Draft:Kamba African Rainforest Experiences

Kamba African Rainforest Experiences operates three lodges in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Ngaga Lodge, Lango Lodge and Mboko Lodge, which all opened in 2012, are designed for travelers seeking adventure, a deep connection with nature and a transformational travel experience.

The Republic of the Congo is home to the second largest rainforest in the world, stunning landscapes, immense biodiversity and endangered species including the critically endangered Western Lowland Gorilla. Kamba, the only private operator granted concessions to operate in the Republic of the Congo’s National Parks, provides a fortunate few with the chance to immerse themselves in one of Africa’s last pristine ecosystems.

Kamba offers a number of in-depth guest itineraries to the three lodges listed below:

Ngaga Lodge - For life-changing encounters with gorillas

Hidden in a dense, nearly inaccessible forest is Ngaga Lodge, one of Africa’s most remarkable lodges, offering the rare opportunity to visit gorillas in a habitat barely touched by humanity. With a sense of supreme isolation, Ngaga Lodge has six hand-built, thatched double bungalows that are nestled among the trees and that feature en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, and wraparound decks overlooking the trees. Guests can fall asleep listening to the sounds of birds, frogs, monkeys, and insects — the symphony of the forest.

Guests of Ngaga Lodge will experience life-changing encounters with the habituated families of Western Lowland Gorilla that live, only a walk away, in the surrounding forest. Other activities include village visits, guided walks through the pristine Congo Basin rainforest and night walks to hear the forest come alive after dark.

Lango Lodge - For guided baï walks and river journeys

With one of the most spectacular settings of any lodge in Africa, Lango Lodge places guests in the secluded heart of the Congo Basin rainforest on the edge of Lango Baï in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Lango’s six cosy double bungalows offer front-row seats looking out over the baï, a wide, marshy clearing that attracts huge flocks of green pigeons, African grey parrots, herds of forest buffalo and elephants. The bungalows feature en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, mosquito-netted beds, and wraparound decks.

Guests arrive at Lango after an epic, two-hour journey from Ngaga that begins with a drive to transfer to kayaks, and ends with wonderful walks through the baï immersing guests in the jungle. Guests will follow in the footsteps of elephants, and walk through streams and forests beneath the soaring kapok trees. There is also the opportunity to forage for fruit including plump green limes off the trees. Evenings can be spent on the open-air pavilion beside the fire to watch animals crossing below or indulging in delicious cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients to the soundtrack of chirping frogs (more often splashing and rumbling elephants than chirping frogs).

Mboko Lodge

Set at the intersection of savanna, forest, and river where hyena prowl across open grasslands and monkeys tussle in the trees, every day at Mboko brings a new adventure. Mboko features six double chalets set along the Likeni River, with screened-in porches tucked under the trees or verandas serenaded by the burbling water. Works by local artisans adorn the rooms, which are furnished with writing desks, mosquito-netted beds, and comfortable seating. En-suite bathrooms feature flush toilets and hot showers.

The dining and lounge pavilion offers commanding views over plains dotted with cathedral-like termite mounds and guests can dine on exquisitely prepared cuisine as thunderstorms dance along the horizon. Mboko Lodge is located in the southern half of Odzala-Kokoua National Park, midway between Kamba’s private airstrip and the Lekoli River boat launch — departure point for explorations by kayak or motor boat. Guests can head upriver by boat to savour the last of the afternoon light with a gin & tonic in hand, fragrant with the local herb bulukutu.

Sustainability & Conservation

Kamba’s main goal is to protect the forests of the Congo basin by developing sustainable tourism models,  creating income for the local community while demonstrating the value of preserving their natural heritage, supporting scientific research and protecting threatened species, as well as highlighting how important these forests are for our climate to international visitors. The team believes that preserving this rich and lush ecosystem is vital not just for the people that live there, but the future of the world.

The Congo Basin is a larger carbon sink than the Amazon and the Republic of the Congo alone absorbs 1.5% of the world's entire annual carbon emissions and so by visiting ROC, guests, or ‘Guardians of the Forest’ as Kamba coins them, will be on the frontline in the effort to address climate change and biodiversity. All the lodges were built with sustainability in mind. For example, they were built with locally sourced timber and other practices include recycling, installing a water filtration system, implementing new solar plant/battery systems at two of the lodges and employing 85% of the staff from the local communities surrounding the park.