The Congo is Calling. Are You Ready to Answer?
Fewer than 600 people a year visit Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Danni has been. Twice. Now she wants to take you.
You’ve done Africa. Maybe more than once. You’ve watched the Great Migration. You’ve tracked leopard in the Sabi Sands. You’ve woken up to lions outside your tent. And it was extraordinary. Every. Single. Time.
But there’s a place that even the most well-travelled safari veterans haven’t been. A place so remote, so untouched, so genuinely wild that only 550–600 people visit it in an entire year. A place called Odzala-Kokoua National Park, deep inside the Congo Basin…. “the Lungs of Africa,” second only to the Amazon jungle in size.
Danni spent three weeks there in early 2026. She led two back-to-back groups of her most adventurous guests. And she came home with one message:
I’ve done somewhere between 500 and 600 safaris in my life. What I saw in the Congo, the silverback shimmying down a tree, the African grey parrots at dawn, the forest elephants mining for minerals with their tusks underwater, and other miracles of nature, were in my top experiences EVER!
This is Danni’s Signature Congo Expedition. And the March 2027 group is now forming, but spaces are limited.
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Let’s Clear Something Up First
We know. The word ‘Congo’ gives people pause. And we completely understand why.
So let’s be absolutely clear: Sikeleli takes guests to the REPUBLIC of Congo, a small, safe, stable, vibrant country NOT the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These are two entirely separate nations. They share a river and a name, and that’s where the similarity ends.
When you’re standing in Brazzaville, the capital, you can actually see Kinshasa across the Congo River. Two different countries. Two different realities. You’re in the safe, wonderful one and from the moment you arrive, you’ll feel it.
“Safety is not negotiable at Sikeleli. If we get even a whisper of a concern in any country we operate in, we don’t travel. Your safety is our responsibility, full stop.” – Danni, Founder, Sikeleli Travel
So What IS the Congo, Exactly?
Picture this. You’re walking through ancient jungle trees so tall and dense they feel Jurassic. You step out into a bai (a shallow, mineral-rich clearing fed by the Congo River) and suddenly: elephants dunking their faces in the water to mine for minerals. Buffalo watching you with curious, orange eyes. African grey parrots swooping overhead in wild flocks. And later, deep in the forest, a 200kg silverback slides effortlessly down a tree and begins digging for roots with a stick.
This is Odzala-Kokoua National Park. 5.6 million hectares. Only 3% savannah the rest is rainforest, swamps, jungle, bais, waterways, and wilderness so complete it takes your breath away.
“They call it the lungs of Africa. You feel that the second you land. The air is extraordinary – some of the cleanest on earth. You’re breathing differently within hours.” — Danni, Founder, Sikeleli Travel
The Gorillas. And Why These Are Different!
Yes, the mountain gorillas of Rwanda are magnificent. Danni loves them and will happily send you there. But lowland gorillas the speciality of Odzala are a completely different experience. Here’s the honest comparison:
✦ Lowland gorillas CLIMB TREES. Watching a silverback shimmy down a flimsy trunk with total elegance — you will never forget it.
✦ They ROOT MINE. Using sticks as tools, digging together in groups to find minerals. A behaviour so specific to this region it’s extraordinarily rare to witness.
✦ Only 4 people per gorilla sighting. No crowds, no convoy ,just you and your small group.
✦ 7-day trip = 2 gorilla encounters with 2 different families. 10-day = 3. 11-day = 4.
✦ No separate permit fees on top of your lodge costs. In Rwanda, one gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person. Per visit.
✦ The terrain is flat with a few logs and bumps, no high-altitude trekking. Far more accessible than Rwanda for all fitness levels.
Danni’s groups tracked Jupiter (an aging silverback beginning to be challenged by a younger rival a real-time dynasty drama playing out in the forest) and Neptuno’s family. The babies were, predictably, the stars of the show.
The Wildlife That Will Knock Your Socks Off not in volume but speciality
Forest elephants
Smaller, shyer, and mining for minerals in the bais with their tusks underwater. Utterly different to anything you’ve seen in Southern Africa.
Forest buffalo
Curious and playful rather than aggressive; one pregnant cow swam straight toward Danni’s kayak for a closer look!
African grey parrots
Swooping in wild flocks over the bais at dawn. Most people only ever see these in cages. Danni had never seen one in the wild in 30 years.
Lechwe antelope
Mangabeys, colobus monkeys, bush babies, waterbuck, bushbuck, hippos (territorial and closely observed from a safe distance!), kingfishers, hornbills, and more.
Your Journey: The 7-Day Odzala Expedition
This is how Danni runs it. After two complete groups, she considers this the perfectly balanced version. (10 and 11-day options available for the truly obsessed and Danni will absolutely understand if that’s you.)
1. Fly into Brazzaville: Air France or Ethiopian Airways. Two nights in this surprisingly vibrant, art-filled, funky city. Don’t rush this. Visit the Congo River rapids, the women’s recycled-art co-op, the galleries. Watch for the Sapeurs, Brazzaville’s legendary style icons who’ve inspired fashion designers worldwide.
2. Board Kamba’s private charter into the Congo Basin: Land at the private airstrip. Game drive from touchdown to Ngaga Camp, gorilla territory. You start seeing wildlife immediately.
3. Ngaga Camp: (3 nights) Your gorilla home. Two full gorilla encounters with two different families. Forest walks, stream exploration, complete immersion in jungle life. Six rooms. Max 12 guests.
4. Transfer to Lango Camp: (2 nights) The bai lodge – the only one in the world built overlooking a bai (now illegal to build new ones like this). Kayaking, walking up to 8km through swamps and jungle, night-vision camera on the bai. Wildlife everywhere, all day, all night.
5. Transfer to Imboko Camp: (2 nights) The original Kamba camp, set at the rare savannah edge. Boating, mokoro, a change of scenery and pace. A gentler landing before you fly out.
6. Fly back to Brazzaville: Evening flights home, or an optional extra night in Brazzaville. Danni always takes an extra two nights, swim, massage, write notes, decompress. Highly recommended.
Is Congo for You? Let’s Be Honest.
Here’s the honest version:
You’ve done at least one or two safaris and want something that goes deeper and further.
You’re 17 or older (gorilla conservation requires it, no exceptions).
You can walk 8km+ at a reasonable pace on varied terrain, some mud, some shallow water, the occasional fallen log. Not a marathon. Not a sprint. Not a jog but not a Sunday stroll.
You’re genuinely excited by the idea of being off-grid in one of the world’s last truly wild places.
You care about conservation, wildlife, and the privilege of being in wild spaces. Tick-listers welcome, but come with the right spirit too.
You’re happy getting a little muddy. (There is VERY good laundry service at all camps, Danni promises.)
What about age and mobility?
Several of Danni’s guests were in their 60s and 70s and did brilliantly. The lowland gorilla treks are SIGNIFICANTLY more accessible than Rwanda’s mountain gorilla treks… flat terrain, no altitude. We conduct individual walking assessments for every guest as part of our booking process, and we will always be completely transparent with you about what the journey requires. Enquire within!
LGBTQ+ travellers / couples / solo – Everyone is welcome.
Sikeleli is IGLTA-affiliated and has been sending LGBTQ+ guests across Africa and the world for over 12 years. Several guests on both of Danni’s 2026 Congo groups were LGBTQ+ and felt completely at home…. with Sikeleli and with Odzala Kamba’s team and guides.
Why Travel This with Sikeleli?
Book Kamba and Congo with SIKELEI. Why? because the value, the experience the knowledge and service will be beyond your expectations. We work hand in hand with our partners at Kamba…. And with that, we are given the best rates to give to you, our guests:
- Danni has been there. Twice. Three weeks. She has tracked these specific gorilla families. She knows these guides, these managers, these camps personally.
- When one of her guests fell ill with a gastric flu in the Congo, Kamba’s on-site doctors arrived within hours, stayed overnight, and had her back on safari by evening. Danni knew this support existed because she’d built the relationship to know it.
- Our group size is intentionally small, 5 to 9 guests alongside a Sikeleli travel expert. Small enough to ask for the unusual, the unexpected, the extra mile. And we always do.
- Sikeleli plans 18–24 months in advance. We handle every logistic including visas, documentation, advivce on yellow fever certificates, packing lists, dietary needs. You arrive prepared. We make sure of it.
- We have been sending guests to wild, remote, extraordinary places for ten years. We don’t do ordinary.
- VALUE – we have negotiated rates with Kamba – yours going direct will never be better than ours.
And While We’re in That Part of the World…
Danni is already planning the next frontiers. If any of these excite you, get your name to her NOW. These are the places before the rest of the world arrives:
Congo + Gabon
Gabon borders Odzala… there’s a 4-hour graded road from the park to the Gabonese border. Gabon is on every serious safari operator’s lips right now as the next great destination. Sikeleli is building the combined itinerary. Watch this space.
Chad
The big new name in African safari circles. Danni is doing her research and will share more soon. If you want to be the first to know, tell her now.
Gorongosa, Mozambique
Danni’s personal next expedition. Almost no tourists. Wildlife density that borders on Jurassic. She’s building a small, very select crew for this one. Sound like you? Let her know.
The Practical Stuff – All Sorted
Packing
Soft bags only. 15kg all-in (approximately 33lbs). Charter flights require this. Don’t worry, Kamba’s team carries your bags between camps. You just walk.
Health & Vaccinations
One non-negotiable: a Yellow Fever certificate. Get this as early as possible, the certificate itself takes time. It lasts a lifetime, so just get it done and staple it to your passport. Danni strongly advises you NOT to google the WHO vaccination list (it will terrify you unnecessarily). Talk to us, the real requirements are minimal and we’ll prepare you precisely.
Connectivity
Lango and Imboko camps have Starlink. Ngaga is fully off-grid. This is a feature, not a bug. You are in the Congo Basin. Disconnect to connect, really connect.
Medical Support
Kamba has on-site doctors and nurses at all lodges, 24/7. Danni witnessed this first-hand when a guest fell ill. They came immediately, stayed overnight, and the guest was back in the bush by evening. Remoteness does not mean vulnerability.
Visas & Entry
Visa on arrival with the right paperwork. Sikeleli and Kamba handle all documentation. Entry is simple when you’re properly prepared, and you will be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Fully. The Republic of Congo is a completely separate country from the DRC. Sikeleli’s safety standards are non-negotiable. At the first hint of a concern in any destination, we don’t go. Congo has never triggered that. Our guests have come home safe, happy, and already planning their return.
Able to walk 8km at a steady pace on uneven terrain, some mud, some shallow water, the occasional log. Not extreme. Not a gentle stroll. Somewhere in between. We assess every guest individually and we will ALWAYS be completely honest with you about whether the journey is right for you.
Both are extraordinary. They’re just not the same experience. Rwanda: mountain gorillas, steep high-altitude treks (up to 12 hours!), $1,500 per permit, one visit per trip. Congo: lowland gorillas, flat terrain, two encounters included, tree-climbing and root-mining behaviours you cannot see anywhere else. Danni has done both and loves both. Many guests do both and it’s the ultimate primate journey.
Yes. And with an honest conversation first. Several of Danni’s Congo guests were in this age range and completed the journey beautifully. The gorilla treks here are far more accessible than Rwanda’s. We’ll work through your specific situation with you before you book a single thing.
The 2027 Sikeleli group expedition with Karen is forming now. Lodges hold 6 rooms each… 12 guests maximum. Sikeleli typically plans 18–24 months ahead. If you’re serious, reach out today. These spaces will not last long.
Congo is a premium, genuinely exclusive destination. Kamba’s pricing reflects the remoteness, the conservation work, the tiny group sizes, and the 24/7 medical support. Contact us for current pricing on 7, 10, and 11-day packages. We’ll find the right fit for you.
Absolutely — Sikeleli can design a private Congo itinerary for you at any time of year. The group expedition is simply the option to travel alongside like-minded Sikeleli guests with a travel expert on the ground. Both options are wonderful. Tell us what you prefer.
The 2027 Sikeleli Congo Expedition
Danni led the inaugural groups. In 2027, Karen, a Senior Travel Expert at Sikeleli, lifelong Africa lover and liver in, leads the next expedition into Odzala.
Groups are small. Curated. Will fill before most people even know they exist.
If you want to be considered or if you have friends or family you’d like to bring on this adventure contact us before we announce publicly.
Prefer to explore a private Congo itinerary? We do those too, just ask!
Contact our Congo specialists:
karen@sikelelitravel.com | fungai@sikelelitravel.com or danni@sikelelitravel.com
Book your trip now!
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