Congo wildlife safaris are widely known as the world’s leading safaris for lowland gorilla safaris. Track gorillas & chimps, walk through forest bais, in the heart of the rainforest.
Odzala National Park in the central north of the Congo is an ecotourism paradise with an exceptional diversity of plants and wildlife to enthrall. This is the heart of your Congo wildlife safari where you can encounter lowland gorillas, monkeys, elephants, Grimm's duiker, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, bongos, leopards and other forest mammal species as well as many bird species. Nouabale-Ndoki National Park is another of the Congo’s highlights. Nestled in the far north of the country this uninhabited and pristine rainforest is an equally diverse place. In Mbeli Bai you will see an array of wildlife at close range, including lowland gorillas, forest elephants, crocodiles and buffalo.
High on many people’s lists when on wildlife safari to Congo are the gorillas, and one of the best places to do this is the Ouesso district in the Sangha Region. The Wildlife Conservation Society suggests that there are around 125,000 Western Lowland Gorillas in the region. Expertise and experience are vital when venturing into these unpopulated areas as they can be challenging to access.
The smallest of the gorilla subspecies, the male western lowland gorilla weighs up to 160 kilos whilst the females are about half the size. Distinguished by their nose which has a continuous heart shaped ridge around its nostrils, shorter hair, and wider skull. Like most gorillas, the western lowland gorilla sleeps at night on the ground in nests constructed from branches and leaves. Compared to mountain gorillas, their group sizes are small, usually about 5 individuals, but they are not territorial and groups usually overlap home ranges. These gorillas have shorter, lighter and slightly reddish hair and are renowned for being notoriously more challenging to track and habituate due to their large home range and constant movement, when compared to their Eastern cousins.
The safari of choice for primate enthusiasts, this epic journey will give you the chance to track both mountain gorillas and western lowland gorillas on six separate trekking excursions (with the possibility of a seventh trek added in for good measure).
From 36500 per person
Located in the north-west region of the Republic of the Congo, discover two unique camps inside the pristine Odzala-Kokoua National Park, and a third on a private concession bordering the national park. This is a lowland rainforest characterised by a network of bais, rivers, marshes and swamps. This vast and truly wild region, with its wide range of landscapes and habitat, is home to an incredible diversity of life. Forest elephant, leopard, bongo, forest buffalo, giant forest hog and hippo live alongside the greatest density of western lowland gorilla in Africa.
From 15205 per person
Located in the north-west region of the Republic of the Congo, discover two unique camps inside the pristine Odzala-Kokoua National Park, and a third on a private concession bordering the national park. This is a lowland rainforest characterised by a network of bais, rivers, marshes and swamps. This vast and truly wild region, with its wide range of landscapes and habitat, is home to an incredible diversity of life. Forest elephant, leopard, bongo, forest buffalo, giant forest hog and hippo live alongside the greatest density of western lowland gorilla in Africa.
From 27500 per personFound in the northern and central regions of the Republic of Congo, particularly in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, the African forest buffalo is smaller than the savannah buffalo and has a shorter thicker horn. Their darker and shaggier coat keeps them warmer in the cool forest and they feed on grasses, leaves and fruits. They are social animals and can live in herds of up to a few hundred, being more active in the early mornings and late afternoons and resting in the shade in the hot parts of the day.
Smaller than savanna elephants, forest elephants inhibit the dense forests. They have straighter tusks that point downward and more oval-shaped ears. Living in groups of up to 20, they forage on the grasses and leaves and their diet is dominated by fruit. They can be referred to as the “mega-gardener of the forest” as they play an important role in dispersing various tree species.
Truly Off the Beaten Track
This is rainforest safari at its rawest — dense jungle, clearings teeming with forest buffalo and flocks of African grey parrots, and baïs where gorillas, sitatungas, and forest elephants gather. Our safaris here are about deep immersion, offering something few others can: wildlife travel that feels like true exploration.
Wealth of Experience
We’ve been crafting gorilla tracking safaris across Central and East Africa for years, and the Republic of Congo is one of our most rewarding destinations. Our long-standing relationships with expert trackers, rangers and lodge teams in Odzala-Kokoua National Park ensure you’re in the best hands for rare, meaningful encounters with western lowland gorillas.
Conservation First
We only work with partners who actively contribute to long-term protection of the Congo Basin’s ecosystems. From supporting local research initiatives to ensuring minimal-impact tourism, every journey here helps preserve this vital rainforest habitat and benefits the communities who call it home.
