Tropical Adventures Africa

Dja Biodiversity Reserve Tour

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Dja Biodiversity Reserve Tour

HIGHLIGHTS

TOUR DESCRIPTION

The Dja Faunal Reserve was created in 1950 and became a World Heritage Site in 1987 and it forms an integral part of the dense rain forests that make up the Congo Basin. The Dja Faunal Reserve is one of the largest areas of protected rainforest in Africa. 90% of the reserve consists of unspoiled and protected forest marked out by the Dja River which acts as a natural border for the area. The reserve is home to 107 mammals including a large variety of primates, for which the reserve is best known.

The Dja Faunal Reserve is especially notable for the diversity of primate species it protects including white-collared mangabey, mandrill, drill, Western lowland gorilla and chimpanzee. It adjoins onto the Congolese reserve of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and the Gabonese Minkébé National Park to form the TRIDOMarea, an important zone for the protection of the African rainforest habitat of the Congo basin.

There are more than 1,500 known plant species in the reserve, over 107 mammals (including forest elephants, African forest buffalo and leopard) and more than 320 bird species. There is also a population of Baka pygmies living in a relatively traditional manner within the boundaries of the reserve.

They confer a recognized cultural value to the site and are permitted to hunt using traditional methods, although agriculture and professional hunting are banned. The area is not too easy to access and a local guide is advisable.

The Dja faunal Sanctuary, covering more than five thousand square kilometres, is situated in the south of Cameroon. It’s called after river Dja, which giant curve makes up almost three quarters of the Reserve’s boundaries. The Sanctuary was created in 1950 and has been recognized by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site” since 1987. It has also been classified as a “Biosphere Sanctuary” because of its outstanding high density of species in danger of extinction, especially including large ape species. In the proximity of the Dja faunal Sanctuary there are several other protected areas, also within the tropical rainforest zone, like the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and Minkébé NP in Congo and Gabon respectively. These three together are known as the zone “TRIDOM” (the Dja, Odzala and Minkébé TRI-national).

PRICE INFORMATION

$2000 excluding International flight

Itinerary

DAY 1- Yaounde

Arrive in Yaounde International. Airport assistance and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore. Dinner and Overnight at Oveng Lodge.
DAY 2- Dja Reserve

After breakfast depart to the Dja Reserve via Somalomo. On the way to Dja biodiversity Reserve, you will pass by AYOS, and Messamena. In the afternoon you will grab some lunch later entry formalities into the reserve, departure to the reserve in company of porters, an ecotourist guard and a cook. Arrival and settling in the camp, sleeping under the canvas. Overnight in camping tents Dja. (BLD)
DAY 3- SOMALOMO-CAMP-CHOUAM ROCK

Breakfast and departure for the Chouam Rock, trekking, walk for16 km to reach the Rock, arrival, settling in and watching (safari photos), buffaloes, sitatunga, monkeys, antelopes, butterflies, birds, flora, sleeping under canvas on the Rock. Overnight in camping tents Dja. (BLD)
DAY 4- CHOUAM ROCK- SOMALOMO

Morning wake and breakfast walk, return to Somalomo; along the way, watching of various animals and flora, plucking forest fruits—pass the night at Barthelemy’s Inn. Overnight Barthelemy’s Inn or similar. (BLD)
DAY 5- SOMALOMO-MAMA PIGMY CAMP

This morning we visit a community of Baka pygmies to experience typical life here in a remote part of the forest. Today after breakfast you will depart to pigmy camp. on arrival and settling in the camp, you will receive gifts from the locals. dive into activities of hunting, fishing and harvesting of honey, plucking of forest fruits, traditional carrying of water, collecting raphia wine, the traditional lighting of fire etc., initiation to traditional medicine. At nightfall, enjoy the entertainment of a dance for the whole village around a big fire. Dinner and night in tent in the pigmy camp. Overnight Barthelemy’s Inn or similar (BLD)
DAY 6- PIGMY CAMP- THE VILLAGE-YAOUNDE

Today morning after breakfast, you will return by canoe on the River Dja. Arrival in the village and return to Yaoundé, arrival in Yaoundé, settling in the hotel for the day. Dinner in a restaurant, discovering the local cuisine. Arrive Bangui and explore the city for a feel of urban life in this most remote part of the continent. Overnight in Hotel Mont Febe. (BL)
DAY 7- Departure – Yaounde

After breakfast meet your driver to at the lobby who will transfer to the airport to catch your next flight back home.