Let’s Sail Down the Congo River — Congo Cruise

About this Safari

This is a sample itinerary – for inspiration only

The actual trips are either full/or already been conducted

Dear All,

After a wonderful pioneering adventure to the Congo Basin this past December with a group of stalwart Chalo guests, we are delighted to offer a slightly new version of this trip for July 2026. I hope that you will consider joining us to explore the tributaries and hidden channels of the mighty Congo River as it reveals its secrets to us…

From the point of view of charismatic wildlife, this trip includes 2 (yes 2!) gorilla treks of habituated lowland gorillas, a bonobo trek for that most rarefied of all great apes, a visit to the extraordinary Sangha Baï for its vast gatherings of forest elephants (whilst also praying for bongos and red river hogs), an agile mangabey trek, night walks for nocturnal animals like pottos and pangolins, and should you choose to do the Gabon extension, then your trip will also include another elusive primate – the mandrill, other rainforest primates, 3 species of crocodilians and great flocks of resident & migratory birds like African River Martins, Rosy Bee Eaters and African Grey Parrots.

In terms of cultural interactions, I can honestly tell you that the experiences you can expect on this trip are without parallel. You will meet the Ba’aka forest people and enjoy their sensational ‘water drumming’ and explore their forest home with them. You will go kayaking among mangrove forests on a ‘black river’, receive an audience from the Queen of the Téké Kingdom, participate in fishing village activities, enjoy traditional dances like the Kébé Kébé and meet the famous Congolese ‘Sapeurs’ or the Congo Dandies. Tourism is at a nascent stage in this area still, so your interactions will be authentic.

Our trip takes you from the upper reaches of the Sangha River to the Alima River, and from there to the mighty Congo itself. With the Gabon extension, it takes you all the way down to the Atlantic Coast. It is a deep dive into the heart of Africa, intended for experienced adventurers who wish to discover these remote corners of our planet in safety and comfort.

The wildlife-heavy sections of this trip consist of the time we spend in Dzanga-Sangha (CAR), Nouabalé-Ndoki NP (ROC), the bonobos (DRC) and Lopé & Loango (in Gabon), the latter being offered as an optional extension.

The week spent cruising on the Congo river will be focused primarily on enjoying the historic nature of sailing in the footsteps of Stanley and de Brazza and the cultural insights we get from the villages and people we meet en route.

The Congo basin is a region of thick rainforests, shy wildlife and you should not expect to see the animal densities you see in East Africa or southern Africa.

We are targeting the very best areas and best wildlife experiences that are possible in this environment, but if you have some interest in the history, geography and people of Central Africa, then you will find that this trip makes for a comprehensive amalgam of flora, fauna and cultures. The riverbanks of the Congo and its tributaries are not teeming with wildlife, but you will find that the riverscapes are drop-dead gorgeous, and its elusive wildlife species are awe-inspiring.

Before signing up, please remember that this is an expeditionary trip at its heart. Yes, a very comfortable expedition no doubt, but the daily programs are not set in stone, and we ask for your flexibility and understanding if things don’t always follow the daily itinerary to the letter.

We will divide our trip into 2 groups of 12 each, with one group starting from Brazzaville and the other starting from Bangui. Everyone will then come together for the cruise on the riverboat and end together in Brazzaville. These groups of 12 will be further sub-divided into sub-groups of 4-6 guests, so that none of the activities feel overwhelming, either to us or to the wildlife we wish to see. In addition to the descriptive itinerary, we thought it might be helpful to also provide it in chart format for more clarity, so you can choose the routing that works best for you, on a first-come basis.

I look forward very much to welcoming all of you on our Congo Basin adventure!

Sangeeta