The Great Exploration Journey on the Congo River, Including Gorilla Tracking

Preliminary Information
: Your international flights to and from Brazzaville are not included in the tour price.

Since our customers all have individual preferences regarding flight connections and length of stay, we’re happy to book flights separately. Of course, the flights will then be included in a secure package tour. For a stress-free trip, we recommend spending the night in Brazzaville before your flight. This gives you some extra time in case of flight delays and provides additional peace of mind in case your checked luggage arrives late. We’d be happy to arrange everything for you upon request. Please contact us.

Day 2: Upstream on the Congo River

After breakfast, the Princesse Ngalessa sets course upstream on the Congo River. Green hills line the banks as you familiarize yourself with the ship, the itinerary, and your guide.

In the afternoon, a short boat ride on the Maipili River takes you through calm, lush green waters. Back on board, the observation deck offers a view of the bustling river traffic on the Congo: whaleboats and long, flat-bottomed transport barges move slowly upstream. Some of these boats, which can be up to 200 meters long, are on the water for weeks at a time. They transport goods, people, and livestock from place to place and are thus an integral part of daily life and the economy of the river communities.

Overnight stay on board

Right after waking up, you’ll head out early into the forest to set up a spot near the bonobo nests. When the bonobos wake up, you’ll watch them stretch and begin their day. You’ll then follow them to continue your observation. In the late morning, you’ll return to the Princesse Ngalessa.

Overnight stay on board

Day 6: Kayaking Through the Rainforest & Equator Ceremony

In the morning, a special activity awaits adventure seekers: you’ll reach a tributary of the river and hop into a kayak. Paddling along a narrow waterway, you’ll venture deep into the dense jungle. You’ll glide silently across the water, accompanied by the chorus of birds calling from the canopy. With a little luck, you might even spot talapoins and colobus monkeys among the branches. Those who prefer a less adventurous experience or have safety concerns can also remain on board the Princesse Ngalessa.

Later, you’ll cross the equatorand find yourself in the heart of the vast tropical rainforest—a special moment on your journey.

Overnight stay on board

Day 8: Visit to the Pygmies in the village of Tokou

In the morning, you'll take a short walk to explore the flooded rainforest and gain insight into this unique ecosystem.

In the village of Tokou, you’ll meet the indigenous people. The Pygmiesare one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer groups. In small groups, you’ll accompany them into the forest and experience their daily lives up close: they gather fruits, plants, and medicinal herbs; build a simple hut; weave mats and baskets; and introduce you to the art of polyphonic singing.

For generations, people have adapted their lives to the rhythm of the forest. They experience this deep-rooted connection and see how knowledge, daily life, and nature intertwine here as a matter of course. 

Your visit will conclude with aNdzengi ceremony—a festive ritual featuring Pygmy singing and dancing.

Overnight stay on board

Days 10 through 14: Immersing Yourself in the Trinational Sangha Region

Where Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of the Congo meet, one of Africa’s most significant natural landscapes stretches across the northwestern part of the Congo Basin. This UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site comprises three interconnected national parks covering an area of approximately 750,000 hectares.

Large parts of this landscape remain largely untouched by humans to this day. Dense rainforests, wetlands, and natural forest clearings create a mosaic of diverse tropical habitats. Nile crocodiles and Goliath tigerfish inhabit the rivers, while the forests are home to significant populations of forest elephants, critically endangered western lowland gorillas, and endangered chimpanzees. In the natural forest clearings, grasses and other herbaceous plants take the place of the dense rainforest. The Sangha region showcases the full diversity of the Congo Basin—and preserves habitats that have long since disappeared elsewhere.

Day 10: The Sangha River Trinational Protected Area

Today, you’ll travel by small boat down the upper reaches of the Sangha River on a roughly 7.5-hour journey through dense rainforest toward Bayanga in the Central African Republic. Along the way, you’ll pass small villages and settlements. Depending on the season, you’ll be able to observe the diverse birdlife or perhaps even spot native monkey species in the trees along the riverbank.

In the afternoon, you'll arrive at your lodge and wind down the day with a sundowner overlooking the Sangha River.

Overnight stay in a lodge by the river

Day 11: AIn the Footsteps of the Western Lowland Gorillas

In the morning, you’ll drive about 45 minutes from the lodge to the starting point of the gorilla trek. Accompanied by Baaka trackers, you’ll follow the trails left by gorilla groups as they’ve made their way through the forest. Along the way, you’ll encounter numerous other animals, while the experienced trackers interpret the signs in the forest and lead you closer and closer to the gorillas.

Then, suddenly, they’re there. From a distance of about ten meters, you watch the animals as they, too, carefully scrutinize their visitors. The young gorillas are wrestling with one another, the females are searching for food, and other gorillas are resting in the shade. The silverback keeps a watchful eye on the group and its surroundings. The largest gorillas can reach a height of up to 1.70 meters.

After about an hour, you’ll step back so as not to disturb the gorillas. What remains are the images of this extraordinary encounter—and the memory of a moment when you came very close to the life of the rainforest.

Overnight stay in a lodge by the river

Day 12: The Village of the Elephants

Early in the morning, you’ll visit the famous Dzangha-Baï clearing, also known as the “Village of Elephants.” Here, you can spot up to 150 elephants in a single day. High up on an observation platform in the trees, you can also spot buffalo, bongos, sitatungas, Cephalophus antelopes, and many other animals. Of course, you’ll also have plenty of time to take photos that day.

Overnight stay in a lodge by the river

Day 13: The Hokous Salt Pans and Their Wildlife

In the morning, you’ll set out for the seven so-called “Hokous-Bais” —natural salt licks in the rainforest. On guided hikes, you can spot elephants, gorillas, forest pigs, cephalophors, and numerous bird species. Indigenous trackers will help you locate groups of agile mangabeys, which are also being studied by scientists. These silver-gray monkeys move with impressive ease through the canopy, leaping from tree to tree and exhibiting lively social behavior. They communicate through a variety of sounds—ranging from chirps to squeaks to grunts—which help them maintain their group structure.

Overnight stay in a lodge by the river

Day 14: A Day with the BaAka Pygmies

In the morning, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of the BaAka, one of the region’s best-known forest peoples. Depending on the season, we can take part in a traditional net hunt, learn about medicinal plants, gather honey, or help catch fish using baskets —all while experiencing the BaAka’s cheerful way of life.

After lunch at the lodge, you’ll experience the impressive water drumming: The BaAka rhythmically slap the water with their hands, creating sounds reminiscent of drums from another era. To round out the day, you’ll take a walk through Bayanga.

Overnight stay in a lodge by the river