Day One: Arrival
Upon your arrival at the Maya-Maya airport, you will be welcomed by the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris who will then transfer you to the hotel for dinner and overnight at Edmond hotel.
Day Two: City Tour
After breakfast, you will visit Brazza La Belle as commonly known by locals. Pass by the Brazzaville’s Museum, where you will learn about French influence over western Central Africa. The museum is also a home for De Brazza’s and his family’s remains. Check on the Brazzaville’s local markets, where you can buy West African fabrics. Some of the vendors offer old Congolese artifacts as well. However, if you buy wooden products, you must purchase a customs clearance to take them. Also visit Brazzaville’s Basilica St. Anne’s before you Proceed to the National Theatre to watch traditional dance troupes. Drive to Les Rapides where the Congo River meets its tributary, the Djoue River. These rapids barred Victorian-era explorers Stanley and de Brazza in their quests to find a navigable trade route from the Atlantic Ocean into the heart of Africa. Les Rapides is a good place to try out the local beers, local foods, and music. Later drive back to Edmond hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day Three: Lesio Luna Gorilla Sanctuary
This morning, we leave Brazzaville early in the morning and drive to Lésio-Luna Gorilla sanctuary located like four hours drive from Brazzaville. The road to this Park is partially paved and most practicable during the dry season. The Park boasts a clear-crystal Lake locally known as the Blue Lake. Upon arrival in Lésio-Luna, we check-in and go for a PM Gorilla Safari in the Park. Overnight at Iboubikro Camp
Day Four: Lésio-Luna
Today, we will visit the Sanctuary which has more than 30 members divided into families/quarters. The Lésio-Luna has 55 Gorillas on the guardianship of adjacent local community and the support of N.G.O.s and the Congolese government. After visiting the Gorillas in the morning, we will go for a cruise over the Blue Lake. The lake waters offer the opportunity for a pirogue ride and a safari while sailing alongside the marshy forest. Look out for the the animals that dwell in the Park, including monkeys, antelopes, hippopotamus, and birds on the bank of the Lake. The later drive back to Brazzaville for dinner and overnight at Edmond Hotel in Brazzaville.
Day Five: Congo River
For this day, we will go for a boat ride to the Stanley Pool over the mighty Congo River. We board a private motorboat from the pier and ride over the majestic Congo River, sailing downstream towards its most enormous mouth. The Stanley Pool, also known as the Malebo Pool, is a breathtaking highlight due to its geographic location in the vicinity of Brazzaville. It is a boundary lake that shares a frontier with the D.R.C. Created by the Congo River mouth’s widening for about 560 km. The pool hosts some unique ports and various touristic attractions, including the mascot museum of Karnataka, the Loufoulakari falls, the Djoué estuary, the Lefeni faunal reserve, the Lésio-Luna gorilla Sanctuary, the Hole of God in Nguéla, the Mbamou Islands, the Matsoua place, the Mayama tomb and much more. Later, we sail back to Brazzaville and drive to the Hotel for the rest of the afternoon.
Day Six: Pointe Noire
For this day, we will head to the airport in the morning to catch our flight to Pointe Noire located about an hour or so from Brazzaville. On arrival in Pointe Noire, we will drive to the Kouilou region to visit the Diosso Gorges and the adjacent ethnographic Museum. The gorges are stunning and consist of the pink cliff of dramatic ridges that can attain 50 m high, all surrounded by a verdant forest full of birds. Visit the Museum, a collection of ancient objects and modern tools representing the history of the Kingdom of Loango, dating back from slavery to modern days. It is located a 10 min drive from the gorges and is surrounded by a verdant field of palm trees and thick rainforest. Continue to drive back to Pointe Noire, driving past the Grand Marché, the post office, the port, and finally stop at the railway station, a landmark of the Congo – Ocean Railway construction. Then proceed to Edmond hotel for the dinner and overnight, Given enough time, we may stop at the craft market for few minutes for some souvenirs.
Day Seven: Pointe Noire to Conkouati-Douli
The Park lies about 155 miles from Pointe Noire and the drive may take more than five hours over the unsealed road, so we leave Pointe Noire early in the morning. In the afternoon, we go for a boat cruises around the Park. The first cruise is on the banks of the lagoon, followed by the ‘triangle,’ which is a field of researchers and the site where Chimps are released. Dinner and overnight at the Conkouati Guest House.
Day Eight: Conkouati to Pointe Noire and fly to Brazzaville.
After breakfast in the morning, we join the park staff and follow them to the core activity held in this Park, the feeding of the chimpanzees. The Islands where the gorillas are in transit for their reintroduction in the wild don’t provide enough food for the primates. Therefore, staff and volunteers provide them with tropical fruits, vegetables, cereals, and the like twice a day from 9 – 11 am and 3 – 5 pm. As we have a flight to catch in Pointe Noire, we’ll then undergo the first excursion and then leave the park by noon. We arrive at Pointe Noire late at 1630hrs where you can catch your onward flight.
Price includes
Ground transportation with a professional licensed driver
A professional government licensed English speaking guide
Entrance fees to all sites and parks
All picks and drops at the Airport
Accommodation as indicated in the Program
All meals as per the itinerary
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits
Domestic flights
Price Excludes
Visa, and travel insurance
Laundry and calls
Optional activities not specified as included.
Bar bills
Unforeseen situations including force majeure and flight delay/cancellation