Luxury Congo Safaris: Africa’s Newest Safari Destination
Luxury safaris in the Republic of the Congo provide an exceptional opportunity to explore this distinctive African nation. The Republic of the Congo, sometimes known as Congo or Congo-Brazzaville, is a little nation located along the western coast of Africa. Rivers include the Sangha, Mambili, and the formidable Congo traverse this basin, facilitating exploration of deep forests and granting access to secluded national parks like Odzala-Kokoua.
In these areas—possibly more than elsewhere—wilderness is paramount, and traditional traditions endure. The thickly forested area is characterised by swamps, bays, and rivers, rendering it an optimal home for western lowland gorillas. The remarkable wildlife interactions found in this region contribute to the Congo’s emergence as a burgeoning tourist destination. Gorilla trekking is the major attraction for visitors and is indispensable.
Why we like it:
- Safe! Not to be mistaken for the DRC.
- Incredible encounters with Western Lowland Gorillas.
- Off the beaten path for intrepid travellers.
- High standards of guiding and accommodation.
- Incredibly important ecotourism operation for conservation of the forests.
Congo Gorilla Trekking
Congo gorilla trekking primarily involves two species in two different national parks: mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park (northeastern DRC) and western lowland gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua National Park (Republic of the Congo). Permits are required and cost around $400, and treks are physically demanding, requiring a moderate fitness level and appropriate gear. Bookings should be made in advance, ideally through a tour operator, and yellow fever vaccination is a prerequisite for entry.
Congo Wildlife safaris
Congo wildlife safaris offer unique encounters with lowland gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), plus mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park and eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. These safaris also provide opportunities to see forest elephants, chimpanzees, and a variety of forest mammals and birds in the Congo Basin, with lodging available for adventurous travelers.
Congo Tours
Republic of Congo Tours will transport you to a formerly isolated nation devoid of tourism. This has undergone significant transformation in recent years due to increased attention for Virunga National Park and other regions within this expansive Central African nation. Kabira Safaris Africa provides tours to the enigmatic nation of DR Congo. Presently, the largest gorillas in the world. Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park repose.
Long Congo Safaris
Long safaris in the Congo typically explore Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo for Western Lowland Gorillas and other rainforest wildlife, or Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for mountain gorillas and Nyiragongo volcano hikes. These multi-day experiences involve stays at eco-camps and range from a week to over ten days, offering unique opportunities to observe the region’s diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife like forest elephants, gorillas, and birds.
Short Congo Safaris
Short Congo safaris are typically 2–4 day trips focused on specific wildlife encounters, such as mountain gorilla tracking in Virunga National Park or lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park, or a Nyiragongo volcano hike. These tours often start from Goma or the neighboring country of Rwanda, offering an immersive experience in the Congolese rainforest for a fraction of the cost of longer trips.
Things to Do in Congo
In Congo, you can go gorilla trekking and hike up Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park, relax by Lake Kivu, explore Kahuzi-Biega National Park, or learn about history at the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other activities include visiting wildlife reserves, seeing waterfalls, and shopping in local markets in cities like Goma or Kinshasa.
Congo Birding
Birding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offers incredible opportunities due to its diverse habitats and over 1,000 bird species, including many endemic to the region, particularly in the Albertine Rift and Eastern DRC plains. Key birding locations include Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, home to species like the Congo peafowl and Rwenzori turaco. The best time to visit is typically from late May to September, though February and early March can also be dry, and it’s recommended to book tours with local travel agencies for a safe and successful experience.
Congo National Parks
The Congo has national parks in two separate countries, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) each featuring unique parks. In the DRC, notable parks include the world’s largest tropical rainforest, Salonga National Park, the home of gorillas, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, and the popular Virunga National Park. In the Republic of the Congo, key parks are the large forest system of Odzala-Kokoua National Park and the swampy forests of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park.
Congo Photo Safaris
Congo photo safaris focus on capturing unique rainforest wildlife, especially the Western Lowland Gorilla, and include experiences like trekking in Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks, exploring bais with forest elephants, and potentially hiking the Nyiragongo Volcano. Destinations include the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national parks and the Republic of Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua and Conkouati-Douli. Costs can be significant, with estimates around $19,000 to $22,000 per person for a 9-10 day trip.
Luxury Congo Safaris
The Republic of Congo is a little-visited, off-the-beaten-track destination.
The Republic of the Congo, distinct from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a Central African nation located west of the Congo River, characterised by extensive forested terrains extending to the Atlantic Coast.
The nation, commonly known as Congo-Brazzaville, has experienced significant turmoil, characterised by a prolonged civil conflict that affected the Central African region for decades. Fortunately, this turbulent period has subsided, resulting in significant calm and stability.
Approximately 80 percent of the nation’s land area is comprised by rainforest. These stunning landscapes host a remarkable variety of animals, and the nation is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot.
The region boasts the largest population of lowland gorillas globally, serving as the primary tourist draw, however they represent merely a fraction of the overall biodiversity. Forest-adapted elephants, bongos, situngas, and others inhabit these hazy terrains. A journey to the Republic of the Congo is essential to uncover the exquisite secrets concealed inside its forests.
Republic of the Congo Safari Highlights
The Republic of the Congo may lack the prominent figures seen in Southern or Eastern Africa, but do not be deceived by this. If you seek a genuinely unconventional African trip, this is the destination for you.
This region hosts some of the premier national parks in Central Africa, such as Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, and the recently established Ogooué-Leketi National Park, which serve as habitats for numerous avian species and a plethora of mammals, including rhinoceroses, elephants, the occasional lion, and the elusive giant forest hog, the largest wild member of the pig family.
The nation’s equatorial rainforests harbour mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as several other primates. While a Congo safari may lack the allure of more renowned destinations, it offers all the experiences you seek with significantly less tourists. This is a site you should consider visiting before it becomes more congested.
1. The Congo Basin
Not merely a conveniently accessible singular site, but rather an extensive region encompassing over two million square kilometres, rendering it the second largest rainforest on Earth after the Amazon.
The Congo Basin, encompassing six nations, is regarded not just as the lungs of Africa but also as its vibrant heart, with over 1,000 avian species, more than 600 tree species, and numerous animals and primates, some of which are on the brink of extinction.
The Congo Basin rainforest is a globally significant biological hotspot, housing the world’s second-largest rainforest and the second-largest river by volume, the Congo.
2. The Odzala-Kokoua National Park
The Odzala-Kokoua National Park, located in the isolated northwest region of the Republic of the Congo, is one of Africa’s earliest national parks, founded in 1935. A diverse ecosystem comprising primary rainforest, savannahs, rivers, and baïs (natural clearings), all of which are essential to the Congo Basin.
Ngaga Camp, Lango Camp, and Mboko Camp are rapidly attracting visitors seeking to see one of the world’s last pristine ecosystems, a sanctuary for the Western Lowland Gorilla, Forest Elephant, Bongo, and several other species of flora and animals.
Although gorilla trekking is offered at Odzala-Kokoua, the population of lowland gorillas in the park has significantly declined over the past few decades due to poaching and the Ebola outbreak in 2000. Gorilla conservation is fortunately advancing swiftly, however it still lags behind other African nations.
3. The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Spanning more than 4,000 square kilometres, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is a continuous lowland rainforest located in the northern region of the country.
Considered one of the few pristine forest habitats in the Congo Basin, the Nouabalé-Ndoki has fortunately remained unlogged, while its dense, at times quite impenetrable, foliage continues to save numerous endangered species.
Nouabalé-Ndoki, a national park of extraordinary beauty, serves as a habitat for rare forest elephants and lowland gorillas, presenting itself as an expansive, unspoiled jungle rather than a managed reserve.
4. Brazzaville
The capital of this former French colony is Brazzaville, a city with a population of 1.5 million, located just across from its DRC equivalent, Kinshasa, on the Congo River. All visitors to Odzala-Kokoua National Park must first go to Brazzaville to fulfil immigration and customs procedures.
Similar to the capitals of numerous poor countries, Brazzaville exhibits both positive and negative aspects; yet, it normally offers a captivating, albeit rather unrefined, commencement to your journey. The magnificent riverfront embankment is an ideal location to leisurely spend a few hours dining and drinking while seeing the grandeur of the Congo.
When to go
In the Congo, the climate is characterised not by distinct dry and rainy seasons, but by a continuum of wet and wetter conditions. most humid.
In the rainforest, precipitation is a vital component of the ecology and provides a cooling impact on warm days. The large mammals do not move, indicating their presence in the area throughout the year. Consequently, each season is an excellent opportunity to discover Odzala National Park.
A tropical climate is defined by substantial precipitation, elevated temperatures, and high humidity levels. The eco-camps are situated just north of the equator, where the principal dry season lasts from June to September, accompanied by a mild rainy season from December to February. The temperature begins to rise towards the conclusion of March.
As temperatures consistently increase, intense rainfall commences in late April and persists into May. As temperatures progressively decrease, precipitation diminishes consistently, leading to the onset of the prolonged low-rainfall season in mid-June.
July is among the driest and coolest months. Temperatures remain relatively low throughout August, with rains intensifying again by mid-September alongside a rise in temperature. September often marks the conclusion of the dry season.
The severe rainfall season typically commences in October, a month characterised by significant variability. Temperatures are elevated but decrease slightly in November, which can also become quite humid. This is the characteristic atmosphere throughout December as the rains begin to diminish.
Explore the Republic of the Congo
As mass tourism ravages numerous regions globally, a visit to a nation such as the Republic of Congo offers a rejuvenating return to a bygone era.
Central Africa has had numerous challenges over the years, with the Congo being no exception; nonetheless, a remarkable destination has emerged that provides the opportunity to observe wildlife in its native habitat, devoid of the overwhelming influx of tourists typically associated with such experiences.
The most fitting term to characterise the Congo is raw. The country boasts dense forests and a developing tourist sector, yet it remains one of the most remarkable destinations you will ever encounter. If you seek adventurous travel and wish to discover one of the few remaining destinations that offers untamed experiences in genuinely wild regions, the Republic of the Congo is essential.
Is the republic of Congo Safe?
Upon encountering the term Congo, the majority of individuals often associate it with negative connotations. Given the ongoing situation in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo, it is scarcely unexpected.
It is important to clarify that this is not the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Republic of the Congo, usually referred to as Congo-Brazzaville, is quite secure, with minimal occurrences of petty crime and seldom reports of violent incidents.
Despite its ominous moniker, do not allow that to deter you from exploring this remarkable country.
How to get there and move around?
Odzala National Park is accessible by plane from Brazzaville. As said, if you intend to enter Odzala-Kokoua National Park, it is essential to visit Brazzaville to finalise immigration procedures and obtain the necessary documentation. Clients must secure a letter of invitation (LOI) well before to their journeys to the Congo, a process with which we can assist in the preparation for your journey.
Scheduled two-hour charter flights from Brazzaville to the camps occur on Mondays and Thursdays, providing a seat-in rate for guests and being the optimal means of access to the camps. These flights are encompassed inside one of the safari packages.
- Every Monday and Thursday, operations are conducted from Maya Maya Airport to Mboko Airstrip in Odzala and back.
- The flight to Odzala departs at 13:00 on Mondays and Thursdays, while the return flight to Brazzaville departs at 09:00, with a duration of two hours.
Combing Odzala with Sangha Lodge in the Central African Republic:
- Every Wednesday and Sunday (Operating from Mboko airstrip to Kabo, followed by a four-plus hour boat voyage to Sangha Lodge and returning)
- A 30-minute fly from Mboko airfield to Kabo.
- A 4 to 6-hour boat voyage on the Congo River to Sangha Lodge from Kabo airport.
What Vaccinations/medical Certs are needed?
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entrance into the Republic of the Congo. Nonetheless, an extra medical declaration form must be filled out and submitted before to arrival at the camps for any mountain gorilla trekking.
This necessitates verification from a medical professional affirming your fitness and health, absence of tuberculosis signs, and completion of polio and measles vaccinations to safeguard the gorillas. No certificates are necessary as evidence; simply the declaration form signed by your physician is required.
Do I need a Visa?
A visa is required to visit the Republic of the Congo. We will furnish you with a letter of invitation, which you must produce to the nearest Embassy of the Congo or to the immigration authorities upon arrival in Brazzaville. We recommend obtaining your visa prior to departure; however, ‘Visas on Arrival’ may be offered at the airport for those who provide advance warning.
There are two methods to apply for a visa. We highly endorse ROUTE 1 (most dependable); nevertheless, if there is no Embassy or Consulate for the Republic of the Congo in your vicinity, please consult ROUTE 2 (exclusive arrangement solely with the Congolese government for guests).
A Letter of Invitation is necessary for both application pathways (coordinated with us); however, we cannot assure processing durations for Letters of Invitation or visas, as this procedure is governed by the Congolese government and is beyond our jurisdiction.
Route 1: Visa Prior to Arrival
REQUIRED
- Passport to be valid 6 months after arrival date.
- International yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- 2 printed copies of your Letter of Invitation (LOI) for visa application. (Keep additional copies in your luggage, as you must present a copy on arrival).
- 2 signed Republic of the Congo visa request forms (country specific).
- 2 passport photos in colour, white background.
- 1 copy of return flight arrangements.
PROCESS
- Contact your nearest Embassy or Consulate to enquire about their application process.
- Have with you all the required documentation above.
- 5 – 7 working days to process application once the documentation is complete (country specific).
- Approximate visa fee: US$ 60 – US$ 200.
Route 2: Visa on arrival in Brazzaville
REQUIRED
- Please notify us if you require this type of visa when confirming your reservation.
- Passport to be valid 6 months after arrival date.
- International yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- 2 printed copies of your Letter of Invitation (LOI) for visa application. (Keep additional copies in your luggage, as you must present a copy on arrival).
- 2 copies of a Visa Assistance Letter.
PROCESS
- For the full process, please enquire.
- Travel with the above documentation in easy access.
- At Maya Maya Airport (Brazzaville), you will need to fill in an immigration form and present your Yellow Fever certificate. Let the officials know you are visiting Odzala Discovery Camps and require a Visa on Arrival.
- Have your Letter of Invitation and Visa Assistance Letter ready. The officials will lead you through the process.
- Visa fee: US$ 50 cash (2013 bills or later). No change will be available.
