Heart of Darkness Ultimate Congo Safari - Congo River, Gorillas, and the Footsteps of Stanley

Extended Description:

Ranked as one of the top countries to visit in 2013 by the New York Times, this part of the Congo has become a fantasy destination for ecotourism. In the heart of the Congo Basin, the world’s second largest tropical rain forest after the Amazon Basin and full of continuous discoveries of healing plants, exclusive fruits and foods, and many more. 

This tour covers all of northern Congo up to the borders with Central African Republic and Cameroon and takes in the best of the best the country has to offer. You will meet dozens of different tribes and stay in 5 different tribal territories, some in the forest, some in the mountains, some on the river tributaries, and all with timeless traditions. Hike in jungles, ride the Congo River and some of its most out-of-the-way and beautiful tributaries, see giant mountain gorillas as well as leopards, giraffes, chimpanzees, buffalo, elephants, hippos, and hundreds of species of birds and fish as well as perhaps some new ones.

You will top it all off with Africa’s best food and music and the ultimate safari that nowhere else in Africa can match anymore. This is the Africa that most tours promise but few can deliver anymore in the modern world. This is as real as it gets. And it's open for 2014.

*All tourists arrive in Brazzaville and are met and greeted by our company at the airport and transferred to the
hotel 

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome - Brazzaville City Tour and river-view dinner

Peruse the path of the Great African explorers and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of Africa's tamest and most peaceful river city. You will see the memorial to Pierre de Brazza, great navigator and founder of the town, and grantor of freedom to African slaves under Belgian rule. Enjoy the immense markets and great river life with a pirogue ride to gaze at mighty Kinshasa on the other side. Tour a field of rusting war machines and tanks from “Africa's World War” outside town, and relax at the perfect riverside restaurant for dinner and drinks, watching Congolese life go by. (B)

Day 2: Depart for Ollombo

Today it's an early morning break for the hills! We roar out of town at 7am for the long drive through countless village and outposts along the road north. We break for lunch and for sights along the way, and end at a tourist-class/business-class hotel in Ollombo for the night. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Ollombo Exploration

Today talk to local families about issues facing the Congolese and the regional changes taking place over the years. Sample local food and see the construction of houses from jungle materials. You will visit a school and a local home, and be treated at a traditional restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Depart for Etoumbi and Enter Odzala Park

It's back to the road as we set off on the next leg of the journey to Etoumbi, gateway to Odzala Park. We have dinner in town, reach the park, and overnight in our own encampments. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Odzala Park Exploration

Unbelievably dense with apes, elephants, and other large mammal species, the Odzala-Kokoua Park Area was handed over in 2011 to African Parks Network for management, protection, and conservation, including the implementation of sustainable ecotourism to benefit the treasure trove of unique and concentrated wildlife in a spectacular jungle setting. Mandrills, mountain gorillas, chimps, forest elephants, hippos, chevrotains, sitatungas, Nile monitor lizards, GIANT forest hogs, and dwarf forest crocodiles are on display everywhere, right in front of you, and the marshy clearings, or “bais” which expose these animals to people watching from the woods, are very important watering, social, and feeding grounds for all the large mammals of the region.

Your overnight is in camping lodges, in the massive park wilderness administrated by the African Parks Network. Today you will be tracking gorillas with experts, and discussing them and the primates you see. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Odzala Park Exploration

Today in Odzala is dedicated to guided forest walks in search of birds and other large animals. You get a cruise on a motorized pirogue, and a drive through the Savannah during the day which turns eventually into a drive through forest at night in search of nocturnal species. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Odzala Park Exploration

This last day you will do some more forest walks and animal watching, followed by brief but fascinating and comprehensive late afternoon lectures on the area research and conservation projects. Tonight enjoy a nocturnal forest walk nearby camp. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Drive to Ouésso, Overnight in Ouésso.

Today is the long haul to the most spectacular part of Congo-Brazzaville, far in the northeast, on the border with C.A.R., is Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. We rest tonight in the town of Ouésso before setting off for the entrance and transfer into the park the next morning. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Departure for Bomassa (Nouabalé National Park - Ndoki)

After breakfast, take a morning departure for Bomassa by motorized canoe and secure route, with safety equipment, and guide staff. There will be jungle trekking today as well to reach the base camp. Upon arrival at the camp of the park system settle in rooms, and briefing. At night enjoy a Rustic Dinner in the bush with rest, beers, and relaxation. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Mbeli Bai Exploration

The National Geographic Society has observed that this park may have the largest concentration of wildlife per square mile than any other place in Africa. Mbeli Bai is the most famed and important place to see them all, concentrated on a particular spot in the forest where lots of animals come to eat, socialize, and refresh. This is simply and by all accounts one of the best places to see wildlife in the whole world. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Mbeli Bai Exploration

There are a vast array and buffet of species living in this park. The most famous species here are primates. There are Colobus monkeys (black-and-white Colobus, red Colobus), the endangered lowland Gorillas, chimpanzees, and mustached guenon monkeys. 

The park plays host to over 300 different bird species. Some of the important species are the eagles, hawks, owls, scavenging vultures, and wading herons. 

There are also the rare African Forest Elephants, dwarf forest buffalo, leopards, bongos, and blue duikers. 

Crocodiles and blood-sucking insects are also part of the forest's species. Be careful! Listen to our guide, and bring DEET repellant!

Parrots are also seen in the park area. Forest elephants create space by clearing the forest for other animals to move. Horned antelopes with 12 lb (5.4 kg) antlers number 100 per square km! 

According to a Pygmy legend, a Congo based long-necked reptile, known as Mokele-mbembo killed elephants with its huge frontal horn. There has ever since been a persistent and unsolved mystery and rumor of a dinosaur living in this vast jungle, hidden in a lost world.

Mbeli Bai is a specific 3 square km area within the park which is particularly rich in gorillas, with 180 western lowland gorillas reported here. It also contains many monkey species, and nine of them have a population density of 50 per square km. The monkey species found here are the black-and–white and red Colobus, mustached and crowned Guenon, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, and many others.

Nature's strongholds: the world's great wildlife reserves by Princeton University Press lists Ndoki park as one of the absolute best and most dense wildlife watching spots on Earth. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Mondika Triangle Exploration

After breakfast, take a morning departure for Mondika and observation of animals: There are many more to see! (B, L, D)

Note: Tourists will be able to touch and play with gorillas, as Mondika is home to a habituated group of Western Lowland Gorillas - 'Kingo's" group (tracking). However, it is not 100% advisable due to health concerns, and we do not like to pose the risk of disease transmission from humans to gorillas, and advocate protecting them by keeping a safe distance. Overnight in Mondika.

Day 13: Return loop to Brazzaville from Ouésso

We'll be making our way back via the guard station and park entrance and through the town of Bomassa and on to Ouésso airport, to be there in time for check-in formalities and departure back to Brazzaville. In case of a schedule change or if your flight is the next day, we may decide to leave after dinner the night before in order to cushion your departure so that you make all flight connections. In this event, we will spend the previous night in Ouésso. (B, L, D)

Day 14: Final Day - Departure

Transfer to airport, assistance and boarding formalities(B)

Price: $3,899

*Our tours include all insurance, transport, food, permits, entrance fees,

taxes, 4x4 with a/c, and accommodation in safari-style lodges,
villages, and tourist hotels (where applicable). Alcoholic drinks are
extra. Congo Travel and Tours will arrange your visa facilitation
upon purchase of a tour, and you must apply with our invitation
letter at your nearest possible embassy.

**Itinerary & price subject to change before fully booked. This tour requires a minimum of 2 people to go.

***All accommodation includes comfortable hotels, safari lodges, and camping. Balance due July 1, 2014. We can accept a 20% deposit of the full tour price due upon booking. (If tour fails to recruit 2 people, refunded) Guaranteed departure minimum 2 persons.