Congo-Brazzaville Blaze

Entering Congo-Brazzaville

It’s a long flight from Paris to Brazzaville. When we see the capital of Congo-Brazzaville from the sky it’s a little dark; not so much light in the city. Check in at the Radisson hotel. Luckily the hotel has its own generator. Many times electricity fails and the generator takes over.

Next day our guide arrives. He takes us on a piroque (small boat) to show us the Congo river. This is great fun. The Congo river is the second largest river in the world. Only the Amazone river is bigger. Right side of the boat we see Kinshasa (capital of Congo, formerly Zaïre), left side  Brazzaville. Later on we visit a small fishing village.

Starting our Congo-Brazzaville Blaze

I left my hat at the hotel. I come to regret this very fast because the sun shines very strong.

Barely back at the hotel the guide and we take a taxi to ‘Grand Rapids’. At this place due to streams and rocks there are some accelerations in the Congo river. Of course here some young boys try to impress others by daring swimming and diving actions.

Sipping a beer we look at it. All the action in front, Congo-Kinshasa in the distance.

That evening we dine at the riverside at ‘Mami Wata’. Nice food, nice wine. Many piroques passing by. A romantic view during sunset…

Odzala Discovery Camps in Congo-Brazzaville

After breakfast we check out. Our travel agency didn’t pay in advance so I will settle that at home. To the airport. An inland flight to Ollombo. Our driver awaits us.

We leave at 13.51 and finally arrive at 20.19! A very long road leads to an ingenious river crossing point. We put our car on a kind of wooden ferry. By some sort of pumping system this ferry is then literally pulled to the other side of the river.

We reach this point around six o’clock in the evening. On it goes. A small road through the jungle, Our driver obviously knows the road good. He drives as if he is driving on a race circuit. Full gas to the end of the world!

Sometimes I try to inform about the arrival time but the driver just laughs. At last, after eight in the evening we enter Ngaga Camp, one of the Odzala camps. The South-African management couple welcomes us. Friendly people. Four years later I meet Conrad the manager again in Malawi.

A rump steak then and some wine. We sleep in a tree house. A thunderstorm at night. But because of the long drive we sleep well.

Jungle Trails

Guide Allon (born in Central African Republic) and Chantal take us for a jungle hike. We don’t see that much but the walk is nice. Allon calls himself a gardener because all the time he cuts the lianas that are blocking our path.

During lunch Conrad tells us about the Bataclan attack in Paris the night before. It’s ironic; our friends said to us ‘Don’t go to Congo – that’s dangerous.’ It turns out in Paris it was much more dangerous.

Gorilla Tracking

Another walk at the end of the afternoon. Then the Gorilla instruction. By Magda. She is a biologist studying the Gorillas. Tomorrow we will see the Gorillas.

I’m told Magda is from Spain. When I ask about that she almost turns angry. ‘I’m not Spanish’ she replies, ‘I’m from Catalonia!’.

Next day we rise at five. Two trackers lead the way. We cross an open space and see some forest elephants. Then on it goes through a dense forest, hurrying and changing course now and then, climbing over fallen trees we proceed – although Magda explained yesterday the Gorilla hide-out is well known to the study group. We suspect this jungle running is partly to fulfill the tourist expectations.

At 07.15 we finally reach the Gorilla Group. One tracker says ‘Now the fun part begins’. We put on a face mask because of the many flies here. The Gorillas are used to (small groups of) people watching them. They look briefly and continue their activities. Searching food, feeding, sitting down, looking around, scratching each other.

I see a mother gorilla with child. The child looks at me, thinking – I imagine – ‘you can’t do anything to me, I’m safely with my mum’.

Lango Camp

Lango Camp is located close to some swamps. It’s always muddy here. A lot of buffalo’s, in or out of the water. Forest Elephants passing by. Some monkeys. And a variety of birds. All kinds of them.

During a boat trip we spot these animals and more. The peacefulness and quietness strike us.

Later we make a game drive through the forest. On this trip also we spot a lot of birds and monkeys. End of the day, on the other side of the river we see a buffalo surrounded by African Green Pigeons.

Brazzaville Again

After leaving the camp a long trip awaits us. By car, boat, bus and plane we finally reach Brazzaville again.This really is a Congo-Brazzaville Blaze!

The Radisson staff recognizes us and wants to know everything about our trip. These people seldom visit the Wildlife Parks, either because they lack the means to travel, either because they are not that interested.

We visit the Brazza museum, dedicated to Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza. His statue is out in front; inside the museum a memorial which houses, among other things, the remains of de Brazza, who founded Brazzaville in October 1880.

Later we walk around a market full of handicrafts. And see the Cathédrale Sacrée Soeur. Belgian Radisson manager Patrick takes us to the penthouse on top of the hotel. From here you have a beautiful view of Kinshasa on the opposite side of the river.

Funny thought; watching a capital city from a capital city!

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Trip was made in 2015.