Being one of the greenest countries in Africa, Congo is rich in deep jungle, swamps, deep rivers and a wide variety of animals such as elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas and more. Together with its neighboring countries it has some of the most impenetrable places in the world and it truly is a privilege to travel here as one of the few outsiders.
During our expedition, we will explore the Alima River by boat all the way to the Congo River while visiting the local villages and meeting the locals. We will see wildlife such as monkeys, hippos, antelopes, crocodiles and others and will be on the lookout for big game fish and also the goliath tigerfish. Make sure you bring good fishing equipment suitable for these huge predators if you would like to fish. During the expedition we will stay in basic accommodation, but it is best to bring a tent as backup (and the necessary sleeping gear).
This is a rough trip with a lot of boating and sleeping in basic conditions, eating simple local meals. There is tropical heat with no airco, mud, mosquitoes and other insects bothering you. This trip is a true expedition and only for the real adventurers among us. During your trip, it is important to be flexible and accept the authority of our main guide to ensure maximum safety. We have excellent contacts with the local authorities, village chiefs and elders so everything will be fine as long as you are respectful to the local people.
This really is one of the last greatest adventures in Africa and in a truly unique place. You will embark in a culture that very few westerners have ever been to (or even Congolese)!
This trip is in an area home to goliath tigerfish so it’s ideal to fish for tigerfish on the Congo River. Let us know if you would like to do this.
Be sure to add a few buffer days at the end, if we encounter delays on the road. We can fill this with a number of activities. Please note that we are not responsible for any delays or issues related to visas, PCR testing and the like and forces majors are of course also out of our control.
This will be a top experience, with new fishing techniques, fantastic landscapes, a lot of great memories and unique encounters. Don’t forget your fishing gear if you’d like to fish, please!
Below is a rough outline of your itinerary. Please note this may differ.
Day 1: Arrival Brazzaville
Meet and greet and transfer to your hotel in Brazzaville.
Day 2: Brazzaville
City tour of Brazzaville and opportunity to stock up on supplies (snacks, drinks, etc)
Day 3: Oyo
Transfer by coach to Oyo, a picturesque town on the river Alima and surrounded by the lush jungle. We will stay here for the night and we will try a local restaurant. It will be the last truly civilized city you will be at this point.
Day 4, 5, 6: Alima River
During these three days we will continue slowly from Oyo to Mossaka, a small town on the Congo River, while exploring the small villages near the river. We can do some fishing and camping in the meantime.
Day 7, 8, 9, 10, 11: Mossaka and Congo River
Exploration of the swamps, the Congo and the life around the river. You will learn about the local life and traditions and we will also look for the Goliath tigerfish. If you are interested, we can also hunt ducks and then prepare them.
Day 12: Back to Oyo
Today we will take the boat back to Oyo and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 13: Back to Brazzaville
We will take the coach back to Brazzaville where we will transfer you to your hotel.
Day 14: Departure
End of the tour. It is best to provide two to three buffer days here.
Price: From USD 4.999 pp (based on a group of 4 people)
Including:
– Permits and donations village heads
– All transportation as described in the itinerary and private boat with captain
– All accommodation during 13 nights
– All meals while camping, but not in the towns and villages
– Professional guide assisted by a local team (scouts, porters, cook)
Not included:
– PCR testing
– Visa
– International flights
– Extra nights in hotel outside the 13 days
– Meals outside the expedition
What to bring:
– Plenty of ziplocks and other waterproof bags for your stuff
– Flashlight and enough batteries (maybe a portable flashlight and a headlamp)
– Preloaded power banks
– Some baby wipes, bacti gel and napkins for sn
elle cleaning
– Toiletries
– Quick-drying towels
– Rain boots
– Hiking boots that dry easily
– Enough good socks
– Fish stuff
– It is best to use breathable pants and long shirts that dry easily and are made for jungle trekking
– Sports shirts that dry easily
– A hat with a net against sweat bees (they don’t bite, but they are annoying)
– DEET (take one with at least 40%)
– Cream against mosquito bites
– Basic medication such as painkillers, basic antibiotics, antihistamines, painkillers, bandages, disinfectant, loperamide, etc. (if you can also ask your doctor for coartem, who can treat malaria in 4 days)
– Vaccination carnet with proof of vaccination against yellow fever
– Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
– Good waterproof tent, mat, a sheet
– Waterproof backpack
– Set of equipment to eat: knife, fork, spoon, cup
– Extra snacks such as energy bars, snickers, beef jerky etc.
– Maybe a book or an e-reader for when you have time to kill
– Swimwear
Vaccinations:
– COVID-19
– Yellow fever
– Ask your doctor about: DTP, typhoid (highly recommended), rabies, hepatitis and others.
Malaria:
– Talk to your doctor about the safest and best medication for malaria. Make sure to cover yourself and only wear closed shoes and long pants. Apply DEET and avoid mosquitoes as much as possible. Probably best to have a portable mosquito net with you for the villages.
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!
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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.
