Congo Basin Discovery
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
2 Days
With convenient access to the airport and a prime location on the Congo River, the modern Radisson Blu M’Bamou Palace Hotel offers the perfect stop to unwind from international travel. Enjoy an evening at leisure and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Ngaga Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park
4 Days
Meet your fellow travelers and expedition leader at a welcome breakfast and explore colorful markets on a guided tour of Brazzaville. Then board a bush plane for the remote Odzala-Kokoua National Park, renowned for its population of critically endangered Western lowland gorillas. The next two days, set out early in search of gorillas, guided by an expert tracker.
Mboko Camp + Lango Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park
3 Days
Kayak on the undulating Lekoli River to your next destination – Lango Bai, a natural forest clearing that provides an oasis for wildlife. Explore the swampy setting on foot and tune into the sights and sounds of bai life. Indulge in breakfast overlooking the bai, then journey by scenic drive and a short trek on a wooden forest path to your next destination, Mboko, where the rainforest meets the savanna.
Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
4 Days
After a short bush flight, a boat awaits to carry us up the Sangha River to our home for the next four nights. Geographically located in the heart of Africa, there are few places more magical than Dzanga-Sangha.
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
2 Days
With convenient access to the airport and a prime location on the Congo River, the modern Radisson Blu M’Bamou Palace Hotel offers the perfect stop to unwind from international travel. Enjoy an evening at leisure and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Ngaga Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park
4 Days
Meet your fellow travelers and expedition leader at a welcome breakfast and explore colorful markets on a guided tour of Brazzaville. Then board a bush plane for the remote Odzala-Kokoua National Park, renowned for its population of critically endangered Western lowland gorillas. The next two days, set out early in search of gorillas, guided by an expert tracker.
Mboko Camp + Lango Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park
3 Days
Kayak on the undulating Lekoli River to your next destination – Lango Bai, a natural forest clearing that provides an oasis for wildlife. Explore the swampy setting on foot and tune into the sights and sounds of bai life. Indulge in breakfast overlooking the bai, then journey by scenic drive and a short trek on a wooden forest path to your next destination, Mboko, where the rainforest meets the savanna.
Sangha Lodge, Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
4 Days
After a short bush flight, a boat awaits to carry us up the Sangha River to our home for the next four nights. Geographically located in the heart of Africa, there are few places more magical than Dzanga-Sangha.
Congo Basin Discovery
Set forth on a journey of discovery in the heart of the African continent – the Congo Basin, the second-largest rainforest on Earth. Few visitors have ventured to this remote and pristine wilderness where time seems to stand still. Explore the vital ecosystems and astonishing biodiversity of Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic’s Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve on an epic, one-of-a-kind adventure.
Join a small group of intrepid travelers and explore a tapestry of rainforest, savanna, swamps, and waterways by boat, kayak, 4×4 vehicles, and on foot. Along the way, connect with local cultures, learn about vital conservation tactics, and enjoy a front-row seat to some of the most awe-inspiring animal encounters in Africa. Sit in wonder with a group of foraging Western lowland gorillas, watch huge flocks of African grey parrots gather from far and wide for their morning “social hour,” and witness critically endangered forest elephants part the mist as they emerge during twilight hours to raucously greet each other among the glades. Your adventures by day are complemented by luxury at night with scrumptious meals and private forest chalets for a comfortable rest.
Highlights
- Set out on foot amidst tropical rainforest in search of critically endangered Western lowland gorillas, and observe their social interactions as they go about their morning routine of foraging and grooming.
- Watch rare and endangered animal species such as forest elephants, African grey parrots, sitatunga and bongos congregate and socialize around ‘bais’ – marshy, mineral-rich forest clearings that are a magnet for wildlife.
- Explore meandering waterways by kayak and boat for an eye-level perspective of riverine ecosystems, and spot exotic birdlife and wildlife along the banks.
- Glimpse the traditional way of life, including net hunting, of the Ba’Aka people, a community of hunter-gatherers.
- Meet gorilla researchers and members of The Pangolin Project and learn about the crucial conservation efforts underway to protect these vulnerable species.
- Walk under the canopy of some of Africa’s tallest and oldest trees in the Valley of the Giants.
- Immerse your senses in a remote, primordial wilderness where time seems to stand still.
Itinerary at a Glance
Congo Basin Discovery
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
With convenient access to the airport and a prime location on the Congo River, the modern Radisson Blu M’Bamou Palace Hotel offers the perfect stop to unwind from international travel. Enjoy an evening at leisure and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Radisson Blu M'Bamou Palace Hotel, Brazzaville 
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Meet your fellow travelers and expedition leader at a welcome breakfast and explore colorful markets on a guided tour of Brazzaville. Then board a bush plane for the remote Odzala-Kokoua National Park, renowned for its population of critically endangered Western lowland gorillas. The next two days, set out early in search of gorillas, guided by an expert tracker. Once you find the primates, spend an enchanting hour watching the family’s interactions. In the afternoons, enjoy educational walks for an up-close look at forest life large and small, then wind down the day with river “sundowners.”
Ngaga Camp 
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Kayak on the undulating Lekoli River to your next destination – Lango Bai, a natural forest clearing that provides an oasis for wildlife. Explore the swampy setting on foot and tune into the sights and sounds of bai life. From the camp observation deck, spot unusual and rare animal species, such as African grey parrots, forest buffalo, forest elephant and sitatunga as they congregate to drink and socialize.
Lango Camp 
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Indulge in breakfast overlooking the bai, then journey by scenic drive and a short trek on a wooden forest path to your next destination, Mboko, where the rainforest meets the savanna. Explore the environment on foot or rest your feet and relish the scenery on an afternoon river cruise complete with “sundowners” aboard.
Mboko Camp 
Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
After a short bush flight, a boat awaits to carry us up the Sangha River to our home for the next four nights. Geographically located in the heart of Africa, there are few places more magical than Dzanga-Sangha. Start your adventures with a walk to Dzanga Bai, known as the “Village of Elephants.” Witness elephant mud baths – an educational as well as an entertaining scene! The next day, enjoy a forest walk made lively by net hunting with the Ba’Aka, a community of hunter-gatherers. Then meet researchers of The Pangolin Project for insights into the conservation of the world’s most trafficked animal. Conclude your exploration of this special place with a hike among some of Africa’s oldest and tallest trees in the Valley of the Giants.
Sangha Lodge 
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Wake up to the rustle of the rainforest once more before embarking on a journey by boat and plane back to Mboko Camp for a final night, where we recount our adventures together by the glow of the campfire.
Mboko Camp 
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
A morning flight returns us to Brazzaville where we celebrate our journey with a farewell lunch overlooking the Congo River. In the afternoon, relax and freshen up in your day room at the Radisson Blu before being transferred to the airport for your international flight.
Radisson Blu M'Bamou Palace Hotel, Brazzaville 
Expedition Leader
Carol Guy
Born in Zimbabwe and living in South Africa, Carol has journeyed to more than 30 countries across the world. She has a strong interest in conservation and the interactions of local communities with the natural world.
Carol Guy
Born in Zimbabwe and living in South Africa, Carol has journeyed to more than 30 countries across the world. She has a strong interest in conservation and the interactions of local communities with the natural world.
Journey Manager
Daniela Powers
Daniela is a seasoned trip expert with a wealth of experience in travel, tourism and aviation. She is passionate about creating immersive itineraries that allow travelers to deeply connect with each destination.
Daniela Powers
Daniela is a seasoned trip expert with a wealth of experience in travel, tourism and aviation. She is passionate about creating immersive itineraries that allow travelers to deeply connect with each destination.
Congo Basin Discovery
HRH scheduled explorations by private air include everything from luxury accommodations and chartered flights to first-class dining and curated sightseeing, as well as an experienced expedition team to handle all logistics and gratuities.
Included in your scheduled tour
- Accommodations, meals and beverages (including select alcoholic beverages), private air travel, ground transportation, and group activities and excursions, as indicated in the detailed itinerary
- Veteran expedition staff and expert local guides
- Short-term MEDJETAssist Membership
Price
JOIN THIS INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE AND DISCOVER THE HEART OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
MARCH 6 – 18, 2024
Congo Basin Discovery
The activity level of this 13-day expedition is quite active.
Participants must be able to climb into and out of light aircraft, safari vehicles, and boats un-aided. Also, they must be able to climb up and down stairs without a railing. They should be capable of leisurely paddling a kayak, of walking up to 5 miles at an easy pace sometimes over uneven, rough terrain, and be able to withstand hard riding four-wheel-drive vehicles that travel over dirt roads and sometimes rough, bumpy ground. Those choosing to participate in gorilla trekking should be prepared to hike 3-4 hours through rainforest in heat and humidity. All travelers must be in good health and prepared for travel in places without medical facilities.
Please note that we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers on this expedition.
Your expedition planner will include detailed health information including a list of current requirements and recommendations for both countries featured on this expedition. Here is a summary of mandatory vaccines and key recommended medications:
- The countries on this itinerary require proof of yellow fever vaccination for border entry. For contraindication, you may present an exemption letter from a doctor explaining the medical reason for not administering the vaccine.
- Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended for this expedition.
- All travelers must submit a physician-completed pre-trip screening for tuberculosis, measles and polio in order to protect primates from these diseases.
Complete, up-to-date information by country can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
We will be traveling close to the equator in a rainforest characterized by a tropical climate with moderately high temperatures, and humidity above 70%. For the destinations on this trip, average daytime temperatures will be in the low 90s Fahrenheit and average lows will be around 70F. The average rainfall for the month of March is 4-5 inches. Elevation is approximately 1,000 feet.
For this expedition, your passport must be valid though the end of September 2024 with 3 blank visa pages remaining at the start of the trip. You will require an advance printed visa for Republic of the Congo. U.S. citizens will have to surrender their passports during the visa application process and detailed visa instructions will be provided to assist you with this process.
HRH will provide you with complimentary membership to MEDJETAssist for the duration of the trip. Should you become hospitalized during the trip, MEDJET will arrange medical transportation to a home-country hospital of your choice for inpatient care.
To protect your travel investment, we recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance through a provider of your choice. Most policies include a waiver of Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion if insurance is purchased within 21 days of the initial trip payment.
FOREST ELEPHANT
FOREST BUFFALO
WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA
ENDLESS RAINFORESTS
FOREST ELEPHANT
FOREST BUFFALO
WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA
ENDLESS RAINFORESTS
Private Custom Travel
If you can dream it, we can create it.
You are an experience seeker, curious about the world, yearning to learn more about the planet and yourself. Our private custom tours allow you and your guests to travel the globe by private jet to the far reaches of the earth—remote places that are otherwise inaccessible.
Scheduled Jet Tours
Leave your map and compass at home.
Calling all explorers, global citizens, and bons vivants: Join a group of like-minded travelers to embark on an HRH World Discovery Tour. The beauty of group travel is that we provide done-for-you itineraries to make your trip seamless and meaningful—all you have to do is show up.
