Congo - media.lonelyplanet.commedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/africa-13-congo-preview.pdf · Congo...
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Why Go? A land of steamy jungles hiding half the world’s lowland gorillas, masses of forest elephants, and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees; the Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo across the Congo River) is on the cusp of becoming one of the finest ecotourism destinations in Africa. Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki and Parc National d’Odzala are two of the most pristine forest reserves on the continent and between them they are argu- ably the highlight of the whole of Central Africa. Despite this impressive resume the Congo remains an unknown quantity to most outsiders and currently recieves very few visitors. But for those ready to heed the call of the wild, and not afraid of adventure, the Congo awaits. Best Places for Wildlife ¨ Parc National Nouabalé- Ndoki (p491) ¨ Parc National d’Odzala (p491) ¨ Parc National Conkouati- Douli (p490) ¨ Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve (p489) ¨ Lac Télé (p491) Best Places for Adventure ¨ Lac Télé (p491) ¨ Brazzaville to Impfondo/ Bangui boat ride (p489) ¨ Parc National Nouabalé- Ndoki (p491) ¨ Parc National Conkouati- Douli (p490) When to Go Jun–Dec The best overall time to travel in Congo . Oct–Jan The easiest time to see wildlife in the northern forest parks. Dec–Feb Sea turtles nest on beaches of Parc National Conkouati-Douli. F D N O S A J J M A M J Brazzaville °C/°F Temp 0/32 10/50 20/68 30/86 40/104 Rainfall inches/mm 0 4/100 8/200 12/300 16/400 20/500 Brazzaville ................. 485 The Coast .................. 489 The North ..................490 Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki ........ 491 Understand Congo .... 493 Survival Guide ........... 494 Congo ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Transcript of Congo - media.lonelyplanet.commedia.lonelyplanet.com/shop/pdfs/africa-13-congo-preview.pdf · Congo...
Why Go?A land of steamy jungles hiding half the world’s lowland gorillas, masses of forest elephants, and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees; the Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo across the Congo River) is on the cusp of becoming one of the finest ecotourism destinations in Africa. Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki and Parc National d’Odzala are two of the most pristine forest reserves on the continent and between them they are argu-ably the highlight of the whole of Central Africa.
Despite this impressive resume the Congo remains an unknown quantity to most outsiders and currently recieves very few visitors. But for those ready to heed the call of the wild, and not afraid of adventure, the Congo awaits.
Best Places for Wildlife¨¨ Parc National Nouabalé-
Ndoki (p491)
¨¨ Parc National d’Odzala (p491)
¨¨ Parc National Conkouati-Douli (p490)
¨¨ Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve (p489)
¨¨ Lac Télé (p491)
Best Places for Adventure¨¨ Lac Télé (p491)
¨¨ Brazzaville to Impfondo/Bangui boat ride (p489)
¨¨ Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki (p491)
¨¨ Parc National Conkouati-Douli (p490)
When to Go
Jun–Dec The best overall time to travel in Congo .
Oct–Jan The easiest time to see wildlife in the northern forest parks.
Dec–Feb Sea turtles nest on beaches of Parc National Conkouati-Douli.
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Brazzaville°C/°F Temp
0/32
10/50
20/68
30/86
40/104
Rainfall inches/mm
0
4/100
8/200
12/300
16/400
20/500
Brazzaville .................485The Coast ..................489The North ..................490Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki ........ 491Understand Congo ....493Survival Guide ...........494
Congo
©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Con
go Co
ngo
Con
go H
iGH
liGH
TS
484
BOUENZAKOUILOU
LÉKOUMOUNIARI
POOL
PLATEAUX
CUVETTE
SANGHA
LIKOUALA
Diosso
Lidjombo
Bayanga
Mongoumba
Bétou
Léconi
KimpandzouVoka
Matadi
Boma
Muanda
Kayes
Soyo
Pokola
SokambaNgatongo
Kabo
Makokou
Mékambo
Moloundou
Nkayi(Loubomo)
Dolisie
Chicamba
BéloMont
Mah
Zanaga
Madingo-
Makabana
Doussala
OkoyoLukolela
MossakaOyo
Impfondo
Dougou
Bomassa
Makoua
Mbomo
Sembé
Boko
Nyanga
Kibangou
Nola Zinga
Kikwit
Bandundu
Ngo
N'Dendé
Kinkala
Cabinda
Ouesso
Yokadouma
Owando
Gamboma
KINSHASA
Madingo
Mayoko
MbindaBakoumba
Franceville
Moanda
Koulamoutou
RéserveSanghaDzanga-
RéserveLéfini
Equator
Loufoulakari(Loufoulakari Falls)
Chutes de
River
Mambili
Riv
er
BleuLac
Kouilou
Rive
r
Oub
angu
i
Riv
erC
ongo
River
Sangha
Congo
TumbaLake
River
Kwilu
River
Kw
ango
Mai-NdombeLake
RiverKwa
River
Kasai
D E M O C R A T I C R E P U B L I CA N G O L A
C A M E R O O N
G A B O N
O F C O N G O
A N G O L A
AirportOuesso
DieuTrou de
Gorilla ReserveLésio Louna
2
1
Noire
TravelBarge
Conkouati-DouliParc National
ReserveLac Télé
Nouabalé-NdokiParc National
D'OdzalaParc National
Pointe-
BRAZZAVILLE
0 200 km0 120 miles
1 Visit Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki (p491), one of the world’s great wildernesses.
2 let a guide lead you to a family of gorillas in Parc National d’Odzala (p491).
3 Explore beach, savannah and jungle all on the same day
in Parc National Conkouati-Douli (p490).
4 Journey for the sake of the journey and travel by barge (p495).
5 Relax in Brazzaville (p485), a big city with a small-town feel.
6 Search for the legendary monster of the mysterious Lac Télé (p491).
7 Munch seafood in the Congolese ‘Riviera’ of Pointe-Noire (p489).
Congo Highlights
