Although it doesn’t look that huge on the map next to its big neighbors, Congo-Brazzaville is a big country with endless forests, savanna, marshlands, countless rivers and streams and hills covered with jungle and bamboo. It is a marvelous county located in the heart of Africa and one of the greenest regions in the continent. Tourism-wise little is known about this little gem and there still is a lack of information out there and very few people ever come to visit Congo. For the ones who have read about it, it is often hard to make a choice what to visit as there is so much to see and do.
What comes to mind is ofcourse the mighty Congo River and the Congo Basin: an important ecosystem and home to numerous animals and plant species. A trip to the rainforest in search of big mammals such as primates and elephants should also be on the list. This is why we created this programme where you can taste both worlds. Our journey will begin in the capital of Congo: Brazzaville, from where we’ll take a nice coach to the town of Oyo. From there we’ll take a boat on the Alima River all the way to the Congo. During these days we will visit villages, learn all about daily life, encounter wildlife and also spend our time fishing if you’re interested. The region has many big game fish with the Goliath Tiger Fish being the most sought after one. So this is a good chance to fish for tiger fish in Congo while you’re here.
After our river adventures we’ll go to the south of Odzala where we’ll stay in a basic local hostel and we’ll set out to the rainforest every day to be on the lookout for animals, especially gorillas, elephants and chimpanzees.
Please be aware that this is a very adventurous tour which is not for everyone. During your trip you will pass several hours in your boat in tropical heat and possible heavy rain. There will be mud, mosquitoes, insects and there won’t be any electricity and running water for some parts of the expedition. It is very important to behave in a respectful way with the locals and to acknowledge the authority of our guide to ensure safety. We ask you to be flexible and to be open to last minute changes and to come with an open mind. It is important to also add a few bufferdays in Brazzaville in case of any holdups. We are not responsible for you missing your flight or PCR-tests.
For those who feel like they are ready for this kind of adventure, we will make sure that you’ll have a great time and you will have the memories of a lifetime. We are the only travel agency who offers these kinds of tours in Congo and all of our guides are local and know the country like the back of their hand. We have excellent contacts with the locals and the local authorities. Besides the handful of clients we have brought here, very few outsiders (even locals) have ever been to this area.
Please, make sure that you know that you understand the kind of place where you’re going to. Even during your stay in Brazzaville you can have power cuts, a period of no running water (except in the Radisson Hotel) and there are factors such as rain showers and landslides which can delay the programme. Make sure to bring enough batteries, power banks, ziplocks to protect your gear, DEET, a portable mosquito net, rubber boots, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and basic medication to avoid annoyances.
Below is how the itinerary would look like. We try to stick to the programme as much as possible. Please, allow up to 2 – 3 bufferdays to make sure you don’t miss your flight and make sure you get your PCR-test results if asked. We are not responsible for anything visa or PCR-test related, nor missed flights.
If you would like to fish for the Goliath Tiger Fish we can bring you in contact with local fishermen who know where to catch them. Make sure to bring a good sturdy rod and plenty of back up material as all of these are hard to get in Congo.
Day 1: Arrival in Brazzaville and transfer to your hotel. Meals not included.
Day 2: Early departure for Oyo by coach. Overnight in local hotel. Meals not included.
Day 3 and 4: Descending the Alima River, camping and local meals.
Day 5 and 6: Exploring the area where the Alima flows into the Congo River, camping and local meals.
Day 7: The long journey back to Oyo by boat, overnight in Oyo. Dinner not included.
Day 8: Transfer to Etoumbi where we will stay for the night.
Day 9: In the morning we’ll drive to our accommodation for the coming days, just near the entrance of the park. We’ll spend our days looking for wildlife.
Day 10, 11, 12: Three days of forest exploration by 4×4, boat and hiking.
Day 13: We will drive back to the next town of importance such as Oyo/Owando
Day 14: The long way back to Brazzaville by coach. Drop off at your hotel, end of tour.
*** Please, add at least two buffer days after this. We cannot stress this enough. We are NOT responsible for any delays and you missing your flight or not having the chance to take a PCR-test.
Included:
– Permits and fees
– All transport as described in the itinerary: plane tickets, boats, 4×4
– All accommodation during the 13 days of the itinerary (last night in Brazzaville not included)
– All meals during camping along the river (not in Brazzaville, Oyo and Odzala)
– Professional guide assisted by a local team
Not included:
– PCR-tests
– Visa
– International flights
– Extra nights at hotel outside the 13 days
– Meals in Brazzaville, Oyo and Odzala
What to bring:
– Plenty of ziplocks and other waterproof bags for your belongings
– Torch and plenty of batteries (maybe one portable torch and one headtorch)
– Pre-charged power banks
– Some baby wipes, bacti-gel and napkins for quick cleaning
– Toiletries
– Quick drying towels
– Rubber boots
– Hiking shoes which dry easily
– Plenty of good socks
– Fishing gear
– Best to use breathable pants and long shirts which dry easily and made for jungle treks
– Sport shirts which dry easily
– A hat with a net against sweat bees (they don’t bite, but they’re annoying)
– DEET (take one with at least 40%)
– Cream against mosquito bites
– Basic medication such as pain killers, basic antibiotics, anti-histamines, painkillers, bandages, disinfectant, loperamide, etc. (if you can also ask coartem to your doctor, which can treat malaria in 4 days)
– Vaccination carnet with proof of vaccination against yellow fever
– Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
– Good waterproof tent, mat, a sheet
– Waterproof backpack
– Set of gear to eat: knife, fork, spoon, cup
– Extra snacks such as energy bars, snickers, beef jerky etc.
– Maybe a book or an e-reader for when you have some time to kill
– Swimming gear
Vaccinations:
– Covid-19
– Yellow fever
– Ask your doctor about: DTP, typhus (highly recommended), rabies, hepatitis and others.
Malaria:
– Talk to your doctor about the safest and best medication for malaria. Be sure to cover yourself and only wear closed shoes and long pants. Apply DEET and avoid mosquitoes as much as you can. Probably best to have a portable mosquito-net with you for the villages.
Make sure that you have all the necessary documents to enter the country and that you have good insurance in case of any problems as we cannot be held responsible for anything happening throughout the trip. Our staff will do everything in their power to make sure you have a good and safe trip, but be aware of the adventurous nature of this trip and the risks involved.
