Things to do in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

Best time to visit Odzala-Kokoua National Park

• a note or something on   ✦ an occasion worth the trip

• June to September

  Long drier window, driest trails and easiest tracking, with peak demand for the small lodges and gorilla places.

• December to February

  Short drier window in the December to March drier framing, green forest and strong birding, busy at Christmas and New Year.

• March to May

  Long rains, hardest and wettest walking, wet bai walks, fewest visitors and the forest at its most alive.

• October and November

  Short rains shoulder, high rivers for kayaking and boating, fewer visitors and no fall in the package price.

Best things to do in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

• Ndzehi Concession

  Ngaga, south of the park · $$$

  Western lowland gorilla tracking from Ngaga, with trackers ahead and a research team at camp, two tracks included.

• Lango Bai

  Lango · $$$

  Sit still at a mineral rich forest clearing and let forest elephants, buffalo and sitatunga come into the open.

• Odzala-Kokoua National Park

  Cuvette-Ouest and Sangha · $$$

  Primary Congo Basin rainforest managed by African Parks, with forest elephants, gorillas and over 440 bird species.

• Mbomo

  Mbomo village · $$$

  A working village visit on the circuit road, for forest edge farming life and the community side of conservation.

Where to stay in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

• The Kamba circuit, Ndzehi and Odzala-Kokoua

  the only way to visit the park

  Three small Kamba lodges slept in circuit order: Ngaga for gorillas, Lango for the bai, Mboko for the rivers.

Think twice about

• Brazzaville as a park base

  The park is a two hour charter flight away and the charter flies twice a week. There is no day trip or road base version.

• Likouala CAR border strip

  A remote border strip in Likouala Region, far north east of the park. It does not cover the park.

• Democratic Republic of Congo

  A different country across the Congo River. Do not confuse it with the Republic of Congo or route through it.

Best restaurants in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

• Ngaga Lodge Kitchen

  Ngaga · $$$

  All inclusive lodge table in primary forest, eaten with guides and the gorilla research team after tracking.

• Lango Lodge Kitchen

  Lango Bai · $$$

  Meals on the raised deck over the bai, timed to elephants at dawn and the fire pit at night.

• Mboko Lodge Kitchen

  Mboko, Lekoli River · $$$

  The circuit arrival and farewell table at the river lodge, with sundowner drinks on the Lekoli.

Outdoor things to do in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

• Lekoli River

  Mboko to Lango · $$$

  Guided kayak from Mboko to Lango down forest river channels, arriving at the bai for sundowners.

• Mambili River

  Mboko · $$$

  Boat and sundowner cruises from Mboko where the Lekoli meets the Mambili, with elephants at the banks.

• Mboko Savanna Night Drive

  Mboko savanna · $$$

  Spotlight drive on the open savanna at Mboko, looking for serval, aardvark and porcupine after dark.

• Forest Night Walk at Ngaga

  Ngaga forest · $$$

  Guided spotlight walk in primary forest for galagos, pottos, tree hyrax and the night forest soundscape.

Best hotels in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

• Ngaga Lodge

  Ndzehi forest · $$$

  Six room forest lodge at the gorilla research base, with tracking, forest walks and night walks from the door.

• Lango Lodge

  Lango Bai · $$$

  Six raised rooms on a deck over Lango Bai, built for dawn watches as elephants enter the clearing.

• Mboko Lodge

  Lekoli River, near Mboko airstrip · $$$

  Twelve river rooms by the airstrip, the arrival and river base, with elephants crossing the grassland at camp.

Is Odzala-Kokoua National Park expensive? What a day costs

A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room

What to book ahead

• Ndzehi Concession: months ahead
• Lango Bai: months ahead
• Odzala-Kokoua National Park: months ahead
• Mbomo: months ahead
• Lekoli River: months ahead
• Mambili River: months ahead
• Mboko Savanna Night Drive: months ahead
• Forest Night Walk at Ngaga: months ahead

• Book the whole journey months ahead: charter seat, lodges and gorilla permits only exist as one package.
• Confirm in writing the charter days, the number of gorilla permits included and any single supplement before paying.
• Start the Congo visa and the operator supplied letter of invitation as soon as the journey is confirmed.

Is Odzala-Kokoua National Park safe?

• Malaria is present in all areas all year. Take prophylaxis advice, cover up from dusk and sleep under the lodge net.
• A yellow fever certificate is required for all arriving travellers aged 9 months and over. Carry the paper certificate.
• Do not track gorillas while ill, keep the distance guides set and use no flash near the group.
• Emergency services outside Brazzaville are virtually non existent. The package medical evacuation inclusion is essential, not optional.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park travel tips: tourist traps to skip

• Confusing the Republic of Congo with the Democratic Republic of Congo in flights, visas or bookings.
• A cheaper quote that excludes the charter flight, a gorilla permit or the park and community fees is incomplete, not cheaper.
• Expecting savanna safari viewing volumes in dense forest, where animals are often heard before they are seen.

Getting around Odzala-Kokoua National Park: public transport and more

• Fly the Kamba charter from Brazzaville to Mboko on Monday or Thursday, about two hours, 15kg total baggage in soft bags.
• Inside the circuit Kamba drives, kayaks and boats you between Ngaga, Lango and Mboko. There is no public or self drive option.
• Allow buffer Brazzaville nights around the charter. Brazzaville hotels and meals are not included in the journey price.

Who Odzala-Kokoua National Park suits

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