Congo Basin Tri-National Park - A 15 day safari - From £3,200 per person

Day 1

Met upon arrival at Brazzaville international airport (Maya Maya Airport)  and transfer to your hotel. A chance to relax after your flight and before the adventures of the next 14 days.

Overnight: Hotel Meridien – a comfortable 4 star hotel located in Brazzaville (D)

Day 2

An early breakfast before setting off to the airport for your flight northwards to Ouesso. Arriving towards midday in time for lunch before departing by boat on the Sangha River to Bomassa.

Overnight: Bomassa WCS Guest House – comfortable with bathroom and electricity! (B/L/D)

Day 3

Breakfast and transfer by pirogue to Lidjombo where you will be met by your 4x4. Continuing on to Bayanga for lunch you then have the introduction to the conservation project of the National Park. This is essential in understanding the methods and purposes of the conservation efforts that are being undertaken in this area.

Overnight: Doli Lodge – a wooden stilted lodge with views from the terrace overlooking the river (B/L/D)

Days 4, 5, 6, 7

Throughout the next 4 days the group is split up into different parties for different activities as follows:

Bai Hokou – you make your way to Bai Hokou Research Camp from where you start tracking the only habituated lowland gorillas from their sleeping point the previous night. This is currently the largest number of lowland habituated gorillas! This is a real privilege to track these gorillas in the wild; as one of the only habituated groups of lowland gorillas very few people have had this opportunity.

Dzangha Bai – you make your way to Dzangha Bai. A Bai is a natural forest clearing where a variety of forest animals come into feed on the rich mineral salts found in the soil. Observing from a treeline hide you can expect to see forest elephant (daily average of 40-120 in the Bai!), bongos (the largest and heaviest forest antelope), sitatunga (swamped dwelling antelope), red river hog and a wide variety of bird species. A true wildlife experience as you explore the second largest rainforest in the world.

Ba’Aka Folk – a chance to mingle with the local pygmy tribe and to take part in some traditional net hunting in the forest. This is an amazing experience as you are taught the intricacies of living in the forest with a chance to also learn about medicinal plant gathering with the Ba’Aka women.

Overnight: Doli Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 8

Today we set off back south to Bomassa on the second leg of our journey. Driving from Bayanga to Lidjombo we catch a boat down stream to Bomassa. Met upon arrival at Bomassa we have a short drive to another river where we set off on the second part of our boat trip for Mbeli Camp. A late arrival into camp in time to settle in and have some dinner.

Overnight: Mbeli Camp – a basic camp with 4 bungalows (two beds per bungalow). No electricity, bush shower and long drop loo (B/L/D)

Days 9, 10, 11

Throughout the next 3 days we have the unique opportunity to experience the Nouabale Ndoki National Park, a true untouched wilderness. Walking from Mbeli Camp to Mbeli Bai (approx 40mins) we observe the various wildlife from the hide located in the treeline. Mbeli Bai is several hundred metres in length covering an area of approx 12 hectares; for this reason animals vary in proximity and both binoculars/spotting scopes/zoom lenses can be necessary. Mbeli also provides a perfect base from which to observe certain groups of lowland gorillas which enter the Bai for foraging purposes.

Overnight: Mbeli Camp (B/L/D)

Day 12

Today we spend half the day at the Bai with a relaxing lunch before boarding our local pirogue to Ndoki River from where we get our 4x4 transfer to Bomassa.

Overnight: WCS Guest House Bomassa 

Day 13

Today we start making our way back to Brazzaville with a boat and 4x4 transfer to Ouesso.

Overnight: La Ouessoise Hotel – a 3 star hotel with good service levels

Day 14

Today you fly from Ouesso to Brazzaville where you have the chance to relax and freshen up and chat through the adventures of the last couple of weeks.

Overnight: Hotel Olympique – a comfortable 4 star hotel located in Brazzaville (D)

Day 15

This morning you have a city tour before transferring to the airport for your international flight back home.