Tracking the lowland gorillas

The first leg of your Congo adventure sees you arrive right in the heart of gorilla country. Ngaga Camp is built within the rooftops of the rainforest, the entire property is elevated on stilts, so that you feel at one with the forest. With just six en-suite chalets, Naga also offers a warm welcome from the staff and an intimate jungle experience. The wooden structures that make up the camp blend beautifully with the natural surroundings. There’s a star-deck too, complete with fire-pit – this is a great spot for social gatherings and exchanging stories about the day’s activities! From Ngaga you will trek through Odzala rainforest to meet the lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. The hike can be long or short depending on where the family is at the time, so be prepared for potentially a long day! But visiting these great apes is often one of the most rewarding things you can do on any safari.

The next leg of your trip takes you further into the jungle, to stay at Lango Camp for two nights. Here the sheer wealth and diversity of the forest come to life, including forest elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, and a few other primates – De Brazza’s monkey, Angolan talapoin, mantled guereza, and Tana River mangabey. There’s also some brilliant birdlife. With its rooms on elevated platforms featuring wraparound decks for views over the bai, this is a truly magical place. Treehouses are the order of the day in the forest! The lounge, bar, and dining spaces also have beautiful views over the bai, so you can relax and tuck into delicious meals while watching the resident herbivores eating alongside you.

The final stop on your Congo odyssey takes you to Mboko Camp. This is a delightful, relaxing property and a fantastic place from which to explore the river systems of the Congo basin on foot, by boat, or by kayak. Transfers between the camps depend on how you feel – some are done by boat, on foot, or you can mountain bike on trails! There are classic game drives on offer here too, as well as the chance to head out at night when you can see hyena, serval, and aardvark lurking in the shadows. The camp is also located next to a bai, which attracts plenty of wildlife, and all the charming cottages are riverside, so you can hear the sounds of the river at night. It's a magical place!