An extraordinary opportunity to be guided by the visionaries and scientists with stories of passion and purpose in the African rainforest, Congo.

Be prepared to delve deep, discover more and be enthralled by stories of passion and purpose in the African rainforest.

ABOUT THIS JOURNEY: This 11-night special Discovery, allows guests to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to be guided by the visionaries who are the custodians of this remote region in the central heart of Africa. Each a scientist in their own right, Paul Telfer and Rod Cassidy will share their insight and passion, and impart their knowledge of the Congo Basin. This journey is ideally suited to guests who have been to the region before, those with an understanding of the region looking to expand their own knowledge or for guests wishing to experience an intellectual journey where research, science, community and nature are explored together. In addition to your specialist hosts, guests will have even more access to and time with: primatologist and a world authority on western lowland gorillas, Magdalena Bermejo; the African Parks team; the pangolin research centre and researchers at Sangha Lodge; Dzanga Bai research platform; role players in the region. PAUL TELFER, Ph.D. Paul’s interest in conservation began when he started working in Africa as a primate specialist in Sierra Leone and Gabon in 1990s. While investigating primate viruses and the origins of the HIV epidemic, Paul pioneered non-invasive sampling techniques for wild primates. Since July 2008 Paul has been the Country Director for the WCS-Congo Program and is the CEO of Congo Conservation Company which champions low-impact tourism development in the Congo Basin with a foundation in research, community and conservation. ROD CASSIDY A renowned ornithologist from South Africa, Rod first entered the rainforests of Africa in 1999. In 2008 he purchased Sangha Lodge and began with a refurbishment, welcoming his first guests in September 2009. Sangha Lodge is now home to a rehabilitation centre for local wildlife as well as the pangolin research project spotlighted in the recently released ‘Eye of the Pangolin’ documentary. To date, Rod and his team have rehabilitated over 70 pangolins, seven blue duikers, one brush-tailed porcupine and one servaline genet.