Young male gorilla in tree, Ngaga Camp, Odzala, Rep of Cong

Lowland Gorilla Trekking in the Congo Basin

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

10 Days

Prices Start from

£13,495pp(ex. flights)

Explore the wildlife riches hidden deep within the dense forests of the Odzala National Park. Track lowland gorillas and encounter forest elephants in a jungle wilderness that hides in the far north of Congo.

This trip offers a uniquely immersive experience of the Congolese rainforest. Whilst this vast tract of jungle spans several countries, there are still few places where you can do more than scratch the surface. Odzala offers the chance to make the most of this remarkable ecosystem. The excellent camps, great guiding and varied activities mean you can get out and explore, with excellent opportunities to spot species that can be seen in few other places.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Neptuno Group lowland gorilla Silverback, Ngaga Camp, Odzala, Rep of Congo 1

Lowland Gorillas

Have the unique opportunity to view the western lowland gorilla and forest elephants.

Kayaking from the air, Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo 2

Explore the Jungle

Set out on foot, by boat and in a 4×4 – making the most of this hard-to-reach environment.

Lango Camp Aerial, Odzala, Rep of Congo 3

Beautiful Camps

Stay in three comfortable camps that blend wonderfully into their forested surrounds.

Lowland Bongo Antelope, Lango Camp, Odzala, Rep of Congo 4

Wildlife Conservation

Contribute directly to the conservation of this ecosystem and meet wildlife researchers.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Congo on your wishlist? Talk to our experts about tailoring this trip for you.

  • Day 1

    Brazzaville

  • Day 2

    Brazzaville - Odzala National Park (Ngaga Camp)

  • Days 3 - 4

    Ngaga Camp

  • Day 5

    Ngaga Camp - Mboko Camp - Lango Camp

  • Day 6

    Lango Camp

  • Days 7

    Lango Camp - Mboko Camp

  • Day 8

    Mboko Camp

  • Day 9

    Mboko Camp - Brazzaville

  • Day 10

    Brazzaville

Day 1

Brazzaville

Arrive Brazzaville and transfer to your accommodation for the night.

Day 2

Brazzaville - Odzala National Park (Ngaga Camp)

Transfer to the airport for a two hour flight to Mboko. On arrival transfer around three hours to your camp in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Meet with the gorilla research team for a tracking briefing.

Days 3 - 4

Ngaga Camp

Spend the mornings gorilla tracking. After time to relax in the afternoon take forest walks in search of birds and other wildlife as well as night walks and riverside sundowners.

Day 5

Ngaga Camp - Mboko Camp - Lango Camp

After a leisurely morning transfer through Mbomo billage and the Odzala-Kokoua Natiojnal Park to Mboko Camp. Stop for lunch before kayaking to Lango Camp on the Lekoli River. Relax on arrival.

Day 6

Lango Camp

Take a guided early morning walk followed by time to relax, further forest walks and bird watching from the camp deck.

Days 7

Lango Camp - Mboko Camp

Morning explorations on foot before a 4×4 game drive transfer to Mboko Camp. After lunch take a river cruise on the Lekoli River followed by swimming or a guided forest walk.

Day 8

Mboko Camp

Take a guided forest walk or simply relax and enjoy the savannah views. After lunch take a river cruise on the Lekoli River followed by swimming or a guided forest walk.

Day 9

Mboko Camp - Brazzaville

After breakfast at the camp transfer to the airport for your two hour flight back to Brazzaville. Overnight in the city.

Day 10

Brazzaville

Transfer to the airport for onward travel.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Deck in the trees, Ngaga Camp, Odzala National Park
Ngaga Camp, Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo

Rainforest Experience

Fly north by light aircraft to a remote northern region in the Republic of Congo. Venture deep within the beautiful Odzala National Park and discover the phenomenal diversity of plant and animal life found in the Congolese rainforest.

Stay at Ngaga, Mboko and Lango camps, each beautifully designed so as to merge with this remote, forested wilderness. Experience safari comfort amidst the hot, humid forests of northern Congo.

Lowland Gorilla, Congo
Western lowland gorilla, Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo

Gorilla Trekking

The highlight of this journey is the chance to trek in search of endangered western lowland gorillas. Two habituated groups live close to Ngaga Camp, having been monitored and tracked by dedicated researchers for over a decade. Thanks to their painstaking work, encounters with these primates are now possible.

Hike through the challenging jungle landscape to track down the habituated families. Spend an hour amongst the group, watching as they eat, play and groom one another. Led by expert guides, get close to these powerful creatures – capture fantastic photographs and observe as the powerful silverback exerts his dominance over the group.

Boat cruise at Mboko, Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo
Odzala National Park, Republic of Congo

Forest, Rivers and Bais

From the comfort of these remote camps, explore on foot, by boat, in kayaks and in 4×4 vehicles. The guides here offer a fascinating insight into this delicate ecosystem, which comes with its own challenges – expect to wade through water up to your waist when going out on foot.

Forest elephants roam throughout the jungles and bais of Odzala, whilst a plethora of animal and birdlife can be spotted across the different habitats. Spot forest buffaloes, red river hogs, rare bongo antelopes, colobus monkeys and dwarf crocodiles.

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Ngaga Camp £££££

  • Republic of Congo
  • Tented Camps

Located in the Ndzehi Forest on the western boundary of the park, the lodge sits at the crest of a glade, blending in seamlessly with the surroundings, looking out across the forest canopy. Each of the 6 forest huts are on raised wooden walkways, the thatch rooms have canvas screens at the front and back, hot showers, flush loos and ceiling fans, plus charging points for cameras and laptops, (but don’t expect wi-fi or phone reception).

View Property

Lango Camp £££££

  • Republic of Congo
  • Tented Camps

Lango Camp sits in a spectacular setting, overlooking the bai from which it takes its name. Six traditional Congolese-style tree houses are connected by raised, wooden walkways that wind through the gallery forest.

View Property

Mboko Camp £££££

  • Republic of Congo
  • Tented Camps

Spread along the banks of a tributary of the Lekoli River, the beautiful Mboko Camp looks out over an area of lush grassland. This rich vegetation attracts a wealth of animals, including forest buffaloes, elephants and spotted hyenas.

View Property

How does this holiday make a positive impact?

Mboko Camp works hard to keep its environmental footprint to a minimum. Power is provided through solar energy and the camp creates its own water supply through reverse osmosis. Biodegradable products that are not harmful to the environment are provided for guests.

Ngaga Camp is a focal point for world-class primate research. It was originally founded as a centre for primate research and a pilot gorilla tourism project. Ngaga Camp was the first camp to receive support from the Congo Conservation Company, joining communities, science and tourism.

Central African Republic: Dzanga-Sangha National Park

Just getting to Dzanga-Sangha National Park in southern Central Africa Republic (CAR) is an extraordinary adventure. Fly from Odzala to Kabo before an epic 4-6 hour boat journey on the Sangha River to Sangha Lodge. After an afternoon to relax the adventure restarts. Spend the next three days with your guide, observing forest elephants, western lowland gorillas and rare forest bongos in remote bais, kayaking the Sangha River and trekking underneath the Congo basin’s tallest trees, joining the Ba’Aka community on net hunting forays.

4 days - Price on request

Ba'Aka trackers, Bai Hokou, Dzanga Sangha Reserve, Central African Republic
Central African Republic

A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights but do include all internal flights, gorilla permits and park fees. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From £13,495 Per person

When to travel

Republic of Congo in January

From November to February, there is a second dry season, although rain is still relatively common. Temperatures rise to their hottest, regularly reaching 34°C during the heat of the day. However, a drop in humidity usually negates this slightly.

Republic of Congo in February

From November to February, there is a second dry season, although rain is still relatively common. Temperatures rise to their hottest, regularly reaching 34°C during the heat of the day. However, a drop in humidity usually negates this slightly.

Republic of Congo in March

March, April and May bring more rain, although temperatures start to drop very slightly. Between showers, blue skies are again seen, making for interesting photography.

Republic of Congo in April

March, April and May bring more rain, although temperatures start to drop very slightly. Between showers, blue skies are again seen, making for interesting photography.

Republic of Congo in May

March, April and May bring more rain, although temperatures start to drop very slightly. Between showers, blue skies are again seen, making for interesting photography.

Republic of Congo in June

The driest period of the year is between June and August, when showers are still common but sporadic and light. Temperatures hover around 30°C during the day.

Republic of Congo in July

The driest period of the year is between June and August, when showers are still common but sporadic and light. Temperatures hover around 30°C during the day.

Republic of Congo in August

The driest period of the year is between June and August, when showers are still common but sporadic and light. Temperatures hover around 30°C during the day.

Republic of Congo in September

September and October bring a short rainy season, with temperatures rising slightly. However, between tropical thunderstorms, blue skies are common.

Republic of Congo in October

September and October bring a short rainy season, with temperatures rising slightly. However, between tropical thunderstorms, blue skies are common.

Republic of Congo in November

From November to February, there is a second dry season, although rain is still relatively common. Temperatures rise to their hottest, regularly reaching 34°C during the heat of the day. However, a drop in humidity usually negates this slightly.

Republic of Congo in December

From November to February, there is a second dry season, although rain is still relatively common. Temperatures rise to their hottest, regularly reaching 34°C during the heat of the day. However, a drop in humidity usually negates this slightly.

Holiday Inspiration

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