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Dzanga Sangha Gorilla Tracking Safari

Track endangered western lowland gorillas, observe forest elephants, bongos, and mangabey monkeys, and join the local Ba'Aka tribe on a net hunt in the dense rainforests of the Dzanga Sangha reserve. Journey to the rainforests of the remote Dzanga Sangha Reserve on this pioneering safari to the Central African Republic. Dzanga Sangha is one of the few places in the world where you can track habituated western lowland gorillas, and is also home to forest elephants and the elusive bongo antelope. Join the local Ba’Aka people as they hunt and gather medicinal herbs, and trek through pristine rainforest in search of colourful birdlife and mangabey monkeys. Staying in the comfortable yet basic Sangha Lodge, this safari is perfect for adventurous travellers hoping to get off the beaten track for incredible wildlife experiences.

Why book this trip?

Gorilla Tracking

Track endangered western lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.

Visit a group of the local Ba'Aka people and join them on a net hunt within the forest. This is a fascinating opportunity to experience the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Ba'Aka, and you will be given a lesson in some of the uses of the medicinal plants that can be found in the reserve.
Visit Dzanga Bai, a large, mineral-rich, clearing in the rainforest where forest elephants and other wildlife gather to drink. As well as the large herds of forest elephant, you will also have the possibility of spotting other unique wildlife species such as bongo, giant forest hog, red river hog, sitatunga and forest buffalo.

CAR St Western Lowland Gorilla Central African Republic Car Sergey Uryadnikov

CAR Sl Central African Republic Dzanga Bai Elephant Credit Andrew James

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What to expect

After arriving into into Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, you will be met by a local representative and transferred to your charter flight to the Dzanga Sangha Reserve. Time permitting, you will pay a visit to the world's only habituated black-bellied pangolin, before finishing the day with a cruise along the Sangha River with sundowner.

Venture into the reserve and head to Bai Houkou, where you will track a group of habituated western lowland gorillas. Dzanga Sangha is one of very few locations in the world where you can track these critically endangered gorillas, and is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Journey upriver by boat deeper into the forest, where you will hike through pristine rainforest to some of the scenic waterfalls found in the reserve. Climb to the top of the waterfalls for extraordinary views over the forest canopy, looking out for birdlife such as the endangered grey-necked rock fowl. Search for wildlife in several forest clearings, including buffalo, forest elephant and monkeys. After enjoying a picnic lunch in the rainforest, visit a group of over 150 habituated agile mangabey monkeys, and spend some time observing and photographing their fascinating behaviour. In the evening, head back to your lodge where you have the option of joining a night walk in search of the more elusive nocturnal wildlife, including tree pangolins, pottos, African palm civets and several owl species.

On your final full day in the reserve you will have the option to take part in several activities, from heading out for a second opportunity to track the western lowland gorillas or revisiting the elephants at the Dzanga Bai, to simply relaxing or enjoying a gentle hike around the lodge. The following morning, you will catch a charter flight back to Bangui M’Poko International Airport, where you will transfer to your international flight home.

Sangha Lodge

Track the western lowland gorillas and even join a Ba’Aka net hunt at the rustic, comfortable Sangha Lodge in Dzanga National Park. The lodge is run for the purpose of sustainable tourism and focuses on community involvement and development in the hope that it will become a model for sustainable tourism in Africa.