Western Lowland Gorilla Trekking in Congo Brazzaville

The western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies. Populations can be found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea as well as in large areas in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. The exact number of western lowland gorillas is not known because they inhabit some of the densest and remote rainforests in Africa. Significant populations still exist, including in isolated swamps and the remote swampy forests of the Republic of Congo.

Western lowland gorillas can be distinguished from other gorilla subspecies by their slightly smaller size, their brown-grey coats, and auburn chests. They also have wider skulls with more pronounced brow ridges and smaller ears. Large numbers have not protected the western lowland gorilla from decline. Because of poaching and disease, the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years. Even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require at least 75 years to recover.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park Congo Brazzaville

Odzala Kokoua is Africa’s oldest National Park created in 1935 after Virunga National Park in eastern Congo It is the home for the western Lowland gorillas, the park was designated in 1925. Odzala-Kokoua National Park covers an extensive area of 13,500 km2 area as the park lies in the heart of the Congo Basin. The basin is the second-largest rainforest in the world, spanning more than two million square kilometres across six countries, and accounts for 18 per cent of the world’s remaining rainforest. The biological diversity and endemics are extraordinary here, especially considering that humans have occupied the area for over 50,000 years.

Odzala National Park hosts approximately 4,500 plant and tree species. The vast majority of the park’s forest is open-canopy Marantaceae and these are the dependent facts for the list of things to be done in Odzala National Park Congo. These include Gorilla trekking which is the Western lowland gorillas, Canoeing, and Wildlife viewing.

Best time to trek Western Lowland gorillas in Congo Brazzaville

best time to visit Congo, then you should think of the period between mid-May to October based on average temperature and humidity from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. However, you can read more about the weather and climate structure in Congo to get the basic insights for an all-year-round safari expedition.