...as described by Mike Fay and ‘Nick’ Nichols, two National Geographic photographers who completed a 9 month mega transect across the Congo Basin in 1997. 

Notes from Chris Worden...

Our most recent trip to Gabon in April was a great success!  Highlights included 6 Western Lowland Gorillas and a huge ‘tusker’ Forest Elephant bull observed at Langoue Bai in Ivindo National Park. 

Other game seen on the trip were herds of Forest Elephant and Forest Buffalo, Sitatunga, Yellow Backed Duiker, 7 species of Monkey and Red River Hog. Over 100 species of bird were logged including Congo basin specials such as Black Guineafowl and Forbes Plover.

I’ve now been to the Western Congo basin 5 times since 2005 when we first started researching this region - each trip just gets better and more fascinating!  I’m sure many of you especially in the UK, have seen the recent BBC ‘Unknown Africa’ documentary presented by Saba Douglas-Hamilton on the Dzanga Sangha Reserve in the adjoining Central African Republic.

Well following on from these amazing adventures I've arranged two 10 day set departure safaris to concentrate on Dzanga Sangha plus the adjoining Nouabale Ndoki National Park in the Congo Republic.  The two parks form part of a vast new tri nation reserve, between the CAR, Congo Republic and Cameroon. 

From my past travels, I’ve learnt that the only way to fully appreciate the wildlife of the Congo basin is to concentrate on the Bai’s - saline clearings in the forest, where Forest elephant, Forest buffalo, Sitatunga, Red River Hog and Western Lowland Gorilla congregate to feed off the sweet grasses and mineral rich soil on the saline edge.

Viewing wildlife in the forest is extremely difficult due to the thick vegetation so most of us hear far more than we see especially in terms of mammal and bird viewing.  Walking in the forest and regularly scouring the canopy up to 90 meters above usually results in an extremely sore neck!

The Bai’s are very different.  They include comfortable platforms where you can sit and observe wildlife in natural surroundings - in the open! The walks to the Bai’s are on wide Elephant paths through the forest, allowing a better view of the habitat, monkeys and birdlife en route.

Dzanga Sangha Reserve - Central African Republic

The Dzanga Sangha Reserve is home to the Sangha Bai, which hosts possibly the largest concentration of Elephant in the Congo basin – with groups from 40 to 120 animals often seen feeding in the Bai.  This is also the best place to see the Bongo, the largest and grandest of the forest antelope.

Dzanga Sangha Reserve constitutes part of the habitat of the Western lowland gorilla.  In 1988 a gorilla research station was established next to the Hokou Bai clearing.  In 1997 they started the lengthy process of habituating a group of 16 gorillas and in 2001 the first visitors were able to trek these gorillas.  Since then more than 200 visitors have had an opportunity to observe habituated Western lowland gorillas.

Compared to the average of 72 daily permits to observe the Mountain Gorilla viewing in Uganda and Rwanda, that’s not a lot of people! The gorilla trekking is limited to 4 guests only and Pygmy trackers assist in locating the group of gorillas each day.

Encountering the Gorillas on these treks is virtually guaranteed and you'll have the opportunity to sit with them for an hour, much the same as is experienced in the more popular and accessible Rwandan and Ugandan parks. 

To complement the Bai visits and the Gorilla trek, there's also an opportunity to accompany the Ba’aka Pygmies on a traditional net hunt, to witness their traditional dancing and appreciate their use of medicinal plants.

Nouabale Ndoki National Park - Republic of Congo

The Nouabale Ndoki National Park offers a similar attraction to the Dzanga Sangha Reserve, except that the forest here is untouched (no lumbering) and surrounded by swamps.  The area offers little access to poachers and therefore provides a safe habitat for a wide range of animals. 

Here the principal activity is watching animals in the Mbelli Bai, especially Western lowland gorillas attracted here by the unique type of vegetation that's only found in and around this Bai.

The Mbelli Bai is also renowned for the presence of several other species of mammals including Forest elephant, Sitatunga, Forest buffalo, Red river hog, Spotted necked otters, Yellow backed duiker and Dwarf crocodile.

In Mike Fay’s mega transect, most of the Gorilla photography taken by ‘Nick’ Nichols was conducted from a hide at the Mbelli Bai. 

The Congo Basin Safaris in 2009

Accommodation on the 10 day trip consists of the comfortable, but rustic Doli Lodge, with en suite facilities near Sangha Bai, and the Mbelli Camp in Nouabale Ndoki, a basic camp with shared facilities.

At both locations we eat hearty wholesome food with the researchers and enjoy cold drinks! An overnight in a comfortable 4 star hotel in Douala in Cameroon, will give you the opportunity to observe and experience this vibrant port city with its pavement cafes and bistros.

Transport is by internal private charter flight and then by boat and 4x4, so a great opportunity to see this fascinating area from all angles. Walks from camp to the Bai’s take from 40 minutes to an hour and a half.

So for 2009 we're running two group departures to this fascinating region with a maximum of 8 participants and one guide on each trip.  The first from 19 to 29 January and the second from 15 to 25 June 2009.

We have a waiting list of interested guests for these unusual and specialist trips so please contact Chris Worden for a detailed itinerary and costs.

Ntwala is a beautiful four suite lodge, located on a private island in the Zambezi river. This special offer includes all private activities at the lodge and a scenic flight over Victoria Falls.

Where is it?
On a private island in north eastern Namibia. Ntwala Island Lodge is hidden where 4 countries meet and the Zambezi river rushes through the Mambova rapids

How to get there
Fly direct from Livingstone airport to Ntwala Island Lodge return and enjoy an awe inspiring scenic flight over Victoria Falls en route.

Rate includes:
3 nights accommodation at Ntwala Island Lodge
All meals, alcoholic drinks, teas & coffees
Laundry
Private guided activities (game cruises on Chobe and Zambezi Rivers, guided walks, cultural tour, fishing and bird watching)
Individual SOS insurance for emergency medical evacuation
Boat transfer from Kasane immigration (Chobe River) to Ntwala Island Lodge return
Namibian tourism levy

Rate excludes:
Gratuities & items of a personal nature
Community development levy (ZAR40pp per stay) payable at the lodge - optional and at your discretion

US$1498 per person sharing

...from the Kariba office

Char has kept us amused with news from Kariba and Mozambique this month.

Cycling through Kariba one Saturday morning she was hit by an unusual traffic surge early in the morning which almost slowed her down. 

In the first world we call this a zebra crossing and totally green way of travelling to the shops?!

This small herd of zebra has survived the rigours of living on the edge of Kariba's Nyamhunga township for the last 10 years or so...which hasn't always been that safe from visiting lions! 

Char and Rick regularly spend time in Mozambique on self drive camping holidays, driving from Kariba through Zimbabwe west to east and into Mozambique - definitely off the beaten track!  

Here's a pair that never got away during their most recent trip ... 

The team is back behind desks

Char from Mozambique; Debbie and Jane from Zimbabwe; Botswana and Namibia; Chris and Jane back from South Africa; Chris also back from Gabon; John back from Uganda; Delene back from Malawi. 

...and then we're off again!

Sam and Jools are preparing for Zambia; Liz is nearly set for Mozambique and South Africa....Trish, Claire and Lynda contemplating...

If you're in Scotland or England this summer then look out for us at:

The Scottish Game Fair:  hosted by Scotland's Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust from 4 to 6 July 2008 in the grounds of Scone Palace, Perthshire.

The British Birdwatching Fair:  the largest international birdwatching event in the world from 15 to 17 August at Rutland Water, Oakham (105 miles north of London).

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