900 Kilometers from Ouesso to Brazzaville
On this 13-day river cruise, you will sail through the mighty Congo Basin, one of the world's most mysterious and least visited regions and the true heart of Africa. From capital Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, you will fly in a private plane to Ouessoy, where you will begin this extraordinary boat trip. With the luxury river ship RV Ducrot Congo, you will sail along the Sangha River and the Congo River back to Brazzaville.
For nearly 900 km you will navigate through landscapes of green hills, swamp forests, rainforests and cathedral forests, which include lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, bongos, pangolins and Nile crocodiles, as well as more than 350 species of birds and tens of thousands of plant species. With a so-called launch boat, you will daily sail up forgotten tributaries in search of the wonders of nature. The people of the forest, the BaAka and the Sangha sangha, will be your guides, sharing with you their way of life and their unique knowledge handed down for centuries. In the evening, enjoy sunsets and the night sounds of the surrounding forest on the comfortable ship over a glass of wine and excellent meals.
Tips & Tops Cruise on the Sangha and Congo Rivers:
- You will spend 11 nights aboard the newly renovated riverboat RV Ducrot, which accommodates 28 passengers plus crew members
- You will sleep 1 night in a safari tent in the forest and 1 night in a 5-star hotel in Brazzaville
- Led by knowledgeable nature guides, venture into the world's richest terrestrial ecosystem
- Discover in two days Nouabalé-ndoki National Park, with lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, panthers, bongos, forest pigs, buffaloes, blue duikers and sitatungas. To be as discreet as possible, our group is divided into three subgroups.
- Near the northern border of Ntokou-Pikounda Park, look for the endemic Bouvier's Red colobus, thought to be extinct
- Visit Lac Télé, where you will learn about plant diversity and the local mysteries and legends of the rainforest
- Marvel at more than 350 bird species, including many species of hornbills and turacos, Black-crowned Weaver, Finsch' Francolin, Congo Wheatear, Black-bellied Bustard, Senegalese Bustard, Black-headed Bee-Eater and Sladen's Barbican
- Meet the ancestral traditions of the BaAka, the last hunter-gatherers, a vibrant culture intertwined with surrounding forest
- Multiple landings per day in motorboats
- During the trip, several lectures will be given on board about the nature, peoples and history of the Congo
- Visit to Ngabe, former capital of the Téké kingdom and entry point to the Makoko estate (Téké king), who can sometimes be met
- Several options to extend your river cruise, such as on the Atlantic Ocean at Pointe Noire to view migrating whales, or take a fishing safari on the Congo River in search of the endemic giant tigerfish
