Aerial view of three humpback whales swimming together in calm green water

Destination Guide

Conkouati-Douli National Park

Gorillas, forest elephants, chimpanzee islands and humpback whales, where the rainforest meets the Atlantic in the Republic of Congo. No stock photography, just the real thing.

Home / Destinations / Conkouati-Douli

Best for

Wildlife, boat trips, remote nature

Fly into

Pointe-Noire · PNR

Currency

Central African CFA franc

Suggested stay

2-3 days

Find flights to Pointe-Noire → Browse hotels

Conkouati-Douli sits on the Atlantic coast of the Republic of Congo, in the Kouilou department near the border with Gabon. Created in 1999, it is a mosaic of lagoons, mangroves, savanna, rainforest and open beach, which is why so much wildlife lives in one place.

Forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and mandrills live on land. Leatherback and olive ridley turtles nest on the beaches, and in 2023 the Congolese government approved a 2,900 km² marine extension to protect turtles, dolphins and humpback whales. This guide covers what to see and how to reach the park from Pointe-Noire.

Savanna grassland running down to a lagoon in Conkouati-Douli

Mist rising over rainforest canopy seen from above

Two cormorants perched on a branch over the water

Close-up of a forest elephant's eye and ear

Wildlife

Big names, rarely crowded

Conkouati-Douli is remote, so sightings are never guaranteed. Go with a local guide, and keep your distance from every animal.

Forest elephants

Smaller than savanna elephants, they roam between forest, savanna and the lagoon shore, sometimes close to the coast.

A western lowland gorilla looking out from dense green foliage

Western lowland gorillas

Living in the park's forests. They are shy and hard to see, so treat any sighting as a bonus rather than a promise.

A chimpanzee mother carrying her baby along a branch

Chimpanzees

The park's headline animal. Troops live on protected islands and in the forest, and the islands are visited by boat.

Things to do

By boat, on foot and by the sea

Water is the way in. Most activities start with a boat on the lagoons and rivers.

Visitors in life jackets travelling by boat along a forest river

Boat trips through the mangroves

Glide through mangroves and flooded forest in a small boat. Wear the life jacket you are given and bring sun protection and insect repellent.

A guide in a kayak beside a chimpanzee sitting in mangrove roots

Chimpanzee islands

Islands in the mangroves shelter chimpanzee groups under protection. Visits are guided, so follow your guide's rules and never feed the animals.

Open savanna with forest patches and a lagoon beyond

Savanna and lagoon views

Grassland, forest islands and wide lagoons make a very different landscape from the dense rainforest. Walk with a guide, not alone.

A humpback whale at the surface seen from above

Whales and turtles

Humpback whales are seen off the coast from mid-July to September. The marine area also protects dolphins and nesting sea turtles, including leatherbacks, so ask an operator about turtle season.

Where to stay

Simple lodges in a remote park

Accommodation in and around the park is basic, and the park is mainly a research and conservation area rather than a resort. Book through a local operator and check what is included, including meals.

Wooden-beamed room at Conkouati Lodge with a bed and shelving

Lodge room

Conkouati Lodge: timber room

Aerial view of Conkouati Lodge on open savanna beside Lac Thimba

Lagoon setting

Conkouati Lodge: above Lac Thimba

Getting there

Starting from Pointe-Noire

Most visitors fly into Pointe-Noire (PNR) and travel on by 4x4 and then boat with a local operator, who also arranges permits and entrance fees. See our Pointe-Noire guide for where to stay before and after the park.

Search flights to PNR →

Airport

Pointe-Noire · PNR

Region

Kouilou

Currency

XAF

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