Safari to Dzanga-Sangha

centred on the legendary Dzanga Bai salt lick

Set in the southwest of the Central African Republic, the 6865 square kilometre Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve is part of a much larger conservation area which crosses over into Lobéké National Park in Cameroon and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Congo.

The combined reserve represents the second largest area of tropical forest in the world, centred on the Sangha River.

These forests are ecologically very rich, with headline species including western lowland gorillas, African forest elephants, bongo antelopes, African forest buffalos, white-nosed monkeys, moustached monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, bushpigs and duikers.

The population of gorillas in the Dzanga-Sangha alone is thought to be around 2000 animals, which is the highest density in the world.

Activities here are centred on tracking the lowland gorillas and other primate species, various forest hikes, spending time at the pangolin research station, visiting local Ba’Aka people to join them hunting and gathering in the forests.

Another particular highlight of this area is Dzanga Bai, a mythical salt lick in a clearing of around 250 x 500 metres, a mere speck on the map amidst the vast tropical forests.

This place is so special that it’s actually listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most famous visitors to the bai are forest elephants, which can often be seen here by the dozen. In fact the name of the place can be translated from the local language as ‘the village of the elephants’.

Other notable visitors are bongo antelopes, which you could spend years looking for in other parts of Africa, but which can be almost ten-a-penny around here.

There’s a research platform from which the bai and its animals can be observed in reasonable comfort, perhaps with a packed lunch.
In May 2013 a total of twenty six elephants were slaughtered here by poachers, which led to great concern about the levels of protection being offered by conservation bodies.

Security has since been stepped up, but please make no mistake, your visit will represent a significant contribution to efforts to increase the levels of protection in this critical area.​​​​​​​

The best periods to visit Dzanga-Sangha are generally considered to be during the drier periods of Dec-Mar and Jul-Sep.

The climate here is typical of a tropical rainforest area, being hot and humid year round, with rainfall of around 1500 mm (60″) falling mainly during the Oct-Nov season, with another lesser peak during May-Jun.

There is only one accommodation option in Dzanga-Sangha, the relatively simple Sangha Lodge.

Unlike the other areas of CAR (which are usually off-limits due to political turmoil), Dzanga-Sangha remained accessible thanks to a reliable light aircraft service that connected it to the Odzala Kokoua gorilla reserves in neighbouring Congo. However, this service was terminated in 2023, making it extremely difficult to get into these areas.

previously accessed by light aircraft from Congo