Odzala–Kokoua National Park

Odzala-Kokoua is one of the oldest national parks in Africa, having been founded in 1935. It is also among the largest – at 13,600 square kilometres, it’s some 600 sq. km bigger than Tanzania’s Ruaha. The boundary of the park was extended in 1996, and it is now entirely encapsulated within the catchment area of the Mambili River, a tributary of the mighty River Congo.

Yearly, Odzala-Kokoua receives approximately 1,500 millimetres of rain, so its rivers are a permanent feature. Other interesting parts of the park include steep hills, a 350-metre escarpment, and occasional clearings within the forest termed ‘baïs’. The baïs are shallow and often swampy depressions full of herbs and sedges, and they are very popular with wildlife!

Location & access

The park is situated in the Republic of the Congo’s Cuvette-Ouest Department, which lies in the country’s remote north-west. It is usually accessed via a 2-hour charter flight from the Congo’s international airport Maya-Maya, which is in Brazzaville, the country’s capital city.

Wildlife in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

The park contains a number of different types of habitat, featuring savanna, forest, and rivers. Moreover, the forest category comprises two subtypes as two distinct soils are present, namely hydromorphic and terra firma. The former are essentially marsh forests, while the latter are characterised by a dense carpet of plants such as giant herbs and a relatively modest amount of trees. The spacing of the trees within terra firma forests has been compared with the layout of a London park!

The savannas of Odzala-Kokoua attract grazers including bushbuck and Grimm’s duiker. Buffalo, forest elephant, and giant forest hog are also found in the park’s forests. The marshy forests are home to an array of primates – western lowland gorilla, De Brazza’s monkey, Angolan talapoin, mantled guereza, and Tana River mangabey. And the park’s rivers contain hippo, dwarf forest crocodile, and slender-snouted crocodile. As well as the mammals and reptiles, there’s some brilliant birdlife, with over 430 types of bird species recorded. There are also some spectacular highlights, such as the Congo serpent eagle, white crested tiger-heron, black dwarf hornbill, chestnut wattle-eye, and lyre-tailed honeyguide. The park holds plenty of intrigue for keen birders. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars!

Gorilla tracking in Odzala

Gorilla tracking is the most exciting activity here. This experience involves hiking through the forest in the hopes of encountering at least one of the park’s two habituated family groups. You’re sure to see many other species along the way too! 

Other activities available in Odzala-Kokoua include nature trails, boat trips, stream swimming, and village visits. If you like the sound of a safari to the Republic of the Congo, please take a look at our reports on the park’s properties and contact a member of our team!