THE GREAT EXPLORERS : ASCENT OF THE CONGO AND SANGHA RIVERS

Day – 1 Arrival in Brazzaville.

Arrival in Brazzaville. Boarding the ship.

• Night on board.

Day 2 – Visit of Brazzaville and beginning of the cruise

In the morning, we set out to explore the city,  and meet with La Sape – Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People. Then begin the long journey up the Congo River through a landscape of green hills. Behind us, Brazzaville; ahead, the forest. We take advantage of the first miles to get to know our guides and learn about the history of Congo.

• Night on board.

Day 3 – The Téké Kingdom and Kébé Kébé dance

In the morning, we visit Ngabe, one of the ancient capitals of the Téké kingdom. We ascend through the village to visit the current queen. As the guardian of “Nkwembali,” the spiritual deity of the Batéké, she is the person authorised to transfer power to the new king, the Makoko. She holds significant influence in the Téké kingdom, one of the powerful kingdoms in the country. We witness a kébé kébé ritual, a dance and an initiatory society from Congo. The ordinary form of the kebe-kebe resembles whirling dervishes, wrapped in raffia robes adorned with feathers from various birds, and manipulating a puppet that generally represents a painted Koyo head showing the specific scarifications of the ethnic group. 

• Night on board.

Day 4 – The Congo River’s thousands islands 

The Congo River widens considerably (more than 10 km) and a maze of islands forms. Fishing villages are established here during the dry season. We arrive at the confluence of 5 rivers, in a vast marshland area. Further along, we observe hippopotamuses and birds (in the peak of rainy season, hippos could be difficult to observe). We reach the fishing village of Mossaka, known throughout the country for its smoked and salted fish. We discover remnants of the colonial era and we meet the village’s sages. At the end of the day, we arrive in Linkendze, a fishing village.

• Night on board.

Day 5 – The Likouala-Aux-Herbes and getting into the “Heart of Darkness”

In the morning we reach the Likouala Aux Herbes estuary on launch boats to observe some of the most emblematic birds of the Congo Basin. Based on the season, during our cruise we’ll have the chance to see some of the emblematic birds of the region such as ospreys, palm-nut vultures, African fish eagles, hamerkops, cormorans, kingfishers, weavers, ibis, grey herons, storks, egrets, hornbills, pied crows, Brazza’s Martin and the elusive turaco. Following the season and the condition, we sail in a canoe kayak on a sangha river into a tributary. Following Joseph Conrad’s steps, we definitely leave the plains behind and enter the tropical forest!

• Night on board.

Day 6 – Crossing the Equator! Meeting with the Land’s Chief of the Bongili people

In the morning, we cross the equator. We find ourselves in the heart of the vast tropical forest. It’s the baptism of the Line! Along the way, we stop at a fishing camp where we learn various fishing techniques, about the river’s fish, and the process of fish smoking. 

• Night on board.

Day 7 – The village of Pikounda and the Mangui River

In the morning, we reach the village of Pikounda. The village was once a trading post that flourished with the activities of Mr. Truchot. We explore the different neighbourhoods, the old colonial buildings, and the process of cocoa transformation, from the pod to cocoa butter and the corn wine highly esteemed in the region. We meet the Chief of the Lands, the traditional leader of the Bongili people, who shares stories of the country.

In the late afternoon, we sail up the Mangui River on launch boats. The Mangui River makes the northern border of the Ntokou Pikounda National park which became famous when, 2015 WWF rediscovered a small red monkey called the Bouvier’s red colobus thought to be extinct. We sail up the river on a launch boat to observe the birds. 

• Night on board.

Day 8 – Immersion in an indigenous village

Sailing towards Tokou. We then meet the indigenous people (Pygmies). They are among the last hunter-gatherer groups in the world. In the forest, in small groups, we share their daily lives: gathering fruits and plants, collecting medicinal herbs, building a hut, making mats or baskets, and learning polyphonic singing. We experience their century-old way of life and discover their incredible symbiosis with the forest. Our visit concludes with a Ndzengi ceremony, where the Pygmies sing and dance.

• Night on board.

Day 9 – The black waters of the Ndoki and the war monument of Mbiru

Early in the morning we leave on motor boats on the Ndoki River. Known for its black water, the river is surrounded by high grass and trees which is a perfect hunting ground and nesting for large birds. Later on, we will visit the war monument at Mbiru where French and German fought during WWI. We will then walk through the pristine primary forest with cathedral canopy, discover a variety of ecosystems and evergreen forest.

• Night on board.

 Day 10 to 13 – Immersion in the Tri-national of the Sangha

Situated in the north-western Congo Basin, where Cameroon, Central African Republic and Congo meet, the site encompasses three contiguous national parks totaling around 750,000 ha. Much of the site is unaffected by human activity and features a wide range of humid tropical forest ecosystems with rich flora and fauna, including Nile crocodiles and goliath tigerfish, a large predator. Forest clearings support herbaceous species and Sangha is home to considerable populations of forest elephants, critically endangered western lowland gorilla, and endangered chimpanzee. To be as discreet as possible, our group will be divided into three subgroups.

Day 10 – The Tri-national of the Sangha

We sail up the upper Sangha River towards Bayanga in the Central African Republic on launch boats for a comfortable 7.5 hours journey surrounded by pristine forest. Along the way we can see local villages and settlements. Based on the season we observe the many birds or if we’re lucky some monkeys of the region. We arrive in the afternoon at our lodge for a nice sundowner overlooking the Sangha.

• Night at a lodge on the river.

Day 11 – The elephant village

Early in the morning we will visit the famous Dzangha Bai. Known as the Elephant Village, up to 150 elephants can be spotted in a day. Sitting high up in the trees we will have a chance to spot many animals including buffalos, bongos, sitatunga, cephalophus etc. We take the time to observe the animals from the platform before return to our lodge.

• Night at our lodge on the river.

Day 12 – The Hokous Salt Flats and its wild animals

Departure in the morning for the seven baïs called Hokous baïs. During these walks we have the chance to see a variety of animals including elephants, gorillas, cephalophores, forest hogs and many birds. During our walk, our BaAka trackers will find the groups Agile Mangabeys followed by the scientists. These silver-grey monkeys exhibit remarkable gracefulness as they navigate the forest canopy with ease, using their long limbs and prehensile tails. Agile Mangabeys are highly social creatures, often engaging in playful behaviours such as chasing each other, leaping through the trees, and engaging in mock battles. They communicate through a diverse range of vocalisations, including chirps, squeals, and grunts, which play a crucial role in maintaining social bonds and coordinating group activities. 

• Night at a lodge on the river.

Day 13 – Return on the Princess Ngalessa

After spending the last three days in some of the least visited places on Earth, we return to the boat on launch boats. The chance to enjoy one last time the pristine forest before seeing it from above the next day. 

• Night on board.

Day 14 – Return to Brazzaville and fly over the evergreen tropical forest.

Sailing towards Ouesso on launch boats. Disembarkation at 10 am to reach the airport and then fly to Brazzaville. Through the portholes, we see the canopy. Such a view of one of the largest forests in the world will stay in our memory forever. Departure in the evening by Air France flight to Paris.

• Lunch not included

• End of service –

*International flight not included