13-/15-day expedition cruise with a 10-/11-day river cruise on the Congo River (2026/2027)

starting at 8.950 €

Today you’ll fly from Germany to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. On the western bank of the mighty Congo River, your boutique ship, the MS Princesse Ngalessa, is already waiting for you. After a warm welcome from the crew, you’ll settle into your cabins—your comfortable home for a total of ten nights. (A)

In the morning, you’ll explore Brazzaville. At the Congo Basin Museum, you’ll see fetishes and masks from the pre-colonial kingdoms. You’ll experience the vibrant colors of Africa when you encounter La Sape, a community of entertainers and stylish people. This social movement originated in Brazzaville in the 1960s and has since spread from the Congo region to other parts of the world. The most important characteristic of a Sapeur is his fashionable, elegant, and individual lifestyle, which is meant to draw attention to the contrast between inner freedom and external circumstances. In the afternoon, it’s time to set sail! Behind you lies Brazzaville; ahead of you, the impenetrable rainforest. Exciting onboard lectures heighten the anticipation for one of the last great travel adventures. (FMA)

The jungle closes in ever more tightly around the mighty Congo River. Your first shore excursion takes place in Ngabe. You’ll travel by SUV for about three hours from the dense primeval forest to the nearly treeless high plateau at the entrance to the Lesio-Louna Reserve. Keep an eye out for antelopes during the bumpy ride. You’ll explore the beautiful landscape along the Louna River—which winds through the savanna like a green ribbon—by motorboat. The area is home to a rich variety of exotic birds: bee-eaters, kingfishers, vultures, and hornbills. You’re very likely to spot crocodiles and monitor lizards. The highlight is the encounter with the lowland gorillas. The reserve carefully prepares orphaned gorillas and former zoo animals for their release into the wild. You’ll experience the feeding from the boat, coming face to face with the majestic silverbacks. Then it’s back to your ship, which will anchor overnight in Ngabe. (FMA)

Ngabe is the capital of the Kingdom of Teke, which controlled the nearby copper mines in the 17th century and did not sign a protection treaty with Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza until 1880. Here, you will pay your respects to Queen Ngalifourou. As the patroness of the spiritual god Nkwembali, she is held in high esteem and consecrates the new Makoko king. Impressed by the Teke’s dances and rituals, you’ll return on board. In the evening light, you’ll reach the sandbars at the mouth of the Leflni River, where hippos like to bask in the sun. (FMA)

By now, the mighty Congo River is more than 10 km wide! The opposite bank is barely visible, if at all. Soon you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of islands where numerous fishing families settle during the dry season. After all, the Congo is the second-most fish-rich river in the world, after the Amazon. Five rivers converge here. Keep an eye out for exotic birds and the ever-present hippos. You’ll go ashore in the little village of Mossaka, known throughout the country for its dried fish. Here you’ll meet not only the village elders but also see relics from the legendary Congo expeditions of Count de Brazza and Henry Morton Stanley. Finally, you’ll reach the estuary of the 1,300 km-long Sangha tributary. (FMA)

Gradually, you leave the rolling plains behind. Following in the footsteps of Joseph Conrad, you venture into the dark rainforest, whose canopy soon closes overhead. By boat, you explore the Likouala-aux-Herbes tributary, the lush Likoula River—an El Dorado for ornithologists. Black-chinned weavers, Congo wheatears, black-bellied and Senegal bustards, African gray parrots, kingfishers, hornbills, and turacos add splashes of color to the jungle. There are more than 350 bird species in the Congo Basin! If you’d like, you can explore the lush green riverbanks by kayak. But be careful: the eerie Mokele-Mbembe, a prehistoric mythical creature, is said to be on the prowl in the primeval forests surrounding the river. (FMA)

Today is a cause for celebration, as the MS Ngalessa crosses the equator! Later in the day, you’ll stop at a settlement of local fishermen. Here, you’ll not only discover the beauty of various fish species, but also learn how to preserve them by smoking. In the evening, you’ll reach the village of Pikounda, where the chief of the Bongili tribe will welcome you. In an idyllic spot, you’ll listen to the chief by a crackling campfire and learn amazing things about the region’s myths and legends. In the evening light, you’ll explore the Mangui, a tributary of the Sangha River that also forms the northern border of Ntokou-Pikounda National Park. It was here that the WWF discovered a species of monkey in 2015 that was believed to be extinct: the Bouvier’s marmoset, with its characteristic orange fur. However, these primates are very shy and rarely seen. Much more curious—and above all, much more visible—are the pygmy guenons in the treetops of the giant trees (FMA)

On a morning jungle trek, you’ll discover just how delicate the ecosystem is in the world’s second-largest rainforest; you’ll learn a great deal about medicinal and aromatic plants and their interplay with the world of insects. In the afternoon, visit the village of Tokou, which is inhabited in equal parts by the BaAka and the Bantu. The entire village will gather at the dock to welcome you. Here, the BaAka Pygmies have been able to preserve their traditional way of life as hunters and gatherers in perfect harmony with nature for over 1,000 years. After being welcomed by the village elder, you’ll walk to a spot under the palm trees where you can ask the villagers about their daily lives. The curiosity is mutual—you’ll be asked questions, too. You’ll be bid farewell with the traditional dances and songs of an Ndzengi ceremony, in which a forest spirit is repeatedly driven back into the sacred grove. (FMA)

In the morning, you’ll explore the dark waters of the Ndoki River in dinghies. The few people living in the picturesque hamlets here make their living from fishing and some farming. Above all, however, exotic bird species inhabit the lovely river floodplains: reigning over the treetops is the deep-blue giant turaco, which is often spotted. Back on board, the MS Princesse Ngalessa anchors a short time later in front of the new bridge over the Sangha River. (FMA)

By today at the latest, your trip will turn into a true expedition. You’ll board a speedboat for an 8- to 10-hour river journey. Along the way, the boat captains will skillfully maneuver around the numerous sandbars. Your destination is a lodge in Dzanga-Sangha National Park in the Central African Republic. Along the way, you can stretch your legs in small villages and at various border posts. In the northwestern Congo Basin, between the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic, three national parks covering an area of 750,000 ha border one another. In this nearly untouched natural environment, unique flora and fauna await you. During the long boat ride along the riverbank, keep an eye out for monkeys tumbling through the treetops. To minimize disruption to the sensitive ecosystem, you’ll explore Dzanga-Sangha National Park in small groups over the next two days. In the evening, enjoy the view of the Sangha River while sipping a sundowner at your idyllic lodge. (FLA)

In the morning, after a short drive in an open-top off-road vehicle, you’ll reach Dzanga-Sangha National Park. Your first hike (1.5–2.5 hours, on uneven terrain, with some mud puddles), accompanied by experienced BaAka rangers, will take you to the Hokous Bais. Keep your eyes on the treetops, where silver-gray monkeys with long limbs and prehensile tails swing back and forth. After a lunch break at your lodge, you’ll drive to Bayanga, where a special spectacle awaits you at a small lagoon. To the rhythm of their songs, BaAka women beat water drums in the river—a spectacular sight and great fun for everyone. While strolling through Bayanga, you’ll also take a look inside the market hall. Afterward, you’ll return to your lodge. (FMA)

In the morning, you can relax at your lodge. In the afternoon, you’ll experience the national park’s main highlight: It’s about a 1.5–2-hour walk to the famous Dzanga Ba’i, a roughly 10-hectare sand pan in the middle of the jungle. A paradise for elephants: Here, the elephants use their trunks to drink water and absorb valuable minerals, wallow in the mud, and socialize with other elephants. From a viewing platform high up in the trees, you can spot up to 150 forest elephants in a single day! Other wildlife, such as buffalo, bongos, sitarungs, and duikers, also come to the clearing. You’ll return to your lodge feeling truly inspired. (FMA)

After these exciting days, you’ll return to the MS Ngalessa by speedboat in 8–10 hours. Along the way, you’ll pass the border checkpoints on land. By evening, you’ll be back on board to enjoy your last night on your boutique ship. (FMA)

Today you’ll say goodbye to the MS Ngalessa and its crew and head to Ouesso. As you stroll through this sleepy provincial town, you’ll get another glimpse of everyday life in Africa and visit the market hall. From the small airport, it’s a 1.5-hour flight back to Brazzaville over the endless greenery of the Congo Basin. In the afternoon, an excursion will take you to Bakongo. You’ll hike over smooth, rounded rocks to the wildly roaring rapids of the Congo River—the perfect spot for your farewell dinner featuring Congolese specialties! Afterward, you’ll head to the airport and board your flight back home. (FMA)