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- Western lowland gorillas: The animal most travelers hope for. Groups range through the dense forest, and tracking with local trackers can take long hours of slow, wet walking. Sightings are never promised, but fresh nests and feeding signs are common.
- Forest elephants at the saline clearings: Open mineral-rich clearings called bais draw elephants, bushpigs and antelopes. Waiting on a simple platform or hide at dusk is quiet, buggy and often richly rewarding.
- Dja River loop by pirogue: The river curls around most of the reserve like a natural fence. Paddling the brown water, you pass overhanging trees, kingfishers, monitor lizards and the odd crocodile.
- Chimpanzees and monkeys: Chimps are heard more than seen, with distant pant-hoots echoing through the trees. Guenons, mangabeys and colobus are
- Western lowland gorillas: The animal most travelers hope for. Groups range through the dense forest, and tracking with local trackers can take long hours of slow, wet walking. Sightings are never promised, but fresh nests and feeding signs are common.
- Forest elephants at the saline clearings: Open mineral-rich clearings called bais draw elephants, bushpigs and antelopes. Waiting on a simple platform or hide at dusk is quiet, buggy and often richly rewarding.
- Dja River loop by pirogue: The river curls around most of the reserve like a natural fence. Paddling the brown water, you pass overhanging trees, kingfishers, monitor lizards and the odd crocodile.
- Chimpanzees and monkeys: Chimps are heard more than seen, with distant pant-hoots echoing through the trees. Guenons, mangabeys and colobus are far easier to spot in the canopy.
- Baka forest camps: Overnighting beside Baka guides gives a rare look at hunter-gatherer knowledge. Expect woven leaf shelters, smoke, fireside stories and plant demonstrations.
- Primary rainforest walks: Buttressed trunks, strangler vines and a dim green floor define the walking. Fungi, giant snails and enormous butterflies reward those who look down as well as up.
- Birdlife: Hornbills beat past overhead with loud wingbeats, and grey parrots, turacos and secretive forest birds add sound everywhere. Early mornings are the best listening hours.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.