Set Departure

Expeditions Ducret

Congo Basin Safari Cruise

Exploration & preservation

The Congo Basin is one of the most mysterious and least explored regions in the world. It is a gigantic territory of forests and rivers, home to large numbers of lowland gorillas (200,000 individuals in Congo), forest elephants (8,000 individuals), chimpanzees, bonobos, hippos, pangolins and bongos, plus thousands of weird and wonderful species of bird, insect and plant. Once you leave the busy main Congo River channel, it is populated only by a vanishingly small number of indigenous people who live in total harmony with the forest, preserving their culture through rich ancestral traditions and knowledge. By sailing with Expeditions Ducret, you have the rare opportunity to enter the heart of Africa, to meet the first peoples of the region, and discover a fauna and flora of unimaginable wonder.

Itinerary & activities

This unique 12-night itinerary sees you boarding an elegant, environmentally friendly “Boutique Hotel” ship to navigate the Congo and Sangha Rivers accompanied by scientists, naturalist guides and local people from indigenous communities. Disembarking, guests can head into the forest on foot to search for gorillas, observe great elephant herds in forest clearings, go fishing with remote indigenous communities, navigate tiny tributaries by motorboat or kayak, and meet with representatives of a sustainable forest management company to gain an understanding of the challenges and pressures faced. Optional additional activities include spending the night on a forest platform and tracking rare bonobos in the DRC.

The vessel

With just 28 passengers on board, the experience is highly exclusive and with such low guest to guide ratios, everyone is free to choose their own activities and adventure levels. The zero-waste, low impact boat conforms to the highest environmental standards, but there is no absolutely no compromise on comfort. A range of spacious cabins and suites provide private air conditioned retreats, social areas include outdoor lounges and observation decks, a massage room and jacuzzi is yours to enjoy, and a world class Afro-European dining programme has been specially designed by a Michelin starred French chef.

Navigating deep into virgin jungle, this exciting new journey is an immersion into the heart of one of the last intact lungs of the planet, and a rare opportunity for those Africa lovers and wildlife enthusiasts to embark on a voyage unlike anything they’ve seen or done before.

12 NIGHTS ON THE CONGO & SANGHA RIVERS

PLEASE NOTE

A range of 6, 12 and 15 night itineraries are available, either as an ascent or descent of the Congo and Sangha Rivers. The following illustrates the 12-night itinerary. Please contact us for further options and alternatives.

DAY 1

Arrival in Brazzaville. Night in a 5 star hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2

1 hour flight in the morning in a 19-seater jet, then 5 hours drive to Ouesso. Through the portholes, you can see one of the largest primary forest of the world passing by. Embarkment during the afternoon to ascend the Sangha River, slaloming between the sandbanks as the depth decreases. Evening presentation about Congo Basin Ecosystem.

DAYS 3, 4 & 5

Immersion in the tri-national sangha. Situated in the north-western Congo Basin, where Cameroon, Central African Republic and Congo meet, the site encompasses three contiguous national parks totalling around 750,000 ha. Much of the site is unaffected by human activity and features a wide range of humid tropical forest ecosystems with rich flora and fauna, including Nile crocodiles and goliath tigerfish, a large predator. Forest clearings support herbaceous species and Sangha is home to considerable populations of forest elephants, critically endangered western lowland gorilla, and endangered chimpanzee. To be as discreet as possible, the group will be divided into three subgroups.

DAY 6

Descend the Sangha River towards Pokola where you will meet representatives of a forestry company, who explain the sustainable management of the forests. At the end of the day, the ship reaches the Ndoki river where hippos and can observed, and there is a pygmy village not far away. Evening conference explores issues around pygmy populations facing modernity.

DAY 7

In the morning, navigate up a tributary of the Sangha for about fifteen kilometres, the Mangui, and follow the northern border of the Ntokou-Pikounda park. This area is frequented by an endemic species that was thought to be extinct, Bouvier’s red colobus, a small monkey with orange fur. Along the way, your guide will point out and explain the astonishing birdlife.

DAY 8

Pass the village of Pikounda and continue towards a pygmy village. The Pygmies are one of the two peoples living in this region and they are among the last groups of hunter-gatherers in the world. Deep in the forest, in small groups, you will share their daily life: harvesting plant products, collecting medicinal plants and fishing, to discover their incredible symbiosis with the forest.

DAY 8 CONTINUED

Dinner will be enjoyed with the pygmies, who will tell the stories of their people and their lives with the help of mimes and songs. The oral traditions of the pygmies are one of the finest riches of this people.

DAY 9

Descend the Sangha River navigating through green and impenetrable swamp forest to enter the one of the most sparsely populated and wildest territories. The sounds of the forest punctuate your progress. You meet fishermen, the Sangha-sangha people and take the tributaries, either by canoe or by motorboat, to parts of the jungle where local legend says a dinosaur was seen: the Mokele Mbembe. In the tropical forest, you discover the plants of pharmacology and have the option to spend some time fishing. During the day, you cross the equator – the baptism of the Line!

DAY 10

The Sangha River empties into the Congo and you reach the fishing village of Mossaka, known throughout the country for its smoked fish. Discover vestiges of the colonial era, with the colonial house of François Tréchot, who explored the river by steamboat in the 1800s, then gradually leave the forest for hills covered with grass. Enjoy a presentation on the Savorgnan de Brazza expedition and the Stanley expedition.

DAY 11

The Congo River widens considerably (more than 10 km) and a hodgepodge of islands are formed. Hippos bask. Fishing villages settle in these parts during the dry season and by the end of the day, you reach the Lefini estuary which borders the Téké kingdom. The river starts to become noticeable busier.

DAY 12

In the morning, discover the village of Ngabe, one of the ancient capitals of the Téké kingdom. You will visit the current Queen Ngalifourou who, in her capacity as guardian of the “Nkwembali” and spiritual god of the Batéké, is the person authorized to appoint a new king, the Makoko. The king is a very influential person in the Téké kingdom, and his is one of the most powerful kingdoms of the country. You attend and observe a traditional Téké dance, then later learn more during a presentation on the Téké kingdom and the history of the Congo.

DAY 13

Arrive in Brazzaville and disembark at around 10am. Visit the Plateau market (traditional objects and handicrafts), the artistic school of Poto Poto, the Congo Basin museum, and meet La Sape – Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People, famous for their fabulous fashions! Sit down to lunch at restaurant, then depart for the airport and outbound flight this evening.

Congo Safari Cruise

6, 12 or 15 nights

2025/2026 rates -12 night cruise from 7 000 € per adult
per person twin share

Please contact us for available dates, rates and full itinerary details.

Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.

Elizabeth Mackintosh

Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.

Milford family

We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.

Kim & Brad Balance

The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.

Rowntree family

Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.

Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones

We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!

Laurence & Remi Cunningham

An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!

Sheryl & Robert Taylor

Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.

Paul Cozzi

Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!

Jane & Robert Happell

Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.

Tim Bradley

You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!

Buckingham Family

The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.

Emma Jeffcoat

Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.

Simon & Jackie Adams

Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!

Ros Wheeler

Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.

Andrew & Pip Stevens

If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.

Miriam & Joseph Harrison

Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.

Ron & Alison Guthrie

Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10

Di & Kingsley Yates

The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.

Annette Whiley

It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.

Jo-anne & Dean Mifsud

Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!

The McGowan Tribe

An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.

Judith & Roger Williams

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