First designated a national park by the ruling French administration in 1935, the park covers some 8,450 miles of pristine rainforest. On average, the forest receives fifty-nine inches of rain per year during its two wet seasons from March-May and September-October. These abundant rains create the beautiful forest, rivers, and marshes within the park. The two main rivers, the Lekoli and Kokoua flow into the Mambili channel. The Mambili in turn flows into the great Congo Basin. A major feature of the park is the bai or swampy, grass areas that provide open land for other larger mammals to roam.
A wide variety of wildlife call Odzala-Kokoua home, but the main draw to the park is the western lowland gorilla. Deep within the rainforest, the marantaceae forest creates the perfect habitat for the around 22,000 lowland gorillas as well as other primates including the putty-nose monkeys, crowned and mustached monkeys, and the rare chimpanzees. These primates are very much at home in the trees. Two families of gorillas have been habituated for visitors: the Neptuno and the Jupiter.
Yet, Odzala-Kokoua is also home to the elusive forest elephants and over four-hundred and forty-four different bird species. Antelopes found here include the western sitatunga, black forest duiker, harnessed bushbuck, and grey and Peters’ duiker. The rivers are home to dwarf and slender-snouted crocodiles. The nocturnal spotted hyena, golden cat, and water chevrotain also live here and can be spotted on night walks.
Less explored than a lot of other African parks, Odzala-Kokoua is perfect for an uncrowded and off-the-beaten-path adventure. There are two luxury camps located in the park: Ngaga and Lango. Morning gorilla treks are conducted from the camps and led by expert guides and trackers. Forest walks are a popular activity and a great way to explore the vast and verdant canopy of trees vital to the world’s ecosystem. The park’s bais or swamps can be traversed with the help of some river shoes or boots. There are also river boat tours available in steel boats down the Lekoli River to view plenty of monkeys and bird species. Game drives in 4WD vehicles let sightseers discover the larger mammals like forest elephants and forest buffaloes as well as traveling across the savannahs.
Safari Camps
Points of Interest
Hotels & Resorts
Journeys
First designated a national park by the ruling French administration in 1935, the park covers some 8,450 miles of pristine rainforest. On average, the forest receives fifty-nine inches of rain per year during its two wet seasons from March-May and September-October. These abundant rains create the beautiful forest, rivers, and marshes within the park. The two main rivers, the Lekoli and Kokoua flow into the Mambili channel. The Mambili in turn flows into the great Congo Basin. A major feature of the park is the bai or swampy, grass areas that provide open land for other larger mammals to roam.
A wide variety of wildlife call Odzala-Kokoua home, but the main draw to the park is the western lowland gorilla. Deep within the rainforest, the marantaceae forest creates the perfect habitat for the around 22,000 lowland gorillas as well as other primates including the putty-nose monkeys, crowned and mustached monkeys, and the rare chimpanzees. These primates are very much at home in the trees. Two families of gorillas have been habituated for visitors: the Neptuno and the Jupiter.
Yet, Odzala-Kokoua is also home to the elusive forest elephants and over four-hundred and forty-four different bird species. Antelopes found here include the western sitatunga, black forest duiker, harnessed bushbuck, and grey and Peters’ duiker. The rivers are home to dwarf and slender-snouted crocodiles. The nocturnal spotted hyena, golden cat, and water chevrotain also live here and can be spotted on night walks.
Less explored than a lot of other African parks, Odzala-Kokoua is perfect for an uncrowded and off-the-beaten-path adventure. There are two luxury camps located in the park: Ngaga and Lango. Morning gorilla treks are conducted from the camps and led by expert guides and trackers. Forest walks are a popular activity and a great way to explore the vast and verdant canopy of trees vital to the world’s ecosystem. The park’s bais or swamps can be traversed with the help of some river shoes or boots. There are also river boat tours available in steel boats down the Lekoli River to view plenty of monkeys and bird species. Game drives in 4WD vehicles let sightseers discover the larger mammals like forest elephants and forest buffaloes as well as traveling across the savannahs.
