Expeditions to Africa, India & Beyond

A safari where it's perfectly acceptable to lie face down in the riverbed, dig your toes in the sand and crabwalk on old wild dog droppings en route to the wild dog den...

Of Birds & Bees, and Forest Elephants, Mandrills, Gorillas & even a Bwiti…

Gabon is a wild place of pristine old-growth forests where there are almost no human settlements, and where wild animals live protected within the thick foliage of the Congolese rainforest, nestled between the many rivers that traverse this west African country. This is a trip for those of you who want to see something new, something different. It is a place for the intrepid Africa enthusiast who will be thrilled by the sight of a red river hog in a wallow, or a wary lowland gorilla in a forest clearing. On this trip, (hopefully!) timed to coincide with the gathering of humpback whales off the shores of Gabon, and the troops of the fabulously colorful Gabon mandrill, we will enjoy a truly epic African adventure, moving by boat, and plane through the heart of Africa.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO, BRAZZAVILLE (ROC) – CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) with an optional extension to Gabon.

CONGO BASIN TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
• Wending down the mighty Congo River in a beautiful river boat.
• 2 gorilla treks – one in Dzanga Sangha and the other in Nouabalé Ndoki NP.
• 1 habituated bonobo trek at Mbou Mon Tour in DRC.
• 1 agile mangabey trek in Dzanga Sangha.
• 2 overnights on platforms at Wali Baï and Mbeli Baï in Nouabalé Ndoki NP (Mbeli Baï provided their ‘mirador’ platform construction is ready in time).
• Visiting the forest elephant gatherings at Sangha Baï.
• Kayaking in a mangrove forest along the Alima River.
• Botanical explorations among the more than 1000 species of plants along the river.
• Meeting the Ba’aka or the forest people, one of the last remaining groups of hunters and gatherers on our planet.
• Audience with the Queen of the Téké, the spiritual head of the Batéké Kingdom.
• Visiting with the Condo Dandies and exploring Brazzaville.
• Whoa!

The Jungle Kingdom of the Bengal Tiger
In the dappled jungles of Central India, we’ll shift our focus onto the Royal Bengal Tiger, whilst also keeping a sharp eye out for the Sloth Bear, Indian Wild Dogs (dholes) and Leopards, Jungle Cat, Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena all manner of herbivores, including the majestic (and enormous) Indian Gaur.

The Mountain Kingdom of the Snow Leopard
In the Himalayas, our safari will take place on the otherworldly Ladakh Plateau, and we will focus our efforts on the Snow Leopard, Pallas Cat and the Siberian Lynx. With some luck, we’ll also see other Himalayan specialities like the Tibetan Wolf, Blue Sheep, Ladakh Urial, Red Fox, Mountain Weasel, and Large-eared Pika.

The Misty Mountains of the Red Panda & Sipping Tea in Darjeeling
The last wildlife leg of this epic trip will take us on a Red Panda quest to the eastern part of the great Himalayan Range, where in addition to this unique Aluridae, we also hope to see yellow-throated marten, Blood Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, and on clear days, four of the world's five highest peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga.