Odzala Odyssey
Tour Introduction
Most of our clients are interested in general natural history – Mother Nature in all her various manifestations. Some have certain types of wildlife that are of particular interest. Others seek something out of the ordinary – a little-visited wildlife gem that’s resolutely off-the-beaten-track; somewhere that engenders a frisson of excitement and perhaps a modicum of trepidation.
We have just such a destination – the Republic of the Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo) where throughout this varied and comprehensive journey you will be accompanied by experienced local wildlife guides, on hand to provide specialist local knowledge and priceless natural history insights.
The tour focuses on Odzala-Kakoua National Park, home to over 25,000 western lowland gorillas (in Volcanoes and Bwindi National Parks there are less than 1,000 mountain gorillas). This tour includes three gorilla tracking permits and stays in three private wildlife lodges. You will be among the only visitors in an area more than twice the size of Florida’s Everglades National Park!
Full Itinerary
Arrive at Maya Maya International Airport in Brazzaville. Meet and greet and transfer to hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Staying at Radisson Blu M’Bamou Palace Hotel. Includes No Meals.
After breakfast enjoy a short city tour, then fly by private charter (Mondays and Thursdays) from Brazzaville to Mboko airstrip in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. On arrival at the airstrip in Odzala-Kokoua you are welcomed by our representatives and the adventure begins with a safari drive through the park's savanna and rainforest to your home for the next four nights, Ngaga Lodge. This evening you'll join your guide around the fire for a conservation and gorilla track briefing to prepare you to set off on foot early in the morning in search of Western lowland gorillas.
Staying at Ngaga Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Situated in the Ndzehi Concession, adjoining Odzala-Kokoua, Ngaga Lodge is a focal point for world-class primate research, as well as unforgettable primate encounters. During your time at Ngaga, you will venture out to track western lowland gorillas in the forest around the lodge (3 gorilla tracking sessions included). Get to know the forest and all its inhabitants by way of guided forest walks, night walks, village visits (on request), and enjoy spectacular sundowners.
Staying at Ngaga Lodge. Includes All Meals.
As well as gorilla tracking, enjoy guided forest walks, night walks and village visits (on request).
Staying at Ngaga Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Full day of activities and leisure time at Ngaga Lodge in the Ndzehi Concession.
Staying at Ngaga Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Enjoy breakfast and one last venture into Ngaga's pristine rainforest before embarking on a road transfer through the park to Mboko Lodge (approx. two hours). After lunch, set off on kayaks down the Lekoli River on a gentle safari where you may encounter monkeys, elephants, forest buffalo, and a colourful array of birds along the riverbank as you make your way to Lango Bai. Finish the journey on foot and arrive in time for a refreshing sundowner.
Staying at Lango Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Time at Lango Lodge is about getting up close with nature, walking in the footsteps of elephants on well-worn trails through streams, baïs, and forests. Get in touch with this pristine landscape by getting wet and muddy on foot, or seek drier adventures in the forests that surround the bai. Watch flocks of green pigeons coming to roost, forest buffalo grazing, and if you are lucky encounter an elusive bongo or shy forest elephant. Your guide will share enlightening details about the delicate ecosystem and the fascinating flora and fauna you'll encounter on your daily adventures.
Staying at Lango Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Full day of excursions from Lango Lodge, along with time spent at your leisure.
Staying at Lango Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Set forth as the dawn breaks on an early morning walking safari followed by breakfast before you depart Lango. Follow a raised wooden walkway through the wetlands and hop on the vehicle for a game drive transfer to Mboko Lodge, situated where the forest meets the savanna. After lunch, enjoy a forest walk or a relaxing afternoon in camp on the river deck, followed by a late afternoon river cruise. Mboko is set along the Lékéni River which leads into a network of waterways with surrounding savannas.
Staying at Mboko Lodge. Includes All Meals.
A combination of wide open grasslands, gentle rivers, and towering forests provides a place of peace and adventure in equal measure. Alongside your guide, explore riverbanks and forests looking for colourful birdlife, forest elephants, buffalo, spotted hyenas, charismatic primates, the shy bongo, and hippos found in this part of Odzala Kokoua National Park. Activities are a combination of walking, boating, and kayaking through some of the Congo Basin’s most beautiful habitats. Take a dip or cool your feet in the quiet, crystal streams found at Mboko, and relax on the river deck which offers a unique vantage point to look for birds.
Staying at Mboko Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Full day of excursions from Mboko Lodge, along with time spent at your leisure.
Staying at Mboko Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Depart after breakfast enjoy a game drive through the savanna to Mboko airstrip and a flight back to Brazzaville. **Depending on flight schedules an additional night in Brazzaville may be required.**
Includes Breakfast.
Tour Accommodation
Radisson Blu M’Bamou Palace Hotel
Overview
This modern hotel occupies a privileged position overlooking the Congo River towards Kinshasa. The rooms have views of the city and river and are equipped with fridge (mineral water only), desk, direct dial phone, satellite TV with a large variety of multilingual channels, safe, air-conditioning and complimentary high speed WiFi.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
There is the M'Bamou Larder serving international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the M'Bamou lounge offering light bites and drinks, Le Feu des Saveurs grill overlooking the Congo River and Il Taglio pool bar serving Italian cuisine and Mediterranean cocktails. A same day laundry service is available if clothes are received before 0930. The hotel also provides 24-hour room service,
The M'Bamou Health Club and Spa has an outdoor pool, outdoor deck overlooking the gardens and the Congo River, a fitness centre, massage and treatment rooms, a hairdresser, sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi, nail spa and juice bar.
There are a number of high-priced boutique shops on the ground floor, as well as a supermarket a short walk away. Euros, US Dollars and Pounds can be exchanged for CFA Francs 24 hours a day at reception. There is a Visa ATM in the lobby and a MasterCard ATM less than a block away.
Ngaga Camp
Overview
The camp is located in the Ndzehi Forest outside the western boundary of Odzala-Kokoua National Park. It is perched above a forest clearing surrounded by dense marantaceae forest, Ngaga Camp has six guest cabins raised on three- to four-metre stilts with wraparound viewing walkways. All rooms are en suite with a hot shower and flush toilet, mosquito net, fans, in room safe, and power points.
The main activity at Ngaga is tracking western lowland gorillas, drawing on the expertise of primatologists Dr Magda Bermejo and German Illera, who have their research base here. Alongside their team of trackers they have studied these amazing primates for more than 17 years and the focus of each morning at Ngaga will be to locate and view the gorillas as much as possible, within limits.
Two groups have been habituated and can be viewed by guests. Neptuno and his group of 13 are generally quite relaxed in the presence of guests and researchers. The second habituated group numbers 23 individuals and is led by Jupiter who is very shy and does not show often, though there is usually plenty of noise and interesting dynamics to observe amongst the group’s adolescents.
There is also an extensive network of forest trails which can be explored where a variety of fauna can be seen including monkeys and up to seven species of hornbill. Night walks to see a myriad insects and search for potoos, palm civets, genets and galagos are possible for those that are interested.
Cultural visits to nearby Ombo visit can also be arranged.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Dining room, lounge and bar area on one raised deck overlooking the forest, and a star deck and fire pit located on a lower deck below the main area. Laundry service is included.
Local Wildlife
The main activity at Ngaga Camp is tracking western lowland gorillas.
Optional Activities
Forest hikes, night hikes and village visit.
Lango Camp
Overview
Lango Camp is located on a baie in the south-central part of Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Getting to the Camp is an adventure, with a drive to the Lekoli River, a paddle downstream in kayaks, and then a hike into Lango bai. A shorter route is available for the less active!
The camp buildings are connected by a series of raised walkways which are frequently visited by black and white colobus monkeys. There are six comfy double occupancy rooms built amongst the forest overlooking Lango Baie. All rooms have a wraparound viewing walkway, en suite bathroom with hot water shower, flush toilet, mosquito net, fans, power points and in-room safe.
Activities from Lango Camp focus on the baie, surrounding savannah, and forest ‘islands’. Some activities can involve wading through streams and muddy baies.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Central dining room, lounge and bar area, with star deck and fire pit affording magnificent views over the baie. A laundry service is provided free of charge.
Local Wildlife
Forest elephant, forest buffalo, spotted hyena, western sitatunga, harnessed bushbuck, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, putty-nosed monkey, Africa grey parrot, and green pigeon. Bongo, red river hog, slender-snouted crocodile, and African dwarf crocodile are also occasionally seen.
Mboko Camp
Overview
Mboko Camp is located inside Odzala-Kokoua National Park and is the largest of Congo Conservation Company’s three adventure camps. It is also the operational centre for the camps. There are 12 tented rooms built along the Likeni River, consisting of 10 double occupancy and two family cabins. Each room has a private deck with forest or river view, en suite bathroom with hot shower, flush toilet, mosquito net, fans, power points and in-room safe.
Activities are a combination of exploring the savanna, forest ‘islands’ and baies on foot, and river trips. River activities are either in a motorised aluminium boat, or kayaks. The activities often involve wading through streams and muddy baies.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Large dining, lounge and bar area with star deck and fire pit overlooking wide-open grasslands that are frequented by buffalo, elephants and abundant bird life. There is also a river deck by the Likeni River for post forest walk drinks. Laundry service is included at the Camp.
Local Wildlife
Forest elephant, spotted hyena, forest buffalo, western sitatunga, harnessed bushbuck, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and putty-nosed monkey. Bongo, red river hog, slender-snouted crocodile and Africa dwarf crocodile are also occasionally seen.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Ethiopian Airlines flies daily from London Heathrow via Addis Ababa to Brazzaville, and Air France four times a week via Paris. Royal Air Maroc flies from London Gatwick twice a week via Casablanca.
Best Visited:
January to March
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
John Melton
Area Specialist
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965