A Congo safari, centred on Odzala-Kokoua National Park, will have you staying in the most incredible rainforest and bai locations in unique, forest-fitting Congo safari lodges. Here are the best, all-inclusive camps where you can dry off your hiking boots in between adventures.
The Republic of Congo represents a new frontier in wildlife travel. Appropriately, the accommodation options reflect this, staying true to both the essence of the safari experiences they offer as well as the ethos of the local inhabitants they neighbour.
The architecture and decor of Congo safari lodges draw heavily on the sustainable traditional lifestyles of local forest dwellers. As such, their building materials are largely organic and sourced from the forest, and construction is done using traditional, artisanal methods.
The accent of Congo safari lodges is not on classic safari splendour, but on an authentic, immersive accommodation experience that’s unique to the country. Here, luxury comes in the form of attentive service, exclusivity, intimate camps and top-quality guides – and of course the wholly unsurpassable gift of getting close to gorilla.
The lodges within Odzala-Kokoua National Park are situated in three distinct habitats, and act as convenient and stylish entry points to a world that may be unfamiliar even to seasoned African travellers.
Whether you’re stepping directly onto a trail that might be used by primates, heading out into a savannah environment, or immersing yourself in the riches of the forest bais, the transition between each lodge and the wild is instantaneous to the point of being magical.
Congo safari lodges also reflect the culmination of years of wisdom on the part of safari experts. Think minimal environmental impact thanks to solar power and a high proportion of walking activities, plus designs that let you peer into forests and clearings with ease.
The Republic of Congo may be uncharted territory, but there’s a certain reassuring familiarity in the amenities and services on offer. Drying your jungle boots over a fire may be a new experience, however!
