Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Masks & the Congo River
Republic of Congo Wildlife & Culture Expedition
Encounter with endangered western lowland gorillas at the Lésio-Louna Reserve
Spend a morning with rescued chimpanzees at Jane Goodall’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary
Carve a traditional mask with local arti and be received by Queen Ngalifourou of the Téké
Journey by private boat along the Congo River to riverside fishing villages
Republic of Congo - Africa on Its Own Terms
The Republic of Congo is one of the last great untouched corners of Central Africa. From the Atlantic beaches of Pointe-Noire to the equatorial forests of the north, it holds some of the most intact rainforest on the continent and a culture that has never been packaged for mass tourism. Here you are not one group among many. You are the only one.
This expedition is built around encounter rather than observation. You will help a village make palm oil and palm wine in the Mayombe, buy fish at a dawn river market, and share a festive meal with an entire community after the Sunday Kébé-Kébé dance. You will also stand close to two of Africa’s great apes: chimpanzees rescued at Jane Goodall’s Tchimpounga, and gorillas being returned to the wild at Lésio-Louna.
Conservation runs through every day of this trip. The sanctuaries you visit are working centres for rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction, and your visit directly supports the communities and reserves that protect this extraordinary place.
This trip is not only about wildlife. Along the way you connect with local communities, learn how they live, and contribute to the conservation work that protects these forests and rivers. You stay in characterful lodges and riverside chalets, take in the landscapes of the Mayombe and the Congo River, and immerse yourself in a country very few travellers ever reach.
With its blend of great apes, living culture, and untouched nature, the Republic of Congo is a destination unlike any other. Come and discover it as the only guests on every step of the journey.
“The street is my mother. The sun is my father. What more should I ask of life?”
Your guides in the Congo:
Guillaume de Remacle & Prince Koulandissa
Guillaume de Remacle designed this journey and leads it from start to finish. His passion for the Republic of Congo is immediate and contagious, and it shaped every day of this itinerary. As he puts it, he created this trip because he was deeply moved by the country’s immense potential, and by the discovery, in villages like Manguengué and Ngabé, that there is more than one path to happiness.
With deep experience across Central Africa, Guillaume keeps this expedition small, private, and respectful. He chose Odzala-Kokoua for the optional extension precisely because it limits access to a handful of guests at a time, ensuring an exclusive and low-impact experience in one of the most intact rainforests on earth.
Prince Koulandissa is your expert local guide, born and raised in Pointe-Noire, the coastal city where this expedition begins. He grew up surrounded by the country’s natural wonders and is known for his larger-than-life personality, his generosity, and a gift for making the impossible possible.
Since 2019 he has run his own Congolese travel agency, and his deep knowledge of ground logistics and genuine love of great travel experiences are felt at every step of the journey.
Trip Dates for the Congo Wildlife & Culture Expedition
| Date | Trip Length (Days) | Prices from (USD) | Booking | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3-11, 2027 | 9 | $5,900 | Inquire Here | Spaces Available |
Solo traveller from $6,800 (single supplement approx. $900).
Optional 3-night Odzala-Kokoua National Park extension approx. +$7,375 per person.
the finer points
Photographing the Congo
The Republic of Congo offers a rare combination of subjects: great apes in rehabilitation and in the wild, the daily life of river and forest communities, and some of the most photogenic cultural traditions in Central Africa.
This trip suits photographers from enthusiast to professional, and equally those who simply want to be present in the moment. Your guides know where the light and the life will be, from the morning feedings to the Kébé-Kébé dance.
Between encounters there is time to slow down, to talk through technique if you wish, and to let the rhythm of river and forest set the pace. Bring the camera you love, or simply bring your full attention.
WILDLIFE
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At the Lésio-Louna Reserve you join the morning feeding by boat and learn how gorillas orphaned by poaching or rescued from captivity are prepared for life back in the wild. On the optional Odzala-Kokoua extension you track gorillas in their natural rainforest habitat.
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The Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary, one of Africa’s largest great-ape rehabilitation centres, is reached by boat from Pointe-Noire. You take part in the morning feeding and learn about the conservation work the Institute has led here for decades.
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On the optional Odzala-Kokoua extension, nights at Lango open onto the bais and wetlands where forest elephants, buffalo, and a wealth of birdlife gather. This is part of the Odzala extension rather than the main itinerary.
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A full day of private boat travel takes you from the fishing village markets near Brazzaville downriver to Ngabé, past villages built on stilts, with the myths and legends of the river told along the way.
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Carve a mask with artists at the Cercle Africain, serve as judge at a Sapeur exhibition in Brazzaville, and be received by Queen Ngalifourou of the Téké in Ngabé. On Sunday the whole village gathers for the Kébé-Kébé dance in the village center followed by a shared community meal provided by ATE.
Trip Itinerary
Welcome to the Republic of Congo, a land of intact rainforest, great rivers, and living culture. This itinerary takes you from the Atlantic coast at Pointe-Noire to the forests and villages of the interior, as the only guests on every step of the way.
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Arrive in Pointe-Noire on international flights and transfer privately to your villa. A welcome cocktail is served in the garden by the pool while rooms are arranged, followed by dinner.
[Overnight at Villa Antonetti]
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A free day to recover from travel. Relax by the pool or on the beach and settle into the rhythm of the coast.
[Overnight at Villa Antonetti]
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Visit the Cercle Africain museum to learn about the mask traditions of Central Africa, then hand-carve your own mask with local artists. Explore the craft markets and the city before a relaxed beachfront dinner.
[Overnight at Villa Antonetti]
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Drive into the Mayombe region to the village of Bilala. Discover Congolese forest life and the central role of the palm tree, and help harvest palm nuts to make palm oil and palm wine. Dinner on return.
[Overnight at Villa Antonetti]
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An early boat journey takes you to the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary. Take part in the morning chimpanzee feeding and learn about decades of conservation work, then return to Pointe-Noire for a relaxed afternoon.
[Overnight at Villa Antonetti]
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Fly to Brazzaville and check in at your hotel. In the afternoon explore the lively Brazza market, then take your seat as the jury at a Sapeur exhibition and choose the best-dressed Sapeurs. Rooftop dinner in the city, with stops at the Congo historical fresco and Saint Anne Cathedral.
[Overnight at Grand Lancaster]
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An early start by private boat. Reach the fishing village of Manguengué for the daily fish market, then continue upriver toward Ngabé, stopping at a stilt village and learning the legends of the river. Arrive at the riverside chalets by late afternoon.
[Overnight at Ngabé cottage chalets]
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Share in village life: church, fishing, or working in the fields, with lunch cooked by the community. In the afternoon be received by Queen Ngalifourou of the Téké, watch a football match and a paddle race, and take part in the Sunday Kébé-Kébé dance. A festive dinner is shared with the whole village.
[Overnight at Ngabé cottage chalets]
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Travel by boat on the blue river to the Lésio-Louna Nature Reserve and join the morning gorilla feeding, learning how gorillas are returned to the wild. Lunch in the park, then drive back to Brazzaville for a farewell dinner by the pool. International departure the following day.
[Overnight at Grand Lancaster]
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In place of the Lésio-Louna day, fly privately to Odzala for three nights with the park and lodges reserved exclusively for your group. Enjoy forest walks, 4×4 drives, river kayaking, and gorilla tracking, with forest elephants, buffalo, monkeys, and abundant birdlife. Nights at Ngaga and Lango, returning to Brazzaville on the final day.
Learn more about Odzala-Kokoua National Park here.
[Ngaga Camp and Lango Camp]
Throughout this journey you move from the Atlantic coast to the heart of the Congo Basin, from city culture to river villages and rainforest. You stand close to chimpanzees and gorillas in expert care, share meals and ceremonies with communities who welcome you as their own, and travel as the only guests on every activity. It is a rare combination of great apes, living culture, and untouched nature, and the kind of trip that stays with you long after you return home.
Inclusions
Dedicated ATE tour leader throughout, plus local guide and translator
All internal transport and airport transfers
Domestic flight Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville
All accommodation on a shared-room basis (Villa Antonetti, Grand Lancaster, Ngabé chalets)
All meals as described in the itinerary, each with a drink
All listed activities, experiences, and entrance fees, including mask carving at the Cercle Africain, the Tchimpounga visit, the Lésio-Louna gorilla boat, the Sapeur exhibition, and the village experiences
Private boat travel on the Congo River
Visa on arrival and invitation letter
Community contributions: medicines, gifts, and supplies brought to the villages
Bottled drinks in vehicles and on the boat
Applicable taxes and payment fees
Exclusions
International flights
Travel insurance (required)
Yellow fever vaccination and any anti-malarial medication
Gratuities
Optional Odzala-Kokoua National Park extension (approx. +$7,375 per person)
Additional drinks and items of a personal nature
Congo FAQ
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A: This is a small, fully private expedition. The 2027 departure is planned around a small group, and you travel as the only guests on every activity. Contact us to confirm the current minimum and maximum numbers for your dates.
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A: Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry, so carry your certificate. Malaria risk on this itinerary is low, but anti-malarial medication and mosquito repellent are recommended. Please consult a travel clinic well before departure.
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A: A visa is arranged on arrival, supported by an invitation letter that we provide. Carry a copy of the letter with you. Contact us for the latest entry requirements for your nationality.
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A: This expedition runs in early May, at the turn from the wet to the dry season, for greener landscapes, cooler temperatures, and better travel conditions on the rivers and roads.
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A: Bring your passport and a copy, a copy of the invitation letter, proof of yellow fever vaccination, anti-malarial pills, mosquito repellent, sun protection, and basic personal medication. Bring some US dollars in cash for tips, extra drinks, and gifts. We send a full packing list when you book.