Touring Okapi Wildlife Reserve : We recently visited the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Congo and had an amazing time! This reserve is home to a variety of different animal species, including okapis, elephants, lions, and lechwe antelopes. We also had the opportunity to go on a river cruise on Lake Tanganyika. It was a great way to see some of the wildlife up close! Okapi wildlife reserve is located about 4 hours from Brazzaville.
On our first full day at the reserve we woke up at 5 am so that we could enjoy another amazing sunrise over the lake. The water was a beautiful blue colour and we spotted several birds and hippos as we paddled out on the lake. After breakfast we went for a nature walk near the camp where we learned about the different plants and wildlife in the area. We saw 3 different kinds of monkeys, a chameleon, and lots of beautiful birds. After our nature walk we had lunch and then spent the afternoon relaxing by the swimming pool or reading a book in our hammocks. The next day we got up early again and went for a sunrise hike in the rainforest. It was so beautiful and peaceful out there in the woods. After our hike we enjoyed breakfast and then went on a canoe ride through the swamplands to look for some crocodiles. We had a lot of fun and saw lots of interesting wildlife along the way, Touring Okapi Wildlife Reserve
Our last day was spent hiking and canoeing around the lake. We saw some beautiful birds and watched the hippos at play while the water taxi brought us back to camp for lunch. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a fabulous place to visit if you want to experience the beautiful African bushveld first hand. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Congo!
HOW TO GET THERE
If you are coming from Kinshasa the easiest way to get to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve is to take a plane to Bumba airport then catch a bus from Kinshasa to Bumba bus station which costs about $30. If you are travelling from Brazzaville you can either take a bus or flight to the international airport in Brazzaville then catch the bus to Bumba which takes about 3 hours. From Bumba you can hire a taxi to take you to the reserve which is approximately 4 hours away.
ACTIVITIES AT OKAPI WILDLIFE RESERVE
Activities at Okari Wildlife Reserve include: Sunset cruise and Canoe rides into the nearby swamps to spot crocodile’s and other wildlife; Nature walks around the camp to learn about local flora and fauna; Swimming, Relaxing on the verandah or reading in the shade of the trees; Mountain biking (available only June-October); Bush cooking lessons with an experienced chef from the camp – learn how to make delicious traditional Congolese dishes such as Bili Bili and Bunia Kaita, and how to pick wild fruits safely. There are also plenty of great local restaurants in Bumba where you can sample the local culture. I would recommend Mama Theresa restaurant for authentic Congolese cuisine. There is also the Bar-Cafe Le Volcan in the nearby town of Beni. This is a great place to enjoy a cold beer with the locals and some delicious home cooked food at very reasonable prices. I hope you enjoy your congo safari tour!
