Visit Odzala-Kokoua National Park

Odzala-Kokoua Travel Information

When To Visit

Wet season (March – May and September – November)

Congo lies on the equator, which means that temperatures vary very little year round. There are two rainy seasons, and two drier seasons. Light and vibrant skies from equatorial storms during the rainy season are often highly appreciated by photographers.

Dry season (December – February and June – September)

Limited rainfall can make the air relatively hazy, but humidity levels are lower than they are during the wet seasons. Due to the bountiful ripe fruits, gorillas often feed in the trees, which makes it easier to observe their behaviour and interactions. The different wildlife is normally easier to observe in the baïs, as they get closer to the water streams during this season.

Where To Stay

Tourism in the park is organised both by African Parks and the Congo Conservation Company. African Parks runs Imbalanga camp, a tented forest camp in the east of the park and accessible via the national road. Odzala Discovery Camps, managed by Congo Conservation Company, consists of a series of three high-end tourism camps located in the south of the park: Ngaga, Lango and Mboko.

Camp Imbalanga

© Irene Galera

A self-catering and rustic tented forest camp situated in the core of Odzala’s rainforest, nearby to Imbalanga baï and a stream where visitors can disconnect and enjoy the sounds of forest and its wildlife. Run by African Parks, Camp Imbalanga is composed of 4 bungalows and one common area and offers the opportunity to explore Odzala-Kokoua on foot and through river excursions, guided by members of the local community.

Contact details:
For more information email: camp.imbalanga@africanparks.org.

Discovery Camps

©Scott Ramsay

Lango Camp

A beautiful six-roomed camp nestled along the edge of a dense gallery forest overlooking the productive Lango Baï; this site is within access to the Lekoli River and the surrounding forests.

Ngaga Camp

A research centre and camp offering of six bungalows, Ngaga rests in a glade within the primary forest above the Ngaga Stream. Spend time with some of the habituated groups of western lowland gorillas in the area.

Mboko Camp

The largest of the camps, Mboko is an adventure camp and has twelve guest rooms on the edge of the savannah extending along the forested banks of the Lekegne River.

Contact details:

For more information email discover@congoconservation.travel 

Health Essentials

A yellow fever vaccination is also a prerequisite for entry into Congo.

Odzala-Kokoua is a malaria area and it is advised that visitors take recommended prophylaxis medication prescribed by a doctor. While on anti-malarial medication it is still recommended that the necessary precautions be taken to avoid getting bitten (using insect repellents, as well as wearing long sleeves and trousers in the evenings and mornings).

Tsetse flies can be a problem in certain parts of the park. Tsetse flies tend to be attracted to dark colours such as bright blue and black so it is advisable that visitors wear khaki and lighter colours and make use of insect repellents.

Please note the following; gorillas and humans are closely related, which makes them susceptible to many of the same diseases, particularly respiratory infections. Visitors should inform hosts of any symptoms before departure, especially when tracking gorillas.

Additional medical procedures might be required by tourism operators.

Travel Essentials

French is the official language of the Republic of Congo. Other languages are mainly Bantu languages, and the two national languages in the country are Kituba and Lingala.

Visas must be obtained in advance, along with a letter of invitation usually provided by tourism operators.

The currency is the Central African Franc (XAF) and can be obtained from the airport or from ATMs at local banks in the capital, Brazzaville. Credit cards are not widely accepted.