Gorillas in Odzala
The Congo, January, 2028
Trip Summary
Will has trekked mountain gorillas more times than he can count and he has enormous affection for them, but western lowland gorillas - the Congo's version, smaller, wilder, and considerably less used to being photographed - have been nagging at him for years, and 2028 is the year he's finally able to offer an itinerary here.
Odzala-Kokoua is one of Africa's oldest national parks and, by all measures, one of its least visited. It sits deep in the Congo Basin rainforest - the world's second-largest - and the logistics of getting there are not trivial. That, Will suspects, is rather the point. The gorillas here are habituated but not overexposed. The forest is enormous and largely untouched. The bountiful mineral clearings - the baïs - draw forest elephants, buffalo, and an improbable quantity of African grey parrots. This is not a trip for everyone. It is absolutely a trip for the right person.
Will is taking a small group through Ngaga Camp, the base for lowland gorilla tracking, Lango Camp - suspended above the Lango Baï and offering what he considers one of the most arresting views of any camp on the continent and Mboko Camp, where you'll follow forest elephants and buffalo down ancient river ways.
Between the three camps, guests will track gorillas, kayak the Lekoli River, walk elephant trails through swamp and forest, and spend time at the baïs watching the kind of scenes that most wildlife photographers only see in other people's photos.
Overview
This itinerary has been designed by Kamba, the owners of the three properties you'll stay at. It is, they believe, the best way to experience Odzala and Will is never one to argue with a local expert. There is an abridged 7 day version available, please ask Will if this is of interest to you.
23rd January
All travellers to arrive in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo's capital. The group will stay at Hilton Brazzaville and enjoy dinner together as you prepare for a very exciting 10 days ahead.
24th January
After an early breakfast the group will head to the airport for a two hour flight to Odzala National Park - expect extraordinary aerial views of one of the world's most remote regions and have those cameras ready. Once we land there will be vehicles ready to take us to Ngaga Lodge, approximately a two hour drive through the rainforest, arriving in time for a sundowner on the river.
25th - 27th January
Gorilla trekking time. Over the the next three days we will trek the three habituated gorilla families. With only four people allowed per trek in Odzala (as opposed to eight for mountain gorillas) we will split the group in two and enjoy these wonderfully intimate experiences - with Will making sure everyone gets equal time on his treks.
Each trek starts in camp, so we will be back by 11am most days and have the afternoon free to explore more of the rainforest on foot, cameras out again, as this trip is about so much more than gorillas.
28th - 30th January
The transfer to Lango is as much of an experience as staying there. After breakfast on the 28th we will drive to Mboko Lodge and hop in to kayaks to begin our journey downriver, where we'll kayak as far as possible before finishing the journey and arriving in camp on foot. There is perhaps nowhere else in Africa where arriving in camp requires so many forms of transport.
Over our three days at Lango we will be working our way through the river channels around the baï - aiming for shots of forest elephants or buffalo out in the water or wider shots of them out across the baï. All activities here are on foot, Will's favourite way to photograph.
31st January - 3rd February
By this point you'll have experienced so much the gorillas will almost feel like a distant memory, but there is yet more to come. Repeating the journey we made to Lango, only this time in reverse, we'll make our way back to Mboko Lodge for three nights under canvas, turning our attention to the fabled Lekoli pirogue journey - one you will try many time to explain once home and never quite do justice - as we walk the Congo Basin at dawn surrounded by monkeys, forest elephants and the occasional hyena.
On the 3rd February we will return to the airstrip to catch our scheduled flight out of Odzala and back to Brazzaville, arriving in time for flights home that evening.
Safari Costs
$20,200 per person: This includes all your safari activities listed above, gorilla trekking permits, internal flights, transfers, accommodation and park fees. Single supplement's are available, price TBC.
Super Early Bird Offer: $750 off if booked 14 months in advance (23rd November 2026, only available to repeat guests)
Early Bird Offer: $500 off if booked 12 months in advance (23rd January 2027)
Where You Will Stay
Gallery
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