The ground-breaking Odzala Wilderness Camps operated by Wilderness Collection in the Republic of Congo reopened on the 25th of July for the 2013 season. The first guests of the year have already been privileged with extraordinary sightings of western lowland gorillas, putty-nosed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and forest elephant and forest buffalo.
Odzala is situated in the premier rainforest reserve, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, in west central Africa, an area that is home to a high density of western lowland gorilla. It also plays host to a significant number of bird species, as well as chimpanzee, lowland bongo, leopard, golden cat and a large number of primate species.
This exciting and unique destination offers adventurous travellers the rare opportunity to explore a thriving rainforest ecosystem and to experience the thrill of observing one of our closest relatives in the wild. Tracking habituated gorilla groups, boating on productive rivers and streams, game drives in the savannah, walks along forest paths, and time spent at the productive forest bais shape this spectacularly biodiverse wilderness experience.
Epitomising privacy, the two intimate camps, Lango and Ngaga, comprise six guest tree-houses each, raised on timber decks into the forest canopy. Inspired by the designs of the local forest dweller (‘pygmy’) groups, the creatively-designed tree-houses were sensitively constructed using locally sourced materials; namely sustainably harvested hardwoods, bamboo and raffia palm panels.
Committed to Wilderness Collection’s 4Cs philosophy (Commerce, Conservation, Community and Culture), Odzala hopes to raise global awareness about the increasing threats facing the world’s rainforests and to curb the unsustainable exploitation of logging, mining and the poaching. By demonstrating the value of the rainforest and its wildlife to globally caring guests and offering a high-end ecotourism experience that benefits the local people, Odzala is playing an important role in the ongoing conservation of rainforests worldwide.
Click here for the latest sightings update on the We are Wilderness blog.
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