9 Days ~ ODZALA - Primates & Flocks of Birds

Expert tips:

Please ensure that you print a copy of your letter of invitation and yellow fever certificate and carry this with you throughout your travels.

On arrival at Maya Maya airport you will need the following  with you throughout your travels:

• Letter of invitation
• Visa Assistance Letter 
• $50 in cash (Correct change and notes over 2006 year)

AT MAYA MAYA AIRPORT

On arrival, please proceed to the disembarkment section where you will need to complete the entry card. An official will meet you at this area and take you through the first entry and ask for your passport, Visa assistance letter and letter of invitation.

He/ She will issue your visa and you will need to give him the US$50 in cash

*(Please ensure you have the correct change) the visa on arrival is a stamp and signature and then you may proceed through to baggage reclaim.

Once you have reclaimed your baggage a representative will be waiting for you, and will assist you either to the Radisson Blu for your overnight stay or straight through to the scheduled charter flight.

The member of the team will be wearing an Odzala badge and branded shirt.

IN SUMMARY: 

Please have the following documents ready for your arrival in Brazzaville:

• CCC - Letter of invitation

This can be presented when checking in with Rwandair if requested

• US$50 for yout Congo visa fee 
• Visa Application assistance letter  

This can be presented when checking in with Rwandair if requested

• Passport

With 6 months validity from return to home country and 2 pages available for each country you are visiting - including your return home.

• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate

Please make sure  your full name and a validity date is clear on the certificate

AT RADISSON BLU:

(This beautiful hotel in the center of Brazzaville gives you access to gym facilities, Wi-Fi, Buffet Breakfast, and sauna and Jacuzzi to rest tired muscles before and after your Odzala Adventure)

Please note that there is a money exchange facility and ATM within the hotel itself. 

We advise to carry US Dollars, EUROS and or CFA for tipping and purchases at Odzala

Included:

• Transfers
• Meet & Greet
• Airport Assistance

Excluded:

• Lunch & Dinner

Expert tips:

Please note:

There are no bathroom facilities on the flight LET L-410 and only bathroom facilities at Ngaga Camp. There is a game viewer transfer from Mboko Airstrip to Ngaga camp which lasts approximately 2 hours maximum.

Last bathroom breaks would be advised at Maya Maya airport as there is a long wait until bathrooms for ladies will be available.

Water and baguettes will be available on your flight to camps. On arrival at Mboko airstrip there will be cold towels and refreshments before departing to Ngaga Camp for overnight stay.

WIFI

WIFI is available at Ngaga and Mboko Camp, Lango due to location does not have this facility available. When guides or management inform you that you will be transferring to Lango Camp we advise you to inform your loved ones and or work that you will be out of range or connection during this time.

As well as gorilla tracking, Ngaga offers a host of additional unique activities:

• Explore the Ndzehe Forest on a network of well-maintained trails – a very different experience to the swampy terrain at Lango
• Night walks – in search of nocturnal primates and other shy forest species
• Take time to admire – and even commune with – giant forest trees
• Spend time just looking around you at the colours and shapes of insects, seed pods, fungi and orchids
• Don’t forget to look up for turacos, hornbills, and other impressive forest birds
• Cool off in a clear forest stream after a day tracking gorillas
• Visit nearby Ombo village to learn more about sustainable forest lifestyles and how people make the most of all that Nature provides in such a remote location.
• Experience the forest by night, in search of strange nocturnal creatures

Included:

• Scheduled Charter Flight
• Airport transfer

If you wish to purchase something additional management and or staff will inform you that this will be billed to you at the end of your stay and can be paid for in EURO, Dollars or CFA.

Excluded:

• Breakfast 
• Additional activities on this morning before departing to the airport

Expert tips:

Medical/health condition requirements:

• Letter of vaccinations for gorilla tracking

*Measles and polio vaccination record to comply with gorilla viewing protocols.

• Clean bill of health for gorilla tracking

*Medical certification that you are free from tuberculosis (certification may not be older than 6 months).

*You will be supplied with the necessary documentation to complete this process, and assisted by an Inspired Journeys representative through the process and if you have any questions. The documents will need to be sent to your Inspired Journeys representative before you travel

Do remember to pack the following for your gorilla trek:

• Sunglasses, sunscreen (non-greasy recommended) & sunhat/cap.
• Binoculars, camera equipment preferably with a 70 -200 mm lens, anti-fog for lenses, spare batteries and memory cards or film.
• Insect repellent 
• A day pack for walks and gorilla tracking

*Include zip-lock bags or a lightweight dry bag for electronic

• Comfy hiking boots (with good tread on soles)
• Rain poncho depending on weather

Expert tips:

Do remember to pack the following for your gorilla trek:

• Sunglasses, sunscreen (non-greasy recommended) & sunhat/cap.
• Binoculars, camera equipment preferably with a 70 -200 mm lens, anti-fog for lenses, spare batteries and memory cards or film.
• Insect repellent 
• A day pack for walks and gorilla tracking

*Include zip-lock bags or a lightweight dry bag for electronic

• Comfy hiking boots (with good tread on soles)
• Rain poncho depending on weather

Expert tips:

Many activities at lango and mboko are a combination of walking and boating. This is to give you access to the most productive and beautiful areas of Odzala’s forest savannah mosaic habitat, and the best possible wildlife viewing once there.

• Spot wildlife from the Camp: Forest Buffalo and Harnessed Bushbuck are regular visitors to the bai

• Exploring the bai (or saline) itself, and associated swampy open areas, the Lekoli River and surrounding savannah and forest areas

• Most activities are a combination of walking, boating, and driving

• Walk (and wade) the (Lango) bai and savannah – the best way to study the forest, from fungi to forest elephants

• Adventure trails allow access to the main areas, and involve walking through wet and sometimes muddy areas

• Adventure trails along the edges of forested areas give insights into the arboreal world

• Boat the Lekoli River – by aluminium boats, motorised traditional pirogues and even kayaks

• Spot dwarf crocodiles, forest ducks and kingfishers – and maybe even a hippo

• Listening to and identifying forest sounds – a chorus of monkeys, frogs, birds and insects.

• Look out for hyaena, aardvark, and serval on savannah game drives by day and night

• Cultural visits to Mbomo village (en route to / from Ngaga) to experience forest village life

Excluded:

• 3rd Gorilla Trek @ US$350 pp

Expert tips:

Lango Camp is an eco-camp celebrating the exploratory experience of discovering the abundant life of the African rainforest. lango Camp is operated as a satellite of mboko camp, in order to maintain a minimal human footprint in this ecologically sensitive wildlife habitat.

BIRDS

• Perhaps the richest forest block in west-central Africa for birds

− Nearly 450 species of birds have been recorded in Odzala

− Over 300 breeding species

• Important families include:

− Broadbills, trogons, malkoha, greenbuls and turacos

Look out for: Green pigeons and African grey parrots at Lango

Special sightings:

• Black-casqued wattled hornbill,
• plumed guineafowl,
• Hartlaub’s duck,
• Cassin’s malimbe,
• bare-cheeked trogon,
• black bee-eater,
• blue-throated roller,
• spot-breasted ibis,
• Congo serpent eagle,
• Forbe’s plover,
• chocolate-backed kingfisher,
• hairybreasted barbet,
• spotted greenbul,
• firecrested alethe,
• buff-throated apalis,
• chestnut wattle- eye, and many more...

Expert tips:

Mboko Camp is situated in an area of lush meadow-like savannah, frequented by forest buffalo, forest elephant and spotted hyaena. The camp gives a sense of the scale of Odzala while also allowing you to focus on some of the smaller details: flowers and butterflies (depending on the season) can be seen in profusion.

Mboko Camp, offers visitors breath-taking views of the interface between the tropical rainforest and grassland savannah where hundreds of towering termite mounds help create an otherworldly experience. Providing  spectacular star-viewing opportunities before falling asleep to the sounds of life-giving water flowing to meet the Congo River

Forest Buffalo and Elephant are common visitors to Mboko Camp.

Included:

• Scheduled Charter Flight
• Transfer to Radisson Blu *(If needed)

Excluded:

• Accommodation (*if staying in Brazzaville)
• International Flights
• Additional meals & drinks