The clearings
Forest elephants.
Matt Muir — CC BY 4.0 · Matt Muir — CC BY 4.0 · Matt Muir — CC BY 4.0 · John P Friel — CC BY 4.0
Odzala-Kokoua National Park is a park and biosphere reserve in north-western Republic of the Congo, covering about 13,500 square kilometres. It preserves old-growth rainforest, hills up to 350 metres and many grassy clearings deep in the forest. It is one of Africa's most important places to see gorillas and forest elephants. The area was first protected in 1935, declared a biosphere reserve in 1977 and made a national park by presidential decree in 2001. Since 2010 a non-profit organisation has managed it together with the government. It holds about a hundred mammal species and one of the continent's most diverse primate populations. In the open clearings you see forest elephants with their calves grazing on wet grass and drinking from pools, walled in by tall trees. Red forest buffalo graze the savanna. Calm brown rivers wind through the forest, travelled by canoe. It is about 138 km from Ouésso in a straight line. Visits are usually on organised trips with the park's lodges, so book ahead. Follow the guides near wildlife.
Forest elephants.
On the savanna.
Canoe trips.
North-western Republic of the Congo
You may on guided walks, but sightings are not certain.
On an organised trip with the park lodges, usually by small plane.