Congo Explorer & Gorillas

For travellers looking for an exclusive, truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime Africa experience, Republic of Congo's Odzala-Kokoua National Park presents an extraordinary allure.

This trip has been rated by Wanderlust Magazine as one of the best tours of the world, as it entails light adventure in one of our planet's greatest rainforest areas. The park falls into the second largest expanse of tropical rainforest left on the globe, and, as you might expect, this presents a veritable Garden of Eden for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.

Famously, it is home to the Western lowland gorilla, the most plentiful of the remaining species and subspecies of these magnificent great apes.

With this sample itinerary, guests spend seven nights in /around Odzala and stay at three different lodges.

Each of the lodges has been built from locally-sourced materials and creatively designed to blend with the surroundings. Each camp has only a small carrying capacity, so visitors are able to enjoy a feel of exclusivity and intimacy with the surrounding nature.

In the rainforests of Odzala-Kokua National Park, three habituated groups of Western lowland gorilla reside; two of these can be visited by tourists. Searching for these great apes during a rainforest hike is one of many highlight of any Republic of Congo holidays. But visiting the Lowland gorillas is only one facet of the Congo experience.The national park has another 11 species of primate, as well as Forest elephant, Forest buffalo, Bongo antelope; Giant forest hog and a myriad of beautiful birds.Keen twitchers will be thrilled by the 430 bird species recorded from the area, including specials such as White-crested Tiger-heron, Congo Serpent-eagle, Vermiculated Fishing-Owl and Forest Swallow and Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill.