Central Africa Discovery Tour: CAR, DRC, ROC & Gabon

Your journey begins upon landing in Bangui, the capital and most populous urban hub in the Central African Republic. A local representative meets you at the airport and coordinates your transfer to the Ledger Hotel. Standard hotel check-in begins at 3:00 PM. You will gather with your group for an evening orientation dinner.

Following breakfast, you will board a riverboat at the local port for a cruise along the Ubangi River. The waterway offers open views of both the DRC and CAR coastlines. Next, you will take a 2.5-hour drive through regional villages toward the town of Boali. After passing a local hydroelectric dam, you reach the Boali Falls, which are formed by the M'Bari River. You will enjoy a late lunch by the cascades before returning to Bangui for a traditional buffet dinner.

The morning schedule starts with a southwest drive from Bangui toward Mbaïki. You will stop at Bossongo, an indigenous Aka Pygmy encampment located inside the dense tropical forest. The community shares its traditional hunting techniques, ancestral music, and herbal medicine practices with visitors. After visiting the local village school, you return to Bangui for lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the PK12 market before heading to the hotel for dinner.

You can utilize a free morning at leisure to pack or rest. Afterward, an airport transfer connects you to an overnight flight to Kinshasa via Addis Ababa. Kinshasa stands today as the largest megacity in Africa. This bustling metropolis contrasts sharply with the remote wilderness regions visited earlier in the week.

Upon an early morning arrival in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, you will transfer to the Hotel Du Fleuve Congo to rest. Later in the day, you will drive to the world-renowned Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary. This facility rehabilitates young bonobos rescued from the illegal bushmeat trade. Because bonobos share 98% of human DNA, observing them provides a rare evolutionary insight. You will conclude the afternoon with dinner back at the hotel.

The morning exploration covers major Kinshasa landmarks, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Presidential Palace (Palais de la Nation). You will also wander through the vibrant local fabric and produce markets. Afterward, you cross the Congo River by ferry to enter Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo. You will check into the Mikhael Hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.

You will transfer to the Mami Wata Pier for a boat excursion on the Congo River. The vessel stops at M'bamou Island to let travelers view the historic Malebo Pool. Local residents perform an exciting cultural show on the island. Before heading back to your hotel, you will tour the National Museum of Congo to view historical artifacts.

Your morning city tour highlights the architecture of the St. Anne Basilica and the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazzaville Memorial. Keep an eye out for the Sapeurs, who are celebrated for their high-fashion style choices. In the afternoon, you will board a domestic flight to the coastal port city of Pointe Noire. You will check in at the Fez Hotel for dinner.

The day starts with a safari at Tchimpounga, a specialized sanctuary that protects orphaned chimpanzees. You will observe these primates in a natural forest habitat. In the afternoon, you will explore the dramatic rock formations of the Diosso Gorges. You will also visit the Ma'a Loango Museum to learn about the regional heritage.

You will spend the morning touring the coastal markets and the Musée du Cercle Africain. This museum offers deep insights into the ethnography of the region. Later, an afternoon flight takes you directly to Libreville, the capital of Gabon. You will transfer to the Park Inn by Radisson for your check-in and dinner.

An early breakfast precedes a 4-hour drive through thick forests toward Lambaréné. En route, you will stop at Ekouk to view a traditional Bwiti spiritual shrine. Upon arrival in Lambaréné, you will tour the historic 1913 Albert Schweitzer Hospital museum. You will spend the night at the Ogooué Palace Hotel.

You will embark on a scenic 4-hour return drive to Libreville. The route provides panoramic views of winding rivers, rural villages, and lush green landscapes. Once you arrive back at the Park Inn by Radisson, you can enjoy a free afternoon at leisure. You can utilize the hotel amenities or walk around the capital independently.

Your final day highlights Gabon's French architectural legacy along the Boulevard de l'Indépendance. You will view the grand columns of St. Michel Cathedral and the exterior of the Presidential Palace. After looking at traditional masks at the Musée des Arts et Traditions, you will tour the Arboretum Raponda Walker. Finally, an evening airport transfer connects to your international flight home.