With a network of wildlife-abundant forest trails, monkeys swinging from treetops, and of course the magnificent lowland gorillas, Odzala-Kokoua National Park offers something truly special. The region is often overlooked for primate experiences in favour of the popular Rwanda and Uganda, but the Congo offers a whole lot more than gorilla trekking.
Many activities in this area are a combination of driving and/or walking and boating. This is to give you access to the most productive and beautiful areas of the concession, and the best possible wildlife viewing once there.
© Kamba – Scott Ramsey
The bais – marshy forest clearings – are where animals congregate, including elephant and even hippo. In the rivers crocodiles lurk and antelope drink as they do in more visited African safari destinations – and while in the treetops monkeys are the loudest, over 400 species of birds flutter from perch to perch.
Drift silently down the Lekoli River, watching out for primates, birds and forest elephant on the bank and spot dwarf crocodiles, forest ducks and kingfishers, or take a walk to spend an hour with a family of gorillas, and on the way spot a bushbuck, elephant, or Grimm’s duiker. There really is no end to adventure in the Congo’s Odzala – one of Africa’s largest, and its oldest wildlife areas.
© Kamba – Scott Ramsey
Three camps in the region offer magical bases to explore the region from in Lango Camp, Mboko Camp and Ngaga Camp.
Lango Camp is very beautiful. With its soft wooden furnishings and huge boma set out into the open Lango Bai, the location is second-to-none. Rooms are perched in the treetops providing a special atmosphere, which is made more immersive from the lack of guest Wi-Fi in camp. This camp is all about escape, and activities include simply ogling at the wildlife that often wander up to the boma to refresh themselves in the marshy bai clearing. Outside of camp enjoy wildlife drives, guided walks, bird watching, kayaking, boating, and of course trekking to see the western lowland gorilla.
© Kamba – Scott Ramsey
Ngaga Camp is a similar hidden forest escape, with a huge focus on gorilla trekking. Its location is actually in the Ndzhi Concession – a forested area just outside Odzala-Loloua National Park – home to a number of gorilla families. It’s also a gorilla research base, so you know trekking from your little thatched hut is going to be a world-class educational experience. With only six chalets, it’s an incredible atmospheric and intimate camp. Aside from gorilla trekking, the camp offers nature walks, night drives, and night walks.
© Kamba – Scott Ramsey
Mboko Camp isn’t set in the trees, but is built on a small open savannah, so is very close to all the wandering wildlife action – which is its prime focus. Sitting just off the banks of the Lekoli River, Mboko is the largest of the three luxury eco-camps. 12 spacious cabins are set in a semi-circle around the floodplain, with sleek rooms and comfortable main area furnishings. Activities at Mboko Camp include wildlife drives in day and night, fishing, guided walk-and-wades, and boating and kayaking the Lekoli River. It’s the least into-the-wild option of the three Congo camps – but would be an excellent place to combine with one of the two gorilla-centric camps to tick off all your primate and safari dreams.
