Central African Republic holiday
The Central African Republic is home to some of the most pristine rainforest on our planet, a vast swathe of land home to enigmatic wildlife and fascinating ethnic groups – yet is one of the least visited spots in the world. On this short trip we fly from the bustling capital Bangui into the jungles of the Congo basin and Dzangha-Ndoki National Park, on the borders of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon. Using the charming Sangha Lodge as our base for the next few nights, we set forth into the forests in search of unique wildlife experiences. At the clearing of Dzangha Bai we look for forest elephants, buffalo, bongo and other species, and we also have the chance to track a family group of western lowland gorillas – undoubtedly one of Africa’s wildlife highlights. We visit local villages, and spend time with the original inhabitants of the forests, the Ba’Aka, as we accompany them on a traditional hunt and learn about their customs. The Central African Republic is a country bursting with incredible opportunities for true exploration, offering a chance to travel right to the heart of the most impenetrable regions on earth.
Day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Bangui - Bayanga and Dzanga-Ndoki National Park - Arrive in Bangui. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our private charter flights, departing for Bayanga airstrip, from where you will transfer to Sangha Lodge. Enjoy an evening sundowner with your fellow travellers. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 2: | Dzanga-Ndoki National Park - Drive into the rainforest and then take a leisurely hike along elephant paths to Dzanga Bai, frequented by large numbers of forest elephants. Spend the day observing these and other species before returning to the lodge. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 3: | Dzanga-Ndoki National Park - This morning begins with a visit to the Ba’Aka villages, where the Ba’Aka accompany you on a short drive into the rainforest. Once in the rainforest you will have the incredible experience of participating in a traditional Ba’Aka hunt, and spending time with the original inhabitants of the rainforest. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 4: | Dzanga-Ndoki National Park - Early this morning depart for Bai Hoku research camp. On arrival depart with the tracking team that consists of a Ba’Aka forest tracker and WWF researcher, and start your hike in search of western lowland gorillas. You will also have the chance to track mangabeys, and with luck will also see some of the other species that inhabit the forest. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 5: | The Yobe River - After breakfast, board your boat and travel up the Yobe River. Nearby is a population of the extremely rare Red-necked Picathartes, and even if not a birder, this hike up the river will show you some huge forest trees,primates, waterfalls and other bird species, and an amazing view over the rainforest canopy. In the afternoon you will be driven to a river crossing and board pirogues with Ba’Aka guides for a 4-5 hour trip down the Yobe River to the main river, travelling through some beautiful primary rainforest. This river has recently been opened up as a community project by the Ba’Aka and Sangha Lodge and now allows access to areas once unknown to western travellers. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 6: | Dzanga-Ndoki National Park - Today, you can choose to track gorillas for another chance to spend time with these impressive great apes. Alternatively follow elephant paths through the forest to clearings and salines where wildlife such as elephant, buffalo and other species gather. This evening enjoy traditional Ba’Aka dance and music. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 7: | Dzanga-Ndoki National Park - A further visit to Dzanga Bai to look for elephants and other species. Overnight Sangha Lodge. (BLD)
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| Day 8: | Bayanga - Bangui - Today, return by private charter to Bangui. Tour ends on arrival. (B)
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How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
This tour spends time in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, a region of global conservation importance and home to an incredible array of wildlife. Through the fees that we pay to be here we contribute to crucial conservation and research projects designed to ensure the long term well being of the wildlife that lives here. We work with local Ba'Aka guides who know the area well – these are from the communities that surround the park and this therefore ensures that these vital areas are seen not just as the preserve of wealthy western tourists but as a valuable source of employment and income for local people, thus further contributing to conservation and acting as a discouragement to unsustainable use of the parks’ resources. We issue guidelines to our travellers about the importance of leaving these parks as they were, and taking all litter out when we leave.
We include gorilla tracking fees within the cost of this tour - these fees go directly towards the conservation of an iconic species that is sadly under an incredible amount of human pressure. These fees ensure that measures can be undertaken to preserve the natural heritage of the Central African Republic for many years to come. Groups are fully briefed on appropriate behaviour when with gorillas and are accompanied by a ranger from the WWF.
Community
Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced. We also try to engage with our suppliers on an equal basis – getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.
We believe that tourism is a double edged sword that needs to be wielded very carefully. Our philosophy is to have a limited amount of departures – usually between one and three a year - for each of our itineraries. By limiting our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile, we hope to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops and encourage our clients to interact both financially and socially with the communities that they are passing through. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. In this tour, funds are funnelled back to Ba'Aka communities - the Ba'Aka have traditionally been marginalised in all of the countries in which they can be found and this provides a means for them to maintain traditional lifestyles without having to resort to leaving their forest homelands for the cities. We spend time at a community project run by the Ba'Aka and they are also employed as trackers on this trip, utilising their unique knowledge of the jungle and helping to preserve traditions for the younger generations.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasise our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
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