Congo (Kinshasa) : Bonobo Trekking in Pirogue
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Trekking & Walking River cruises Nature highlights Adventure & Special travel Wildlife Safaris
Africa Congo (Kinshasa)
18 Days
Threatened by the loss of their rainforest habitat, years of political unrest and an escalating bushmeat trade, bonobos are in serious trouble. Working alongside the African Wildlife Foundation, this tour is designed not only to track the elusive bonobo in the rich rainforests of the DRC but also to meet the people who live here, offering a few select clients the chance to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
Day 1 Saturday
International Arrival
Arrival in Kinshasa, airport assistance, transfer hotel and briefing.
Day 2 Sunday
Transfer Basankusu + Maringa
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight to Basankusu. We travel with "Filair" in a LET 410 UVPE with a Belgian pilot.
Because there are no good hotels in Basankusu, we prefer to stay the night in tents.
Inspection of the equipment and preparation of the trip.
Day 3 Monday - Day 4 Tuesday - Day 5 Wednesday - Day 6 Thursday
Maringa -and Lomako River
In total, we have to travel between 30 and 40 hours on the water. We leave early in the morning, after breakfast, have a small break at noon for lunch and we'll stop around +/- 4 pm for our camp and to prepare our diner. We stay overnight in small villages, with the agreement of the chief and buy our food on th e local markets.
The Maringa River is between 100 and 200 meter wide and has a lot of sandbanks. The Lomako River is between 5 and 15 meter wide, forest everywhere on both sides a fast water flow and a lot of obstacles. Here we have to be careful. Normally, at the end of the 6th day, we arrive at destination.
Day 7 Friday - Day 8 Saturday - Day 9 Sunday - Day 10 Monday
Lomako Reserve
Now we enter into the forest. To find the Bonobos, we'll have to leave the camp at night, to arrive early in the morning where they passed the night, high in the trees and we'll stay till they awake. Except the Bonobos, we also can find:Dryas Monkey (Cercopithecus Dryas), Tholan's Red Colobus (Piliocolobus Tholloni), Golden-Bellied Mangabey (Cercocebus Chrysogaster), Black Mangabey (Lophocebus Aterrimus), Allen's Swamp Monkey (Allenopithecus
Nigroviridis), Angolan Colobus (Colobus Angolensis), Elephant (Loxodonta Africana), Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer), Bongo (Tragelaphus Euryceros), African Golden Cat (Felis Aurata), Leopard (Panthera Pardus).
For birding, the region has more than 400 different species with a high density of the "Congo peafowl" (Afropavo Congensis)
Day 11 Tuesday - Day 12 Wednesday - Day 13 Thursday - Day 14 Friday
Lomako River + Maringa
Return to Basankusu. The people from the villages we meet on the way, are from the Mongo tribes. The last years, there is a migration of people from the Ngombe tribe, really good hunters. Luckily for the wildlife, ammunition isn't easy to find.
Day 15 Saturday
Basankusu visit
In Basankusu, a day off, a day of rest, a day we'll visit the town and the office AWF, the NGO which created the park.
Day 16 Sunday
Transfer Kinshasa. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 17 Monday
City visit
Visit of Kinshasa: Mausoleum de Kabila, Marché des Voleurs (Art), Symphonie Des Arts, Rapids of Kinsuka, ect.
Day 18 Tuesday
Visit of the Bonobo Sanctuary at Chute de Lukaya before noon, check-in of the luggage in town in the afternoon to avoid to much complications of the government services at the airport. Transfer to the airport.
Included:
- All transfers as mentioned in the program
- Hotel in Kinshasa B&B
- "Full board" in the interior
- Crew: Technician/driver, cook, knight, guide
- 4 litre bottled water a day in the jungle
- "Trekking Permits"
- Gasoline
- Airport pick up and drop off in Kinshasa
- Tents
• All taxes
Not Included:
- Visa
- International flight
- Other drinks
• Lunch and diner in Kinshasa
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