Gorillas in the Mist

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Deep in the rainforest of the Republic of the Congo is one of the last refuges of the critically endangered western lowland gorilla. The opportunity to track and view these great apes, combined with the exploration of a remote, thriving and unspoiled ecosystem, is the Odzala experience.
Explore a thriving rainforest ecosystem, track and view habituated western gorilla groups, walk along dappled paths through the forest, watch for wildlife coming down to drink at a forest bai (marshy clearings rich in minerals, a magnet for animals and birds).

If the mysterious tropical forests of Africa fascinate you then this is the expedition for you, a journey into the untouched rain forests of Central Africa. This vast region, spanning three countries sparsely populated with Bantu tribes and nomadic groups of Pygmies will not disappoint the adventurer and wildlife lover.

Dzanga-Sangha is in the northern section of the Congo Basin. In the reserve are large populations of Forest Elephant, Lowland gorillas, 16 of the country’s primate species (such as De Brazza’s Monkey with its distinctive white beard), hundreds of bird species, reptiles, frogs etc. 

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site situated in the southwest corner of Uganda. The park is 331 square kilometres and impresses with a truly theatrical landscape and bio-diversity – this is a region of volcanoes, jagged valleys, waterfalls, lakes and dramatic mountain ranges. Bwindi is home to 340 mountain gorillas, just over half the world’s population of this critically endangered ape. The gorillas are completely wild but have become used to seeing a few humans after years off habituation. This is an opportunity afforded only to a select few, as just eight visitors are allowed to view each group every day. 

Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Massif that straddles three countries – Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda – and home to six towering, extinct volcanoes that penetrate the clouds (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga. Mikeno and Sabyinyo).

The park was gazetted in 1925 in order to help protect these rare apes and is Africa’s oldest national park. Dian Fossey made the then Parc National des Volcans her base in the 1970s and 1980s and her research changed the way this great ape species was viewed and protected. The Park is thus considered the best place in East Africa to track gorillas, thanks to its easy access to twelve habituated gorilla groups.