The Central African Republic is one of the least visited countries in Africa and many people are not aware of the beauty which awaits you. Not only is the country rich in nature with deep forests, some regions are also packed with wildlife. The two most known national parks of the Central African Republic are Dzanga Sangha National Park and Chinko Nature Reserve. While Dzanga Sangha is famous for its mirador to see the bush elephants as well as gorilla tracking, Chinko is more focused on camping and tiger fishing.

Dzanga Sangha National Park is a gorgeous lush green park in the extreme south of the Central African Republic and borders Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville. People typically charter an airplane from Bangui to Bayanga to get to the park and some people even drive, although the drive takes two days. Dzanga Sangha has a wide variety of wildlife and plants and offers a unique experience which is very different from your average safari which usually takes place in the savanna. The park consists mainly of deep jungle and is dominated by the mighty Sangha River crossing the park.

Anyone who is serious about African mammals should come visit this park as there are some great experiences to be had which cannot be had elsewhere. You can find red river hogs as well as bongos and sitatungas. The park is also a good place to see bush buffaloes and forest elephants, which can be seen from the viewing platform near Sangha Bai from where you can see up to 200 elephants passing by to drink from the water and take in their minerals. Besides the elephants you can also spot hogs, buffaloes, bongos and sitatungas in the bai. The African gray parrots also give a great daily show and make the most beautiful sounds in the world. Besides mammals and birds, the park is also full of colorful butterflies and during the rainy season there are even more butterflies than normal, you can see literally millions of them. At the lodge you will also see pangolins and at night you might see nocturnal animals such as owls, palm civets, genet, porcupine, potto and galago.

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 Bangui just to be sure. 

Please know that this expedition includes a lot of walking through dense rainforest. 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: Flight to Sangha Lodge from Bangui

Today you’ll take your charter flight to Dzanga Sangha, where you will stay for your first night at the lodge. If possible we will go on a small hike in the premises and a short sundowner tour on the Sangha River.

Day 4: Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla tracking of a group of habituated western lowland gorillas in Bai Hokou. The duration depends on how long we’ll have to walk to find the gorillas. We typically spend around one hour around them. You are obliged to be vaccinated against covid and you will have to take a rapid antigen test before going on this tour.

Day 5: Dzanga Bai

Dzanga Bai is a large clearance in the middle of the forest and the soil is rich in minerals. It attracts 50 tot 150 elephants who visit the bai each day. We can also observe bongo, giant forest hog, red river hog, sitatunga, forest buffaloes and even gorillas who come to the edge of the bai. We will spend the day on the platform giving you enough opportunity for wildlife viewing and photography.

Day 6: Agile Mangabey Tracking and night walk

We will spend more time in the park in search of more mammals and we will also visit a group of habituated agil mangabeys with over 150 members.

Day 7: Ba’aka Net hunting

We will go out with a group of Ba’aka net hunters, which is a really fascinating experience in the middle of the forest. It is very overwhelming to be in the middle of their calls and see them flashing around you while on the hunt for animals such as duikers.

Day 8: River exploration

We will go on a boat on the river and visit a few waterfalls while exploring the rainforest. On top of the waterfalls you’ll have an awesome view over the canopy. In here we will also be on the lookout for grey-necked rock fowl.  In the night we will do a night walk in search of elusive animals such as potto, Thomas’ galago, pangolin, civet, owls and more.

Day 9: Free day in Dzanga Sangha

Today you can just relax at the lodge or you can book one of the previous activities for an additional cost.

Day 10: Private charter 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 11 to 15: 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 16: Flight back to Bangui

Today we fly back to Bangui.

Includes:

– Full board accommodation in the parks

– All activities as described

– Park entrance fees

Doesn’t include:

– Accommodation in Bangui
– Airport transfer in Bangui
– Activities in Bangui
– Drinks
– Tips and gratuities

Have a look at some of our videos of our Dzanga Sangha trips!