Next Adventure Congo Safari Itinerary...Next Adventure Inc. 738 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1325 800 562 7298 or 510 526 7027 Next Adventure® Exclusive Gorilla-Tracking Safari

Next Adventure Inc. 738 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1325 www.nextadventure.com 800 562 7298 or 510 526 7027

Next Adventure® Exclusive Gorilla-Tracking Safari Expedition with Kili McGowan to the Republic of Congo

September 13 – 20, 2014

Important Notes Regarding Passports & Visas for US Passport holders: • Visas for the Republic of Congo must be obtained prior to travel. The visa is only valid for 1 month from the date of issue. Please review the separate “Visa Information” bulletin for full details. All visa requirements and fees are subject to change. • Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Also, you must have at least 2 consecutive/side-by-side blank pages in your passport for visas so check this carefully. • Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for the visa application and will be checked on entry in Brazzaville.

Luggage Restrictions: 44 lbs. per person As you will be travelling in small aircraft with limited luggage capacity while travelling in the Congo, your luggage is required to be packed in a soft bag (no hard suitcases allowed) weighing a maximum of 44 lbs including all carry-on items and camera equipment as well. Excess luggage can be left in Brazzaville. Join Next Adventure owner and Wildlife Safari Expert Kili McGowan on a special journey through the mysterious central African rainforest. We’ll have the privilege and thrill of tracking and glimpsing one of our closest relatives in the wild – the Western Lowland Gorilla. This six-night itinerary has been designed to experience a wide variety of ecosystems, habitats, activities and wildlife sightings. Highlights of the trip will include:

Two opportunities to track habituated Western Lowland Gorilla Excellent bird-watching throughout Exploring Ndzehi Forest trails Night walks to view nocturnal animals Swimming in Ngaga stream Boating on the Lekoli River Walking in Lango Bai, exploring gallery forest & savannah fringe Driving safaris through Mboko and Lango savannah Natural history and conservation presentations in the evenings

While gorilla sightings and encounters are very reliable, viewing is dependent on variables such as weather and tracking conditions. Due to the nature of the environment and location of gorilla families, it’s difficult to know the length and duration of gorilla-tracking excursions. Participation Notes: The climate is warm and humid with more bugs and flying insects than other types of safari excursions. Travellers must be in good health and prepared for at least a few hours of hiking through the bush each day. Guests that display cold, flu or other respiratory tract symptoms will not be allowed to track gorillas at the discretion of camp management.


September 13, 2014 Arrival in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo In accordance with your international air itinerary (to be arranged & quoted separately), arrive in Brazzaville today from Paris, Johannesburg or Nairobi. After presenting your visa (which must be obtained in advance) at immigration and clearing customs, exit to the International Arrivals area. You’ll be met by Kili and/or a representative of the Wilderness Collection and transferred about 10 minutes to our hotel. Our overnight stay at the Mikhael’s Hotel in deluxe rooms is inclusive of breakfast. Dinner this evening, if desired, is on your account. (Note: This overnight stay is strongly recommended to ensure you arrive in time for the private charter to Odzala the next morning. Please see further notes about arrivals & departures at the end of this itinerary).

September 14 Day 1: Flight to Ndzehi Concession/Ngaga Camp We meet our Odzala Wilderness Camps representative at Brazzaville’s Maya Maya International Airport at 08h30 in preparation for our 09h30 private charter flight to Mboko Airstrip in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. The charter flight takes approximately two hours (possibly three hours if a fuel stop is required due to the plane’s load) and includes a light packed lunch. On arrival at Mboko Airstrip, we will be met by an Ngaga Camp guide for our three- to four-hour savannah and forest drive to Ngaga Camp, our home for the next three nights. We will be passing through different habitats and the village of Mbomo on the western boundary of the Park and hope for a glimpse of a variety of forest mammal and bird life en route.


As we pass through Mbomo, we will have an opportunity to visit the community garden where many of the fresh fruits and vegetables we will enjoy in the Camps come from. Any produce that is ready to be harvested will be collected and taken with us to the Camp. Passing through the village will give insights into how a community exists in sustainable harmony with the surrounding forest, and how traditional values are being maintained as technological advances make their presence felt. If time allows, we can also stop at the village market to enjoy the hustle and bustle of this busy commercial centre, buy delicious fresh bread from the village bakery, or pop into a local bar for a Congolese beer.

At Ngaga Camp, we will be met by the staff and given afternoon tea, followed by an opportunity to settle in. The group will later receive an extensive briefing on Western Lowland Gorillas, including the research project in the area, conservation of the species, its biology and ecology and of course what to expect when tracking the habituated groups of the area. If time allows, there will be a short introductory forest walk and/or sundowners by the Ngaga stream. September 15 Day 2: Ngaga Camp

After an early wake-up and light breakfast, we depart on foot with our guide and tracker on our first gorilla tracking excursion. Using the expert skills of the trackers, we start at the point where the gorilla family to be monitored for that day slept the night before, and we follow their tracks as they move through the forest, hopefully being able to locate and catch sight of them foraging. While home range sizes are relatively small, the gorillas can move quite quickly through thick forest undergrowth and during a two- to five-

hour tracking excursion (including up to a maximum of one hour observing the gorillas – please note that actual time spent viewing the gorillas may vary considerably from day to day depending on prevailing conditions) we may cover between 5 and 8 kilometres. After this exhilarating experience, we return to camp to freshen up and enjoy a more substantial brunch before spending the middle part of the day at leisure.


In the afternoon after a light tea, we enjoy a guided forest walk in search of birds and primates as well as forest duiker. If their research schedule allows, we can spend time with primatologists Dr Magda Bermejo and German Illera, perhaps over a sundowner drink whilst overlooking the forest from the main deck of camp. This is also a great chance to listen to the sounds of the forest as the diurnal animals retire and their nocturnal counterparts become more active. Activities may vary depending on local conditions on the day.

September 16 Day 3: Ngaga Camp

This morning after another early wake-up and light breakfast, we set out again on foot for our second gorilla tracking excursion. Our expert trackers will again follow the tracks and signs of the group through the forest, hopefully until we find the group and enjoy a fascinating experience watching them resting and foraging. Returning to camp, we freshen up and enjoy lunch and a siesta. The afternoon sees us out on the forest trails in search of the birds and mammals of the area,

returning to camp to enjoy a sundowner on the main deck overlooking the forest canopy. Alternatively, we can enjoy an interactive cultural experience in the nearby village of Ombo. Ombo provides an authentic rainforest village experience, with houses constructed from locally available natural materials and people continuing with a way of life entirely bound up with the surrounding forest. Ombo is where we purchase some of the supplies for the Camps, from pineapples to traditional baskets made from woven raffia palm leaves. We can be sure of a friendly welcome from our neighbours in Ombo and they evidently enjoy the opportunity to meet and interact with guests from all over the world. Night walks in the forest are another option, giving us a chance to look for unusual nocturnal primates such as galagos and pottos. Activities may vary depending on local conditions on the day.


September 17 Day 4: Lango Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park Today after breakfast in Camp we have a three- to four-hour savannah and forest drive to Lango Camp, passing through different habitats and the village of Mbomo on the western boundary of the Park. Once inside the Park, we pass through open savannah and forest patches with views of the forest fringe and into the interior.

Once at camp, we will have lunch and be given an opportunity to freshen up and settle in before embarking on our short late afternoon activity (time permitting), which may consist of a walk around Lango Bai and the forest fringe and stream, or perhaps a savannah drive. September 18 Day 5: Lango Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park An early morning wake-up is followed by a light breakfast and coffee on the main deck, after which we embark on our first activity for the day. This could be a walk from camp through Lango Bai and down the clear, shallow waters of the Lango Stream to its confluence with the Lekoli River. A motorised pirogue will then head upstream for two hours (stopping en route for tea/coffee). The return to camp includes a downstream portion of the river followed by a drive through the savannah.

Back in camp a more substantial brunch and rest period awaits before we head out again later for the afternoon activity. An example of this would be a return savannah drive to the boat jetty followed by a pirogue trip downstream along the Lekoli River with a stop for sundowners on the way. A night drive back to camp offers intriguing potential opportunities to see some of Odzala’s more secretive nocturnal creatures. September 19 Day 6: Lango Camp, Odzala-Kokoua National Park


Wake up early for a light breakfast and coffee before setting off on the morning activity. Today this may begin with a savannah drive to the boat jetty at the confluence of the Likeni Stream and Lekoli River and then a pirogue trip down the Lekoli River in search of primates, forest buffalo and other species, before returning to camp on foot through Lango Bai. The trip along the river offers great opportunities for birding and mammals, while the walk can provide excellent viewing of buffalo, red river hogs, a number of primate species and even the secretive bongo.

Our return to camp is greeted by an appetizing lunch and some downtime before heading out again in the afternoon. This afternoon we may head back to the boat jetty and take a pirogue trip upstream along the Lekoli River enjoying sundowners before returning to camp on a night drive, searching for elusive nocturnal species such as spotted hyaena, serval, the enormous Gambian pouched rat and even water chevrotain.

September 20 Departure We wake up early once more for a light breakfast on the deck at Lango overlooking the bai before departing camp at 06h30 to Mboko airstrip. This is a 45-minute drive through a variety of different habitat types. Departure from Mboko airstrip will be at 07h30. We land back in Brazzaville at 10h30 [NB. This means that guests can only connect with international flights taking off from Brazzaville after 13h00]. Say farewell to Africa and board your international flight back to the US or onwards to Nairobi for an East Africa extension or Johannesburg for a Southern Africa extension… Detailed safari costs follow..


Safari Costs Exclusive Safari Cost: $6,725 per person sharing* Internal Flights: $1,725 per person * We’ll do our best to match single guests, but please inquire about Single Room Supplements. Safari cost includes:

1 night in Brazzaville on an accommodation and breakfast basis Six-night safari including 3 nights at Ngaga Camp and 3 nights at Lango Camp All safari activities described in the itinerary All meals on safari All drinks on safari (excluding premium imported brands and champagne) Laundry service on safari Ground transportation (Mboko airstrip to Ngaga, Ngaga to Lango, Lango to Mboko) Private charter flights round-trip from Maya-Maya to Mboko (quoted separately) Safari escorted by Kili McGowan

Safari cost does not include:

International airfare to/from Brazzaville and relevant airport taxes upon departure Visas (please see bulletin detailing the procedure to obtain one in advance) Meals, activities, excursions or extra nights in Brazzaville Gratuities Comprehensive travel insurance policy including cancellation insurance and a minimum of

$100,000 in emergency medical & evacuation coverage which is compulsory.

Arrivals, Departures & Extensions This itinerary has been designed to coordinate with international air itineraries. However, we might need to add a night in Brazzaville at the beginning or end of the trip if you are not arriving or departing directly to/from the US and/or joining possible extensions in East or Southern Africa. At the beginning (13 September), you can arrive on Air France 896 from Paris CDG at 17:30 or on South African Airways 84 from Johannesburg JNB at 12:25. Kenya Airways 550 would necessitate another night in Brazzaville as their flight arrives on the 12th at 11:05. At the end (20 September), you may depart on Air France 897 to Paris CDG at 21:50 or on South African Airways 85 to Johannesburg at 13:15. Kenya Airways 552 would necessitate another night in Brazzaville as their flight departs on the 21st at 23:45. Should you be available and interested in potential safari extensions, we can arrange them in either East Africa (via Nairobi) or Southern Africa (via Johannesburg). Either would be a very nice complement to the Congo experience so please call us to discuss the options.

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Next Adventure Congo Safari Itinerary...Next Adventure Inc. 738 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1325 800 562 7298 or 510 526 7027 Next Adventure® Exclusive Gorilla-Tracking Safari