10 Days Odzala Kokoua Western Lowland Gorilla Safari

10 Days Odzala Kokoua Western Lowland Gorilla Safari

Housed in the seemingly endless Congo Basin is a tropical rainforest so expansive that it is seen as the earth’s second lung after the Amazon. Within the heart of this deep, dark and dense natural paradise, travellers will find the nearly 1,350,000ha Odzala-Kokoua National Park. This is a place of stunning biological diversity and is home to the mighty western lowland gorilla.

The numerous habitats of Odzala – dense forest, wide open savannahs, winding rivers and forest bais – are teeming with diverse wildlife: an astonishing 400 bird species and 114 mammal species. The best place to view wildlife though is the forest bais – swampy areas which contain a rich concoction of minerals and salt, as well as water and sweet grass. The park’s main draw is undeniably its two habituated troops of gorilla that visitors can track and get close to.

Safari highlights

• Western lowland gorilla trekking experience
• Nature walks and Night walks
• Birding
• Kayaking and Boat cruises

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Brazzaville and transfer to your hotel

On arrival at Maya Maya international airport you will be received by our guide who will transfer you to hotel in Brazzaville, this is a vibrant west African city across the banks of the Congo River you will have time to exchange money and also do your last shopping before heading for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Domestic flight from Brazzaville to Odzala Kokoua national park

After Lazily morning breakfast our guide will transfer you to Maya Maya airport for your Charter Flight to Odzala which departs Brazzaville at 1pm, arrives Odzala at Mboko airstrip at 3 pm on arrival you will be transferred by Road from airstrip to Ngaga Camp (about 3 hour drive through the Odzala-Kokoua National Park on arrival you will check in and Meet the gorilla research team followed by dinner and Overnight Ngaga Camp in a luxury en-suite forest room.

Day 3: First Gorilla trekking experience in Odzala forest

After morning breakfast you will meet up with the gorilla research team and start your first encounter with the illusive western lowland gorillas, this will be one of your first encounters with the giant forest primates, the research will take you through the conservation aspects of this mighty rain forest and on locating the gorillas you will spend 1 hour with the Gorillas and later return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation and later in the evening you enjoy short birding tours around the camp with the expert guides  .

Day 4: Second Gorilla trekking experience in Odzala forest

After yet another day in African rainforest, you will enjoy an early morning breakfast at the lodge followed by a  briefing by the research team and after you will depart for your second gorilla trekking experience, on this day you will try to locate yet another family of the giant Western lowland gorillas in this Mighty forest, on locating the lowland gorillas you will spend 1 hour with them and after return to the lodge for relaxation and later in the evening you will enjoy night walks to trek the nocturnal wildlife of the un disturbed rainforest.

Day 5: Third western lowland Gorilla trekking experience in Odzala forest

After morning breakfast you will meet the expert guides and trackers for your third gorilla trekking experience, on this day you will try to locate a new family of gorillas that inhabit the rainforest and on locating them you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 6: Transfer to Lango Camp

After lazily morning breakfast you will start your drive from Ngaga camp to Lango camp arriving in time for lunch, in the afternoon you relax at the camp followed by forest and bai walk or bird watching from the camp deck, Evening camera trap presentation and after return to the lodge for Overnight at Lango Camp in a luxury en-suite forest room.

Day 7: Nature walks and Birding

After morning breakfast you will meet your camp guides and head out for guided morning walk to bird hide to watch the African grey parrots in the bai and later return to the lodge for relaxation and later head out for another walk through the pristine forest in search of other primate species like Monkeys, antelopes and sometimes keep an open ear for chimpanzee calls in the forest.

Day 8: Transfer to Mboko Camp

On your last morning at Lango Camp you bid farewell to the lodge and transfer to Mboko Camp where you will enjoy activities like wildlife drives, guided walk-and-wades, and boating and kayaking the Lekoli River.

Day 9: Exploring Odzala Kokoua forest

On this day you will also spend the entire day walks and game drives in search of the forest elephants, buffalos and the spotted hyenas as well as the abundant birdlife in this area.

Day 10: Depart Odzala Kokoua for Brazzaville for your onward journeys

After morning breakfast at Mboko Camp you will be transferred to Mboko airstrip for your charter flight to Brazzaville, on arrival you will transfer for a check in for your next flight or if choose to spend a night in Brazzaville you will then be transferred to your hotel for relaxation and overnight.

Trip Includes

This expedition is escorted by our expert Guides from Wilderness Explorers Africa and all tour includes are paid for in advance including gorilla permits, air transfers.

Trip Excludes

• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Republic of Congo Tourist Visa
• Tips for guides and hotels
• Post safari accommodation

When to book this safari package

We recommend booking at least 1 year in advance as the camps in this area are small and intimate and gorilla permits are very limited to in house guests.

Best time for western lowland gorilla trekking in Congo Brazzaville

The dry season is from June to October. There are light rains from October to December and heavy rains between January and May.