Congo River Safari Cruise - Ouesso to Brazzaville

Arrive in the city of Brazzaville in Republic of Congo in the afternoon.  Night in a 5 star hotel, dinner at the hotel.

In the morning a one hour flight in a 19 seats jet, plus 5 hours drive to Ouesso . Through the portholes, we can see all the primary forest. Such view of one of the largest primary forest of the world will stay in our memory for always. Embarkment during the afternoon. Then we ascend the Sangha River, slaloming between the sandbanks with caution. The depth decreases. Conference about Congo Basin Ecosystem..

Immersion in the Sangha. Classified as a World Heritage Site since 2012, the National Tri of the Sangha is in the north-west of the Congo Basin, at the meeting point of Cameroon, Congo and the Central African Republic, the site includes three adjoining national parks, covering a total area of 750,000 hectares, affected very little by human activity. It covers the entire spectrum of tropical rainforest ecosystems. The rich fauna and flora include nile crocodiles, goliath tigerfish & large predators. The clearings offer herbaceous species, the Sangha is home to considerable populations of forest elephants, as well as western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. To be as discreet as possible, our group will be divided into three subgroups. Three groups of 9 people will explore the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. (Each group will make the excursions below but in a different order). Depart in the morning to join the scientific camp of Mondika in the Triangle of Djéké (1 hour by car, 2 hours of walking) to track the lowland gorillas. We will observe them from about ten meters away and they will observe us. The young bicker and the females feed, others rest, the silverback lurks. The largest measure up to 1.70 meters. In order not to disturb them, after an hour we will leave, with images in our heads. On the trail we can come across many other animals, we will be accompanied baaka trackers. In the evening, we will spend the night in the camp near the scientists' camp and have plenty of time to ask questions. The night will be spent in safari tent with bed, shower and individual dry toilet. Departure at dawn for a 6-hour expedition to the Baï de Mbeli (40 minutes by car, 1 hour by canoe). In this clearing it is the gathering place of hundreds of animals, attracted by the mineral-rich waters. We discover from the top of a viewpoint the breathtaking spectacle of wildlife: lowland gorillas, forest elephants, chimpanzees, bush hogs, bongos, sitatungas and forest buffaloes. We will spend the morning there to observe the animals. The more adventurous can arrive the day before and spend the night. 

We descend the Sangha River towards Pokola where we meet representatives of a forestry company, who explain to us the sustainable management of forests. At the end of the day, our ship reaches the Ndoki river, we observe hippos. Not far away, a pygmy village. Conference on pygmy populations facing modernism. 

In the morning, we go up a tributary of the Sangha for about fifteen kilometres, the Mangui. We follow the northern border of the Ntokou-Pikounda park. This is frequented by an endemic species that was thought to be extinct, Bouvier’s red colobus, a small monkey with orange fur. Along the way, we observe birds. 

We pass the village of Pikounda towards a pygmy village. The Pygmies are one of the two peoples living in this region. They are among the last groups of hunter-gatherers in the world. In the forest, in small groups, we share their daily life: harvesting plant products, collecting medicinal plants, fishing. We share their millennial way of life and discover their incredible symbiosis with the forest. Dinner and evening in a clearing. The pygmies are with us. They tell the stories of their people and the stories born during their time together. With the help of mimes and songs, the stories live and the evening is anchored forever in the memories. The oral tradition of the pygmies is one of the finest riches of this people.

We descend the Sangha River weaving through the green and impenetrable swamp forest. We are entering a very sparsely populated and wildest territories. We meet fishermen, the Sangha-sangha people. We take the tributaries, either by canoe or by motorboat. It is said that in the distance a dinosaur was seen: the Mokele Mbembe. In the tropical forest, we discover the plants of pharmacology. With those who wish can go fishing. During the day, we cross the equator. This is the baptism of the Line!

The Sangha River empties into the Congo. We reach the fishing village of Mossaka, known throughout the country for its smoked fish. We discover vestiges of the colonial era, with the colonial house of Mr. Trechot. We gradually leave the forest for hills covered with grass. Conference on the Savorgnan de Brazza expedition and the Stanley expedition.

The Congo River widens considerably (more than 10 km) and a hodgepodge of islands are formed. Fishing villages settle there during the dry season. At the end of the day, we reach the Lefini estuary which borders the Téké kingdom. Hippos bask.

In the morning, we discover the village of Ngabe, one of the ancient capitals of the Téké kingdom. We go up the village and will visit the current Queen Ngalifourou. In her capacity as guardian of the “Nkwembali”, spiritual god of the Batéké, she is the person authorized to transmit power to the new king, the Makoko. He is a very influential person in the Téké kingdom, one of the most powerful kingdoms of the country. We attend a traditional Téké dance, we observe. Conference on the Téké kingdom and on the history of the Congo..

Arrival in Brazzaville.

Disembarkment around 10am.

Visit of the Plateau market (traditional objects and handicrafts), the artistic school of Poto Poto, the Congo Basin museum, meeting with La Sape – Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People.

Departure in the evening.

Itineraries may be subject to change due to weather conditions, low water levels, administrative constraints or access restrictions imposed by the State or national parks. Therefore, sailing times and excursions may be modified at the captain’s discretion. We will do everything we can to minimize disruption to travel plans. An alternative route will be proposed after consultation between the captain of the ship and the management of the company if necessary. If the airline is unable to operate the flight Brazzaville – Ouesso or Ouesso – Brazzaville and in the absence of other reasonable air alternatives, the transfer may be provided by road.