Outside of Pointe-Noire is the magnificent Mayombe Forest, a deep hilly rainforest with mountains up to 900 meters high. The Mayombe stretches from the Congo mouth in the DRC to the Kouilou-Niari River in Congo-Brazzaville and also Angola and Gabon.
Mayombe is made of dense rainforest and parts of savanna with many ancient trees in the forest, up to 60 meters tall. The Mayombe is rich in animal life and home to monkeys, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, buffalos, duikers, pangolins, porcupines and birds such as the African grey parrot.
The region is not known to tourists and has a lot of potential as there are many beautiful beaches and dense jungle with wild animals. The neighboring mangrove park in Congo-Kinshasa also offers great opportunities for sightseeing and there are also manatees to be found. Our journey begins in Pointe-Noire, the coastal city of Congo-Brazzaville and the second largest city in Congo. From Pointe-Noire we will explore the Gorges de Diosso, a beautiful site outside the city between the forest and the ocean, along with the wild coast where the mayombe forest reaches the ocean.
Program:
Day 1: Pointe-Noire – Gorges de Diosso and the Wild Coast
Exploration of the forest and wild coast, return to Pointe-Noire in the late afternoon.
Day 2 and 3: Pointe-Noire – Dimonika Biosphere Reserve
Off to Dimonika Biosphere Reserve,where we will camp for two nights and explore the forest on foot. We also visit the gold mines where we will meet the local gold diggers.
Day 4 and 5: Jungle Exploration in the Mayombe Forest
Two full days in the Mayombe Forest exploring the jungle by hiking and also descending the river with inflatable bands. We will stay in a tree house with a beautiful view over the Mayombe Forest.
Day 6: By car back to Pointe-Noire
We will be picked up by car and drive back to Pointe-Noire where we will drop you off at your hotel in Pointe-Noire.
Price: From USD 2,119 per person, based on a group of 3 people.
Including:
– Accommodation in Mayombe Forest including meals
– Transport
– Professional local guide
Exclusive:
– Accommodation in Pointe-Noire
– Meals outside the Mayombe Forest
– Drinks
– Tips and gratuities
– Visa
It is important that you realize that traveling in Congo is not your usual experience and sometimes it requires some patience. You may have decades of experience with safaris and cultural tours in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda or Ethiopia, Congo is truly something else. Heavy rain showers, sinkholes, electricity blackouts, overbooked hotels, canceled flights, monster traffic jams, .. there are plenty of factors which can alter our programme. It is vital to be prepared for this, to be flexible for changes and not to worry. Be sure to bring a power bank, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, a cap, extra towels, medicines, wet wipes and a flashlight with enough batteries to avoid a lot of frustration. Don’t forget a good dose of humor and patience!
__________________________________________________________________
Accommodation is in midrange accommodation. A few places such as Kinshasa, Zongo and Muanda can be upgraded. Please, let us know. Be sure that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever and have your vaccination proof with you, have also been vaccinated against COVID and if necessary have the necessary PCR test results with you if requested by the airline. We recommend flying with Brussels Airlines and are not responsible for delayed or canceled flights. We try to follow the program as closely as possible, but keep in mind that this can always change and some flexibility is needed.
All prices are based on a shared room. If you want a single room, there will be an extra charge. Please note that apart from the lodges in Garamba and Virunga (with single beds) and Zongo it is not allowed to share a room with someone of the same sex in Congo. We are of course very sorry and do not agree with this, but have no influence on this. We are not responsible for the consequences if our customers do not comply with this.
Why choose Congo Voyages for this tour?
We are the only local agency with people who are actually on site, and apart from a “lost Belgian expat”, our team consists entirely of Congolese with years of experience in the field. We work closely with the authorities such as the Ministry of Tourism, ICCN, but also the military who help us to secure sensitive areas. Our tours will only take place if all safety conditions have been met and the necessary permissions have been granted and if we have been given the green light from the local authorities/chiefs if necessary.
Beware of (fake) travel agents who copy our itineraries and offer our tours for a lower price. Most of them are Ugandan, Rwandan and Spanish operators who have never been to Congo and recruit locals without knowledge of the field or a license on the internet to do their travels, often with disastrous results, with people being arrested or defrauded and put in jail. worst case no one even shows up.
