ODZDALA NATIONAL PARK.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park (or Odzala National Park) is a national park in the Republic of the Congo The park was first protected in 1935, declared a biosphere reserve in 1977, and granted official designation by presidential decree in 2001. Odzala-Kokoua has approximately 100 mammals species, and one of the continent’s most diverse primate populations. The nonprofit conservation organization African Parks began managing the park in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest Economy, Sustainable Development and Environment of the Republic of the Congo in 2010. Odzala-Kokoua National Park (or Odzala National Park) is a national park in the Republic of the Congo The park was first protected in 1935, declared a biosphere reserve in 1977, and granted official designation by presidential decree in 2001. Odzala-Kokoua has approximately 100 mammals species, and one of the continent’s most diverse primate populations. The nonprofit conservation organization African Parks began managing the park in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest Economy, Sustainable Development and Environment of the Republic of the Congo in 2010.

Odzala-Kokoua is an approximately 13,500-square-kilometre (5,200 square mi) national park and biosphere reserve in northwestern Republic of the Congo, established in 1935. The park has preserved old-growth rainforest and variable terrain, ranging from 350-metre (1,150 feet) tall hills to dense jungle and numerous glades Odzala-Kokoua has dry forest, savanna, and rainforest ecosystems. The park is managed by African Parks in partnership with the Congolese government. Odzala-Kokoua is one of Africa’s oldest national parks, first protected in 1935 and given official designation by presidential decree from Denis Sassou Nguesso in 2001. The park was designated a biosphere reserve in 1977, and administered since 1992 with financial assistance from Conservation and Rational Utilization of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (ECOFAC), a European Union-sponsored program that establishes a framework for conserving rainforests in the region. Conservation efforts were limited during the Republic of the Congo Civil War (1997–99) Odzala-Kokoua was neglected for years around the time of the Ebola outbreaks, and suffered from heavy poaching. Tourism was limited until recently, with only 50 tourists visiting Odzala-Kokoua in 2011.

African Parks began managing the park in 2010, as part of a 25-year agreement with the Ministry of Forest and Sustainable Development of the Republic of the Congo. In 2013, African Parks, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and the World Wide Fund for Nature entered into a five-year, $10 million agreement to collaborate and work to conserve Odzala-Kokoua and the Sangha Trinational. WCS has been supporting the government’s management and preservation of Odzala-Kokoua and other national parks since the early 1990s. African Parks initiated Congo’s first firearm amnesty program in 2013, offering poachers positions as park rangers in exchange for weapons and intelligence.

According to CNN, there were 76 guards patrolling Odzala-Kokoua in early 2014. Two Malinois dogs were trained to detect ivory and animal meat in 2014, in an effort to reduce poaching. Despite having national park status, which protects against mining, Mongabay reported in 2016 that some mining permits issued by the government allowed mineral extraction in parts of Odzala-Kokoua.

Odzala-Kokoua opened for tourist visits in August 2012. Wilderness Safaris invested in the park by improving infrastructure, constructing two luxury lodges, and providing additional training to guides and rangers. The lodges took six years to become fully operational, and received funding from philanthropist Sabine Plattner, the wife of German businessman Hasso Plattner. The company’s operating contract ended in 2015, and the camps have since been run directly by the Congo Conservation Company, which Sabine Plattner established and funds.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Odzala-Kokoua hosts approximately 4,500 plant and tree species. The vast majority of the park’s forest is open-canopy Marantaceae.

Mammals.

The park has approximately 100 mammal species, and one of the continent’s most diverse primate populations. Odzala-Kokoua was once home to nearly 20,000 gorillas. However, during 2002–2005 a series of Ebola virus disease outbreaks killed 70–95% of the park’s population. In 2005, Ebola killed approximately 5,000 gorillas within a 1,042 square mi (2,700 km2) area of the park, according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service The number of gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua has since increased, following efforts by conservation organizations and at least one tourism company to preserve and rehabilitate the park.

A survey of diurnal primates, conducted during the mid-1990s, showed significant monkey populations in Republic of the Congo’s forest region. Sighted species included the western lowland gorilla and central chimpanzee, as well as eight monkeys: Angolan talapoin, black crested Mangabey, crested mona monkey, De Brazza’s monkey, greater spot-nosed monkey, mantled guereza, moustached guenon, and Tana River Mangabey. The number of gorilla nests were highest in the park’s open-canopy Marantaceae forest; chimpanzee nests were most abundant in closed-canopy primary and Marantaceae forests. All monkey species were found in the forest’s densest areas, but only four were present in terra firma forest. Odzala-Kokoua had the highest densities of western lowland gorilla and chimpanzee in Central Africa recorded to date. High forest productivity and decreased poaching is thought to have contributed to this success.

The results of a survey conducted in clearings within the northern part of the park, published in 1998, showed the presence of thirteen large mammals, the most frequent of which were the bongo, buffalo, African elephant, forest hog, giant forest hog, gorilla, and sitatunga. Other mammal species recorded include the African civet, African forest elephant black-and-white colobus, and common chimpanzee. Poaching has been attributed to the park’s elephant population decline. Surveys of Odzala-Kokoua’s African forest elephant population resulted in estimates of approximately 18,200 and 13,500 in 2000 and 2005, respectively. There were approximately 9,600 elephants, as of 2014.

Spotted hyenas were reportedly abundant in the park’s savanna area in 2007. In 2013, the lion was considered locally extinct, as the species has not been recorded for fifteen years. Survey results published in 2014 revealed the absence of lions. But at least 46 hyenas were recorded in the park’s savanna ecosystem. Also, African golden cat, leopard, and serval were recorded. The decline of lion and spotted hyena populations are thought to be caused by overexploitation.  Antelope species include the bay duiker, black-fronted duiker, Peters’ duiker, and white-bellied duiker.

Several authors noted the importance of forest clearings for the park’s mammal populations.

Birds.

Approximately 440 bird species have been recorded in the park, Species include the African fish eagle, black-backed cisticola, black-throated apalis, black-winged pratincole, eastern wattled cuckoo shrike, forest robin, forest wood hoopoe, great snipe, green pigeon, grey parrot, grey-headed broadbill, lesser kestrel, Pel’s fishing owl, pied kingfisher, red-capped crombec, red-throated cliff swallow, Uganda woodland warbler, and yellow-capped weaver, Herons, hornbills, and kingfishers are also present, including the goliath heron, black dwarf hornbill, and giant kingfisher.

Reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects.

Crocodiles, lizards, and frogs live in Odzala-Kokoua. A study published in Zootaxa in 2010 reported the presence of eleven species of Petrocephalus. The distichodontid fish species Hemigrammocharax rubensteini, described in 2013, has been recorded in the park. Odzala-Kokoua hosts a variety of insect species, including ants, bees, butterflies, and termites.

Odzala Safari Camps

Odzala receives a tiny number of travelers each year. There are currently only two camps in the area for these set fly-in safaris: Ngaga and Lango Camp.

Ngaga Camp is the first stop on your itinerary, and is the base for visiting the gorillas. It is a smart luxury camp with just six rooms and tucked into thick rain forest, its location creating a wonderful and unique atmosphere.

Then your second stop is Lango Camp, which is almost identical in style and design to Ngaga but situated on the edge of a bai – a swampy clearing surrounded by seemingly impenetrable forest.

Activities on a safari to Odzala.

The activities from Ngaga Camp centre around treks to see habituated Western lowland gorillas. Each visitor gets two chances to track the gorillas and these take place in the mornings guests are usually back in time for brunch. This leaves the afternoon free for a forest walk, or a visit to the nearby Ombo village. Ngaga also offers fascinating night walks, which give you a totally different perspective on the area.

From Lango Camp the activities on offer include the walk in the Bai in front of camp, for which you should be prepared to get wet! Walking through the clear water, sometimes up as far as your river shoes or old trainers/sneakers are recommended footwear. River trips in steel boats with an engine take you down Lekoli River to look out for moustache or putty-nosed monkeys and various birds. Safari drives in 4WD vehicles, and walks in the savannah and river forest areas are also possible.

Ngaga Safari Camp

Ngaga Camp, located just outside the park boundary in the Ndzehe concession, overlooks a beautiful open glade within primary forest above a forest stream. The Camp is situated within the overlapping home ranges of several groups of western lowland gorillas, two of which are habituated.

Ngaga is truly gorilla central. A focal point for world-class research as well as unforgettable primate encounters, Ngaga Camp’s unique design evokes the fun and mystery of childhood treehouses. From the six elevated guest rooms, wraparound walkways allow you to peer directly into the forest canopy. Like Lango, the Camp is constructed from natural materials using traditional techniques.

Western Lowland Gorillas are the main species of wildlife searched for from Ngaga Camp and they are tracked on foot from the Camp itself. This species favours areas of Marantaceae vegetation which is a staple food source but at intervals throughout the year the gorillas also seek out fruiting trees within the forest. Other primates such as Crowned and Moustached Monkeys can be encountered in the forest, while Central Chimpanzees are often heard and occasionally seen. Various forest duikers occur as well as some spectacular forest birds such as the very large Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, the Great Blue Turaco and a host of others.

Ngaga Camp Activities.

The main activity at Ngaga Camp and a true Congo highlight is tracking habituated groups of western lowland gorillas through the rainforest. Skilled local trackers will lead you in search of gorillas accustomed (through years of patient research) to being approached by humans. Deciphering barely visible tracks and signs, and keeping an ear open for vocalizations, the trackers have an uncanny ability to anticipate the gorillas’ movements and get you into the best possible viewing positions. As well as gorilla tracking, Ngaga offers a host of additional unique activities:

Explore the Ndzehe Forest on a network of well-maintained trails a very different experience to the swampy terrain at Lango.

Night walks in search of nocturnal primates and other shy forest species.

Take time to admire and even commune with giant forest trees.

Spend time just looking around you at the colours and shapes of insects, seed pods, fungi and orchids

Don’t forget to look up for turacos, hornbills, and other impressive forest birds

Cool off in a clear forest stream after a day tracking gorillas

Visit nearby Ombo village to learn more about sustainable forest lifestyles and how people make the most of all that Nature provides in such a remote location.

Experience the forest by night, in search of strange nocturnal creatures

 

Lango Safari Camp

Lango camp has six guest rooms are raised to the level of the surrounding gallery forest, giving incredible views out onto the open marshy Bai in front of the Camp one of the most arresting views of any Camp in Africa. The Bai holds a magnetic attraction for huge flocks of African green pigeons and African grey parrots, as well as for herds of forest buffalo by day and forest elephants by night.

Lango’s strategic location in the south central part of Odzala allows easy access to a variety of converging habitats. A real highlight of your stay at Lango is the change to explore the Lekoli and Mambili Rivers by motorboat, traditional pirogue, or even kayak. Lango is also one of the few places in Africa where you can safely explore streams and marshes on foot a true immersive experience.

Lango Camp Accommodation

Nestled in dense gallery forest with each room, the dining room, lounge and bar area are all on raised decks overlooking the Lango Bai, and are constructed from natural materials such as locally woven raffia palm panels.

Raised walkways connecting the rooms to the public areas wind through the gallery forest. A star deck and fire pit are placed on a dropped deck overlooking the Bai for after dinner relaxation and star-gazing.

Lango Camp Game Viewing.

Forest Buffalo and Harnessed Bushbuck are regular visitors to the Bai and can be seen at any time of the day. Forest Elephant and Spotted Hyaena are also regular visitors but are more typically seen after dark. Nocturnal visitors to the Bai include Bongo, Leopard and Red River Hog. Western Sitatunga and various forest duiker species can be encountered nearby and Guereza Colobus monkeys are frequently seen in Camp. Other primates, such as Grey-cheeked Mangabey and Putty-nosed Monkey are commonly seen nearby, while Chimpanzees are regularly heard from Camp.

Hippo occur at low densities in the Lekoli River and Serval are occasionally seen in the savannah areas. Crocodiles are represented by two harmless species, the Slender-snouted Crocodile and the African Dwarf Crocodile.

Lango Safari Activities

Many activities at Lango and Mboko are a combination of driving and / or walking and boating. This is to give you access to the most productive and beautiful areas of the Concession, and the best possible wildlife viewing once there.

Exploring the Bai and associated swampy open areas, the Lekoli River and surrounding savannah and forest areas

Spot wildlife from the Camp: Forest Buffalo and Harnessed Bushbuck are regular visitors to the Bai

Enjoy the antics of resident Guereza colobus monkeys

Walk (and wade) the (Lango) Bai and savannah

Adventure trails along the edges of forested areas give insights into the arboreal world

Spot dwarf crocodiles, forest ducks and kingfishers and maybe even a hippo

Look out for hyaena, aardvark, and serval on savannah game drives by day and night

Enjoy a chorus of strangely melodious forest sounds after dark

 

Mboko Safari Camp

Mboko camp provides you with spectacular star-viewing opportunities before you fall asleep to the sounds of life-giving water flowing to meet the Congo River, and also offers access to nearby villages on the fringes of the Park, where you can have met and interact with local people.

Mboko Camp Accommodation.

10 double occupancy cabins and 2 family cabins are nestled along the Lekoli River in amongst the lush green forest which provides a feeling of privacy. Each cabin has a deck with lounge chairs on which you can rest and listen to the tranquility of the river babbling past you.

Mboko Camp Game Viewing.

Forest Buffalo and Elephant are common visitors to Mboko Camp. You can often catch Forest Buffalo having breakfast in the morning mist of the savannah. In the evening look out into the darkness in search for fireflies. At night, use your torch and see if you can catch a spotted hyaena in action.  These are in additional to Colobus Monkey, Grey Parrot and Bock sightings.