CONGO

Venture into the beating heart of Africa...

The second-largest tropical rainforest in the world, the dense jungles of the Congo Basin are the stuff of legend and filled with an abundance of life. Africa's Amazon, the Congo region is where you'll find western lowland gorillas, forest elephants, forest buffalo, bongos (the antelopes, not drums), African grey parrots and the continent's two species of arboreal pangolin.

This is the land of Tarzan - a dense, lush and impossibly verdant paradise that's begging to be discovered, explored, and marvelled at from every angle. Our Congo safaris are focused on the breathtaking Odzala-Kokoua National Park and Ndzehi Concession in the Republic of Congo and the equally jaw-dropping Sangha Concession of the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve in the deep south of the Central African Republic, home of the inimitable Dzanga Bai where huge herds of forest elephants and other wildlife congregate for the mineral rich water and mud.

Track lowland gorillas in their natural habitat, observe an incredible array of primates and a staggering number of endemic bird species you won't see anywhere else in the wild, be dwarfed by trees that are untold centuries old and wade through the tributaries and streams of one of Africa's greatest perennial river systems... Find your soul and don't let go!

Best times to visit

Things to do

Kayak safaris

Navigate the rivers and channels that slice through the jungles of Odzala-Kokoua and along the Sangha River, watching life in all its glory as you pass by. You don't need to be an Olympic medallist to enjoy kayaking these gentle waters and you'll be guided all the way by knowledgeable locals with eagle eyes primed to point out the secretive creatures and birds that make the forests their home.
Gorilla tracking

The jungles of the Congo Basin are the home of the western lowland gorilla - the mountain gorilla's smallest cousin with a lighter skin tone and different nose structure to their eastern, mountain-dwelling relatives. Tracking takes place as part of an ongoing scientific research programme, founded on the need to conserve and protect gorilla populations in the region.

Tracking excursions are all about observation, not engagement, and you will connect with the gorilla families you encounter in a respectful, authentic and personal way with a maximum of four guests as well as a guide and tracker taking part.
Birdwatching

With more than 450 species of bird recorded in Odzala-Kokoua and some fabulous endemic and rare species found in Dzanga-Sangha special reserve, the Congo is an absolute must for birding fans and budding ornithologists. With huge flocks of African grey parrots, dark-crowned forest eagles, Hartlaub duck, picathartes, and blue turacos on the tick-list, whatever you do, don't forget your binoculars!

Birding walks are on the agenda every day as you wind your way with your guide through the forest trails to open areas, or "bais" where you'll see a cornucopia of life gather to drink and forage.
Meet the Ba'Aka

Go out into the forests of Dzanga Sangha with the fascinating and ancient Ba'Aka people - also known as pygmies - and watch them net-hunt, learning as you go about their history and their traditions. These hunter-gatherers are the oldest inhabitants in this area of the Congo and their lifestyle has remained unchanged for millenia and they pass their knowledge of the forest down from generation to generation.
Day and night forest walks

Explore the incredible rainforest on foot with a local guide, learning all you can about the more-than 10,000 plant species, 100 mammal species and 450 types of bird that call it home. From morning and afternoon walks to night walks, where you have the chance to see secretive nocturnal species, you will never look at forests the same way again!