Departures Magazine features African Parks as a force for change in the world of safaris

Situated deep in the heart of the Congo Basin, Odzala’s landscape is composed of 13,500 km2 of pristine primary forest, a network of jungle-fringed rivers and an abundance of wildlife. Established in 1935, it is one of the continent’s oldest and most critical national parks and it protects 10% of the global population of the critically endangered Western lowland gorillas. In 2010, African Parks, in partnership with the Ministry of Forest Economy, Sustainable Development and Environment, assumed management of this expansive wilderness.

“Total control of a reserve—and total accountability—is crucial to African Parks’ success.” Said Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks. Odzala is a crucial project within African Parks’ portfolio which includes 15 parks, as is it considered to be the largest protected piece of the Basin’s rainforest. “It’s the single biggest lung of the world – that on its own is worth protecting,” said Fearnhead.

Having overcome numerous challenges, this special park offers a unique tourism experience, where guests are exposed to grassroots conservation whilst being able to enjoy close-up wildlife experiences in one of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems.