DISCOVERING THE GREAT APES OF AFRICA

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Please note: activities described are an example of what might happen from day to day. local climatic and other conditions occasionally dictate changes to this in order for our guests to have the best possible chances of seeing desirable species. Adaptations to these activities can also be made on request where this is required for specialised group bookings. Each group of guests has two opportunities to track gorillas. 

Gorilla viewing protocol is based on the guidelines issued by the IUCN for great ape viewing and is very similar to that of Rwanda/Uganda. Protocols are designed specifically to limit stress and behavioural impact and also potential disease transmission from humans to gorillas. They are critical for gorilla conservation.

• Minimum age for gorilla viewing is 15 years – this is for reasons of safety, but also for possible disease transmission, with children under this age more prone to infection.
  
• Maximum proximity to gorillas is 7 metres (22 feet). it is not permitted to approach more closely and we typically view the animals at 10- 15 metres (32-50 feet).
  
• Maximum viewing duration of any group is one hour per day. each group of guests has two opportunities to track gorillas.
  
• Maximum number of guests per gorilla tracking excursion is 4, plus a guide and local tracker to make a maximum group size of 6.
  
• Guests that display cold, flu or other respiratory tract symptoms will not be allowed to track gorillas.
  
• No food or drinks may be consumed when near the gorillas, but guides will carry water and snacks for rest stops.
  
• Smoking is not allowed.
  
• Hand washing facilities are provided at Ngaga Camp & Sangha Lodge prior to gorilla tracking. 
  
• Although gorilla sightings and encounters are very reliable, viewing is dependent on variables such as weather and tracking conditions.
  
• While gorilla tracking is the main focus of Ngaga Camp, there are a range of other activities that highlight the other fascinating flora and fauna of the area. 

Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve lies in the extreme southwest of the Central African Republic, bordering Cameroon to the southwest and Republic of Congo to the southeast. The park consists of nearly 832.5 thousand acres (3,369 km2) of tropical moist forest, much of which is relatively intact. Combined with its sister reserves, Lobéké National Park in Cameroon and the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo, this rainforest is the second largest on earth. The main river running through the reserve is the Sangha River, and the tri-park basin area is often referred to as the Sangha River Tri-national Protected Area (STN).

The average annual rainfall is about 1500 mm and the average temperature is between 24 and 29 °C. The most precipitation in the reserve area falls in the long rainy season from October to November and in the short rainy season between May and June.

Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve is ecologically rich and contains a variety of megafauna such as western lowland gorillas, African forest elephants, bongo antelopes, African forest buffalos, white-nosed and moustache monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bushpigs, duikers, and many different bird species. Of particular note, though, are the western lowland gorillas and forest elephants. 

Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve has one of the highest population densities of gorillas in the world with an estimated 2000 of them living within the reserve's precincts. Since the establishment of the reserve it has been an important location for research into the western lowland gorillas and forest elephants in particular.

There are thousands of insect species. Rodent species include cane rat, giant rat, and porcupine. The reserve is also noted for its dark-crowned forest eagles which have an average wingspan of 1.55 metres and the blue-breasted kingfisher.

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