. By then you can book your safari and gorilla tracking for Nouabalé Ndoki again.
From Nouabalé-Ndoki we will continue our way to Lobéké National Park, which is located just across, in the south-east corner of Cameroon.
Lobéké National Park is very rich in fauna and flora and has over 45 species of mammals, 305 species of birds, 18 species of reptiles, 16 species of amphibians, 134 species of fish, 215 species of butterflies and 764 species of plants belonging to 102 families. A lot of these species are endemic and Lobéké has one of the highest concentrations of elephants and gorillas in all of the continent. Lobéké National Park has several clearings with viewing platforms from where you can observe birds, gorillas, elephants and other animals. There are platforms in Bolo, Djangui, Ndangaye, Ngoa, Djaloumbe and Petite Savane.
After a few days of camping and visiting Lobéké National Park, you can then choose to go back the same way and go to Brazzaville, or it is also possible to drive two days to Yaoundé, which would be the most logical way. It is very important to add a few buffer days to your itinerary in case there are any hold ups along the way. We are not responsible for you missing your flight due to bad planning!!!
This travel will take you deep into the African rainforest. There is little infrastructure in these places and accommodation is very basic with often no electricity or running water. Traveling to these places requires flexibility. You will have to walk through mud and shallow streams and will have to deal with insects. Please, know that visiting wildlife is not without risk and we are not responsible for any accidents that might occur because you’re not taking distance from the animals. Make sure you’re also bringing a mouth mask in case you’re tracking gorillas.
Bring your yellow fever vaccination proof and make sure you’re bringing appropriate clothing and shoes. Bring enough batteries and powerbanks and don’t forget your torch. You should also bring mosquito repellent, sun screen, a hat, sunglasses, medicines, sheets, towels and some back up snacks and water just to be sure.
Day 1: Brazzaville – Etoumbi
Today we travel from Brazzaville to Etoumbi in a comfortable bus. We will stay in Etoumbi tonight.
Day 2: Etoumbi to Odzala National Park
We will continue our travel all the way to the southern border of Odzala National Park. We will install ourselves at the guesthouse and have our first exploration of the park.
Day 3 to 5: Odzala National Park
We will explore the forest looking for wildlife such as elephants, antelopes, gorillas and more.
Day 6: Oyo
We will travel to Oyo/Owando before continuing to Ouesso. We’ll stay here for the night.
Day 8: Ouesso
Today we have a buffer day in Ouesso, a charming little town in the north of Congo next to Cameroon.
Day 9: Transfer by boat from Ouesso to Nouabalé – Ndoki
Transfer over the river and then overland to the camp in Nouabalé-Ndoki today.
Day 10 to 12: Nouabalé-Ndoki
We will stay three days in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park looking for animals such as forest elephants and will go on gorilla tracking.
Day 13: Bomassa – Lobéké
Transfer to Lobéké National Park today.
Day 14: Lobéké National Park: Petite Savanne
After the necessary paperwork we will go to the headquarters by car and then go hike to the viewing platform of the Petite Savanne. The hike is about 6 km, so it will take one and a half hours to two hours. We will stay here and look for animals the rest of the day (buffaloes, gorillas, elephants, bongos, sitatungas, primates, giant forest hogs) and will then overnight in the forest in tents.
Day 15: Lobéké National Park: Djangui
We will hike around 8 kilometers from the Petite Savanne viewing platform to the platform of Djangui. We’ll look for wildlife again and then overnight in tents near the base.
Day 16: Lobéké National Park: Back to Petite Savanne
In the morning we’ll go look for animals again and then we’ll walk back for 8 kilometers to Petite Savanne. After a day of searching for animals we’ll have another night in the forest.
Day 17: Lobéké National Park: Guesthouse
We will hike back to the starting point of the headquarters and will then stay in the guesthouse in Mambale.
Day 18 and 19: Drive from Lobéké NP to Yaoundé
Two days drive to Yaoundé by private car.
Includes:
– Professional local guide
– Transport as described
– Accommodation as described
– Park entrance fees
– All activities
– Food inside the parks
Excludes:
– Food outside the parks
– Drinks
– Tips
– Visa
– Flights
– Pcr-tests
