Congo safaris
Authentic off-the-beaten-track safaris
Congo
Western Lowland Gorillas
Observe the families of critically endangered Western Lowland gorillas that live in the forest.
Forest Bais
Encounter Forest Elephants in the watery streams and marshes with flocks of Green Pigeons and African Grey Parrots overhead.
Science Led
These safaris were founded to support science-based primatology research and conservation.
Authenticity
Experience authentic and deeply personal immersions in a pristine and fragile ecosystem.
Exclusive
Stay in the only private concessions granted inside the Republic of Congo’s vast national parks.
Positive Impact
Journeys here support critical efforts in conservation and local community development.
7 nights
Explore Odzala-Kokoua National Park’s unique biomes with 3 nights at Ngaga Lodge (with 2 gorilla tracks), 2 nights on the baï at Lango Lodge, and 2 nights along the river at Mboko Lodge.
10 nights
Track gorillas three times and immerse yourself in the Congo Rainforest with guided bai walks, kayaking, village visits and river journeys split between Ngaga, Lango and Mboko Lodges.
12 nights
Coming 2025! Journey into the heart of the forest with 6 nights in our Odzala lodges and 6 at spectacular new lodges in the untouched wilderness of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park.
The cost of safari in the Congo
Typically, expect to budget around USD 2,000 per person per night for a safari in the Congo. This will generally include charter flights to and from Brazzaville, two or three gorilla tracking permits depending on the duration of your trip, and accommodation in three camps in different locations.
As one of a few hundred tourists that visit this region each year your safari contributes significantly in protecting this important ecosystem and contributing to essential research.
If you have a lower budget, then we can always look at other fundamentally less pricey safari countries.
Ngaga
In the Ndzehi Concession, adjoining Odzala-Kokoua, hidden in a dense, nearly inaccessible forest, Ngaga is a focal point for world-class primate research. Six double chalets stand on stilts in the dense forest overlooking the Ndezhi Forest and are constructed from natural materials such as locally woven raffia palm panels. Each room has an en-suite bathroom and 360° wraparound walkway.
Safari Lodges in the Congo
Lango
Lango, on the edge of Lango Bai is a beautifully located eco-luxury camp built on elevated platforms with 6 timber-and-thatch dome-roof chalets, offering en-suite rooms perfectly positioned on the edge of the forest with views over the bai. Huge flocks of green pigeons and African grey parrots, as well as herds of forest buffalo and forest elephants, congregate in large herds and flocks in front of camp.
Mboko
Mboko is situated in an area of open meadow-like savannah, frequented by forest buffalo, forest elephants and spotted hyaena. There are 6 guest chalets which extend along the banks of a free-flowing tributary of the Lekoli River. Guests can explore the river's winding causeway in a kayak or head upstream in a motorboat to delve deeper into the forests on foot or explore bais further afield.
Gorilla tracking
The opportunity to track western lowland gorillas is the draw for visitors to the Congo.
As you walk through the forest with your knowledgeable guide, you may get a sighting of other species such as forest elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, and other primates such as De Brazza’s monkey, Angolan talapoin, and Tana River mangabey.
On reaching the gorilla group you will be able to spend up to an hour in their company, observing them as they go about their daily lives. Watch as they climb trees to feast on ripened fruit, swing from branches, and communicate with hoots and howls.
Western lowland gorillas are far more arboreal than mountain gorillas so you will often see them up, moving around the canopy.
Jon from ATR safari who took the photos on this page says of the experience, "It was such a unique experience being able to stay in the same forests as the lowland gorillas, and to be able to walk straight out from the lodge and track the troop in such an untouched and remote location. As amazing as other primate experiences are in Africa, this one truly stood out as something special."
Virunga Mountains, Rwanda
Set in the northwest of Rwanda, Virunga Mountains is one of the prime locations in Africa for viewing mountain gorillas, plus offers options for other primates and cultural interaction. Guest accommodation is in a very wide range of lodges, some of which are extremely high quality, offering a high-end experience to those looking for luxury lodging.
Other primate safaris
Bwindi Forest, Uganda
Set in the southwest of Uganda, Bwindi Forest is one of the few locations where you can trek to see mountain gorillas. The area contains a handful of good lodges and offers an excellent range of other forest and cultural activities, notably including interaction with the Batwa pygmies. Gorilla trekking permits are lower-cost in Uganda compared to Rwanda.
Your trip will be tailored to your goals, fitness level and the weather. Our safaris offer the opportunity to discover the Congo Basin where you will explore the unique Odzala-Kokoua National Park, however we also offer other primate safaris in Africa.
Set in the tropical heart of Africa, the Republic of the Congo (not to be confused with the separate country the Democratic Republic of Congo) is a relatively remote and little-visited place, home to some fabulous wildlife, most notably lowland gorillas. Guest accommodation is in just a handful of good quality lodges. This destination is one of our favourites.
When to go on a Congo safari
The Congolese rainforest has two wet and two dry seasons, although it's important to note that dry means less, more gentle rainfall, rather than no rain. When thinking about seasonality it is important to consider the four aspects of weather, wildlife movements, visitor traffic and prices.
Oct-Dec : Long wet season
October brings the start of the long wet season in the south, with heavy rainfall. This can be a good time for keen birders to visit, while tropical thunderstorms create spectacular skies for keen photographers.
Jan-Feb : Short dry season
During the short dry season there is less rainfall but the weather remains humid. The drier conditions bring the gorillas out of the rainforest depths making sightings easier.
Mar-Apr : Short wet season
Packing some wet weather gear, this brief wet period can be a good time to visit as there are fewer visitors and you can get take advantage of lower accommodation rates.
May-Sep : Long dry season
The May-Sep long dry season is the classic time to visit the Congo and is generally considered to be the best time for wildlife viewing, as the gorillas hunt for ripe fruit in the trees and are easier to observe, while more wildlife is drawn to the watery bais. The temperatures are slightly cooler than in other months, making for more comfortable exploring.
About us
Expert
Our safari experts are uncommonly knowledgeable and experienced
765,000
The number of superb safaris we have so far created
Seamless
Arranging your trip should be almost as much fun as actually going on safari
Value
Your trip should cost you no more than if you booked all the components directly
Tailored
Your trip will be perfectly tuned to meet your requirements
ATR is widely recognised as the world’s leading tailor-made safari company. We will help you to find a more authentic, more exciting, better value safari.
What our guests say
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There are three ways to visit
Our view
One of our safari specialists, Rick, shares his own experience with the western lowland gorillas of the Congo.
"Up very early, long before dawn, we headed to the main area where there were coffee and buns waiting for us. After filling our water bottles we headed out at around around 05.30am. At present there are couple of gorilla groups that can be visited, in two very different locations. The first requires about a 30 minute drive through the forest before you start walking, and the other is walking out from camp and then hacking your way through the jungle. One of your accompanying guides visited the gorillas the night before and will know where they nested, so in theory you can go straight to them, but this can still take a while.
"You need to be relatively fit and mobile to track the gorillas. You'll also need to not be worried about bugs and deep vegetation as you'll encounter plenty of both. A head net can be useful to keep insects at bay while trekking. Climbing thought the thick vegetation takes some good coordination and balance, or its man down! All good fun. When you find them, you'll spend an hour with the gorillas. Generally you will be back at the camp by breakfast at around 9.30am.
"This is a destination where you will be consumed by the energy of the forest. There are so may different plants, trees ,and bugs; just whole host of interesting flora and fauna to discover."
