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Odzala-Kokoua National Park

Odzala-Kokoua National Park

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The Congo Basin is home to one of the world’s most significant rainforests and is only surpassed in size by Amazon’s expansive rainforest. The Odzala-Kokoua National Park covers an impressive 13 500 square kilometres of iridescent colour rainforest landscape in the Congo.

The national park is at the epicentre of the Congo Basin and is an absolute sanctuary for wildlife, in particular the western lowland gorillas, chimpanzee and wild forest elephants.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park is one of Africa’s oldest national parks comprising a varied landscape of sweeping savanna, intact wetlands, rainforest, rivers and dry forest. The bai areas give rise to some of the most spectacular game viewing in the park, while the lazy nutrient-rich rivers provide a fantastic opportunity for a water safari.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, Odzala-Kokoua National Park is certainly a park worthy of visiting. Apart from the world-class birding and wildlife viewing, one of the main highlights of visiting Odzala-Kokoua National Park is to trek with the western lowland gorillas – an unforgettable experience.

The closest international airport is Maya–Maya Airport in the capital, Brazzaville. Visitors would need to board a scheduled flight to Mboko Airstrip. Twice a week there are scheduled flights from Brazzaville to Mboko.

Q Where is the park situated?

The Odzala-Kokoua National Park covers an impressive 13 500 square kilometres of iridescent colour rainforest landscape in the Congo. The national park is at the epicentre of the Congo Basin and is an absolute sanctuary for wildlife, in particular the western lowland gorillas, chimpanzee and wild forest elephants.

Q How do I get to the park?

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The western lowland gorillas and chimpanzee are the main attractions in this national park. Big game such as forest elephants, buffalos, swamp mongoose, giant forest hogs, and sitatunga are the main forest dwellers in the area. The elusive leopard is also found in this region.

The forest has the highest number of primates found in any forest. There are more than 11 primate species, one of which includes the unusual moustached monkey and more commonly spotted, the colobus monkey.

There are over 444 species of bird in the national park, including wading birds, birds of prey, and passerines. Birds often spotted in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park include the goliath heron, green pigeon, grey parrot, black dwarf hornbill, African fish-eagle and giant kingfisher. The scavenging palm nut vultures are also prominent in the area.

The best time to visit Odzala-Kokoua National Park is the dry season, as this is when it’s easier to spot gorillas. The dry season is from December to February and June to September. There is rainfall during this season, but they are short rains. The wet season is from March to May and September to November.

Overall, the temperatures in the national park remain consistent because of its proximity to the equator.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park is one of the top safari destinations for an array of activities. Guided gorilla and chimp trekking safaris are the major drawcards of this national park. The Congo basin has a high concentration of primates, in particular chimpanzee and gorillas.

There are guided night walks through the forests, and diurnal birdwatching strolls in the wetlands. These easy walks introduce visitors to the array of reptiles, amphibians, and smaller creatures that call the forest their home. Game drives happen in the park and are normally organised by the lodges. There are even options to mountain bike.

Canoeing and boating take place on the Lekoli River that dissects the national park, creating the perfect opportunity to spot game while on the river. Being on the water is a fully immersive safari experience.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park has a wide variety of camps and lodges available within the park, suiting a range of budgets. There are architectural delights, treehouses, forest lodges, classic camps and rustic hideaways all located inside the park.

Do you have further information? If so, please email us at contact@wildsafariguide.com