Republic of Congo & Central African Republic Photo Tour 2024
Price: Price on Request
Spaces Available
Nov – Dec 2024
ORYX is proud to present you with a wildlife & culture photo safari experience-of-a-lifetime to one of Africa’s oldest national parks, Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Covering an expansive 13,500 km2 area, Odzala lies in the heart of the Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon.
Explore in the footsteps of the great explorers with guided walking experiences through the pristine rainforests of the Congo Basin. These are the last jungles of Tarzan waiting to be discovered. Experience the elusive Forest Elephant congregating en-masse in Dzanga Baï and surrounds, as well as the forest Buffalo and rare animals such as Bongo, Giant Forest Hog and Red River Hog that seek out the mineral-rich waters found here.
Western Lowland Gorilla is one of two critically endangered subspecies of the Western Gorilla, and in the Republic of Congo and Central African Republic, you have the opportunity to trek and spend time with this smallest subspecies of Gorilla.
Cultural photographic opportunities abound here with personalised experiences with tribes that live within the reserves, such as the Ba’Aka community who live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
Why this Photo Tour is for You
ORYX LEADER
Marius Coetzee / Penny Robartes / Dale Morris / Daniel Bailey
14 Days
4 Guests + 1 ORYX Leader
Custom
- Destination
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Departure
Brazzaville
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price
Price on Request
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Single Supplement
Price on Request
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Photographic Highlights
Forest Elephant, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabeys, Forest Buffalo, rare animals such as Bongo, Giant Forest Hog and Red River Hog, Ba’Aka community, and photographic explorations to local villages.
- Guide
From our gallery
Best of the Republic of Congo and Central African Republic
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Day 1: Arrival Brazzaville, Congo
After arrival at Maya–Maya Airport International Airport and having cleared passport control and baggage, you will be collected by an ORYX representative and driven to your overnight accommodation, the Radisson Blu M'bamou Palace Hotel, Brazzaville.
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Day 2: Fly to Odzala National Park
This morning you will have breakfast at the hotel before departing for MayaMaya Airport and your flight to Odzala National Park.
Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Congo is one of Africa’s oldest national parks; designated in 1935 it received Biosphere Reserve status in 1977. Covering an expansive 13,500 km2 area, Odzala lies in the heart of the Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon. The Congo Basin spans more than two million square kilometres across six countries and accounts for 18% of the world's remaining rainforest.
Our camp is on the edge of Lango Baï and offers one of the most arresting views of any camp in Africa. A magnetic attraction for huge flocks of Green Pigeons and African Grey Parrots as well as herds of Forest Buffalo and Forest Elephants, wraparound walkways and elevated chalets maximise the views.
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Day 3: Forest Explore
Explore in the footsteps of the great explorers at all of our camps with guided walking experiences through the pristine rainforests of the Congo Basin. These are the last jungles of Tarzan waiting to be discovered. Discover the ecosystem on a walk and learn from the local specialists in birding, mammals, flora, culture and local activities. Go deeper in your understanding with a personal trusted and knowledgeable field guide at your side .
Prepare to set a little wet and muddy when immersing within one of the few places in Africa where you can safely explore forest streams and marshes on foot. Here, dense flocks of Green Pigeons and African Grey Parrots fly overhead, Forest Buffalo graze throughout the day, and Forest Elephants dig for minerals throughout the night. Unearth the history and heritage of the area. In the quieter, crystal streams, take a refreshing dip or cool your feet to escape the humidity of the rainforest. A unique vantage point to look for birds, you may also see monkeys or flutters of butterflies while you enjoy the cooling waters.
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Day 4: Boat journey to Kabo, fly to Central African Republic
This morning after a light breakfast you will depart this beautiful part of the forest on a scheduled flight as you begin your journey to the Central African Republic.
After landing at Kabo Airstrip you will road transfer to the boats where a 4 to 6-hour boat journey up the Sangha River begins. This boat journey takes you through the Sangha Tri National Special Reserve. Upon arrival at camp, you will have the afternoon to relaxed and absorb the sights and sounds around you.
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Days 5 to 7: Explore Dzanga Bai & Surrounds
Experience the elusive Forest Elephant congregating en-masse, observing their social behaviours and interactions. Dzanga Baï is the finest Forest Elephant experience in Africa. This is a congregation point for vast herds of Forest Elephant and Forest Buffalo as well as rare animals such as Bongo, Giant Forest Hog and Red River Hog that seek out the mineral-rich waters found here.
Mangabey Tracking: Departing from the Bai Hokou research site in Dzanga Sangha Protected Area, enjoy the astonishing opportunity to track a group of habituated Agile Mangabeys in collaboration with the WWF. The same protocols and precautions as our gorilla tracking experiences apply to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Immerse in the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Ba’Aka community. Spend time with them in their forest as they go about their daily tasks of building new structures and net-hunting for survival. Learn from them and how they have adapted to their forest home - it will leave you in awe.
Visiting Dzanga Baï are the main attractions whilst staying here.
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Day 8: Boat transfer to Kabo, scheduled flight to Ngaga
Our camp is a 3 hour drive from the airstrip and is home to the Western Lowland Gorilla research team who has spent the past few decades in the forest navigating its trails and understanding its rhythms. Guests come here to share in their knowledge and experience this intact rainforest. Forest walks, night walks, night drives and more are available.
This evening you will meet the research team at dinner and discuss the next few days activities.
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Days 9 & 10: Gorilla Track I and II and Tribal Photography
These morning will be dedicated to Western Lowland Gorilla tracking. Founded on research and conservation, the Gorilla tracking experiences at Ngaga and Sangha are conscious of our impact. They believe in observation, not engagement, and connecting with the Gorilla families you meet in a respectful, authentic and personal way.
You will return to camp for lunch and relaxation before our afternoon excursion to visit the local village for some serious culture photography.
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Day 11: Tribal Photography, followed by boat cruise to next camp
This morning we will indulge in some tribal photograph, and then you will have a scenic drive to the forest and a short walk along a wooden path amidst the trees to our next camp. Extending along the banks of the Lekoli River within the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, our is situated at an interface between tropical rainforest and lush meadow-like savannah. The open grassland is home to an abundance of flowers and butterflies, and forest buffalo and elephant are frequent visitors to the camp.
Our camp also offers spectacular opportunities for star-gazing, as well as access to the villages on the outskirts of the park, where you can meet and interact with the local people.
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Day 12: Fly to Brazzaville, and Depart to Final Destination
This is your final morning in camp, enjoy breakfast before you depart for your scheduled flight back to Brazzaville.
