This exclusive tour will introduce you to two very unique parks in Central Africa, both very different and barely visited.

The Chinko Nature Reserve is located in the east of Central African Republic and is named after the Chinko River. The park has been managed by African Parks since 2014 and has since then seen great improvements after having suffered horribly from poaching and violence in the past few decades. The park is now thriving again and there are many species which can be observed. There is a small camp in the park which can be reached by chartered flight and from where you can explore the park or go fishing for the Goliath Tiger Fish.

Chinko, also known as Chinko Nature Reserve and the Chinko Project Area is a protected area in the Central African Republic. The nonprofit conservation organization African Parks began managing Chinko in partnership with the government of the Central African Republic in December 2014.

Chinko is a 5.9 million hectare-protected area in the southeastern part of the Central African Republic, managed by the nonprofit conservation organization African Parks as part of a fifty-year public–private partnership with the Ministry of Water, Forest, Hunting and Fishing. African Parks began managing Chinko in December 2014, becoming the eighth park to be included in the organization’s management portfolio. David Simpson, who co-founded the project, serves as the park’s manager.

For this tour we will use a private chartered flight as it is very hard to impossible to do this tour overland, because of the bad road network and insecurity.  Please, know that the itinerary is a rough indication on how the programme will look like, but it can change. Allow yourself a few buffer days in the end just to be sure. 

After returning to Bangui and having a buffer day we’ll have you chartered to the airstrip of Garamba National Park in the east of Congo where you will stay for a week to explore the park.

In Garamba Park you will enjoy safari by 4×4, but also a walking safari and even an aerial safari with either a plane or helicopter, up to you. 

It’s not bad to add an extra day or two to your program as a buffer. Don’t forget to bring your yellow booklet with proof of yellow fever vaccination or you won’t be able to enter the country! Be sure to bring a flashlight, enough batteries and power bank, DEET, sweater, good raincoat and rain pants, sturdy walking shoes, basic medications, long pants and good socks.

Please note that the schedule below may differ, but we do all activities as listed below. There is also a standard 1-hour airplane safari in Garamba on the program, which gives you great views of the park. If you wish, you can upgrade it to a helicopter flight for around 3,000 USD extra. It is difficult to tell which day the flight is, it depends on the availability of the pilot.

Please know that this expedition includes a lot of walking through dense rainforest in Chinko. You don’t have to be an experienced hiker, but know that sometimes we do need to walk for a few hours, take off our shoes to go through a shallow stream and that you will have to be on your guard to not trip. During your travel you will encounter wildlife and have unique experiences such as gorilla tracking or seeing buffaloes and elephants. Know that wild animals are unpredictable and you have to take precautions and behave in a responsible way.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to add at least one buffer day before your travel in case your flight is delayed and also add at least one buffer day after the safari so you definitely not miss your flight back. We are not responsible for you missing any transfer flights due to bad planning.

Day 1: Arrival in Bangui

Arrival in Bangui, we’ll escort you to your hotel.

Day 2: Bangui

Today you can choose from a city day tour, a day tour to the Boali Falls or a cooking workshop in Bangui. You’ll stay another night in Bangui today.

Day 3: Private charter from Bangui to Chinko

The plane will come fetch you after breakfast, after which you will be flown into the airstrip closest to Chinko Camp, the other side of the country. From there you will go by private helicopter to the camp. Here you will stay in sturdy army tents for the coming days and enjoy full-board accommodation. Thanks to a solar-powered fridge you can also enjoy ice-cold drinks!

Day 4 to 8: Exploration of Chinko Reserve

You will be staying in the heart of Africa, deep in the rainforest where you will explore a region very few people have ever been to before, even the locals. You will get deep insight into everything you want to know about the jungle and everyday you’ll go into the forest in the search for mammals, birds and butterflies. You will be in excellent hands with the local guides who will teach you everything they know about the forest.

Day 9: Flight from Chinko to Garamba

Your plane will collect you somewhere between 10 am and 12 am and bring you to Garamba National Park. After installing ourselves at the lodge, followed by lunch with game drive and sunset in the park. Dinner is served at 7 p.m.

Day 10:  Safari in Garamba

After an early coffee it’s time for our game drive, followed by brunch in the park and lunch at noon. After a free afternoon, we’ll have a sunset drive followed by a night drive. Dinner at the lodge. 

Day 11: Safari in Garamba

After our coffee or tea we’ll go for a walk on the Bagunda Mountain and take brunch at the top with a magnificent view. We’ll then go back to the lodge, have lunch and rest until it’s time for our sunset drive again. Dinner at the lodge.

Day 12: Safari in Garamba

After breakfast we go visit the chimpanzee project at Mondo Missa in Gbere, explore the area and have lunch at the camp. We’ll then return to the lodge and have a free afternoon. Dinner at the lodge.

Day 13: Safari in Garamba

After an early breakfast we’ll have a jeep safari and a picnic near the Aka River. After a free afternoon at the lodge, we’ll have a night drive, followed by dinner at the lodge.

Day 14: Safari in Garamba

Today morning drive with brunch at the park and a free afternoon, followed by a sunset safari and dinner at the lodge.

Day 15: Flight from Garamba to Entebbe

We’ll have a flight just to the border of Uganda, cross the border by road and will then get you on a charter flight to Entebbe, where we’ll drop you off at your hotel. End of services. Please, make sure you have at least two buffer days or so before your flight out in case of any delays.

Included
– Accommodation in Chinko and Garamba
– All meals in Garamba and Chinko(not in Entebbe and Bangui)
– Professional guides
– All transportation as described
– All park activities and prices as described

not included:
– PCR testing
– Meals in Entebbe and Bangui
– Drinks
–  Visa