What to do in Dzanga-Sangha

A verdant tangle of wildlife-brimming tropical forest and some of the most amazing gorilla-trekking territory in the world, Dzanga-Sangha is a real gem. The park is a sanctuary for dozens of endangered species, including one of Africa's most diverse collections of primates, which you'll discover while exploring this piece of the Congo Basin on foot. You'll leave in the early light, led by your experienced guide across the delightfully flat terrain, walking straight into the forest to find a family of western lowland gorilla. Spend a memorable hour with these smaller relatives of the mountain gorilla, watching as they tumble along the forest floor, snack on insects and groom each other. While the rainforests of Africa are almost perpetually damp, the best and least rainy time to go is between May and September.

As if Dzanga-Sangha wasn't unique enough, it also provides marshy clearings amongst the thick rainforest, the perfect place to explore on foot. An experienced guide will lead the way, calling out trivia about the history and heritage of the area, its wildlife and its people. The bais are where most of the forest's wildlife gathers, including eye catching flocks of Great Blue Turacos and the endemic Dzanga robin, herds of forest buffalo and elephant foraging for minerals, and pint-sized red river hogs rolling in the mud. Be prepared to get more than a little mucky and wet, crossing the bai to explore a tiny island and seeing species you've never encountered before, closer than you would ever expect. Your boots will surely need drying by the fire, but trust us, it'll be more than worth it. Or for the greatest adventure, sleep out on a research platform and wake up to sunlight streaming through the mist as elephant wallow in the mud.

Dzanga-Sangha may not be a destination often bandied about in travel magazines but it happens to be an oasis for a variety of endangered species and spectacular flora. Criss-crossed by ribbons of flowing rivers, a boat trip is one of the best ways to discover the landscape. Joined by a seasoned local guide, you'll take to the water, passing through dense forest, sunlit clearings and keeping watch for the plentiful wildlife. The Congo Basin plays host to over 400 species of birdlife, from the elusive Great Blue Turaco to large palm-nut vultures. Some of the most predator-free waterways in Africa, you're bound to spot members of the 'Forest Five' ambling through the trees and drinking along the banks. These include western lowland gorilla, forest elephant and forest buffalo, bongo and the giant forest hog. Not to mention, clouds of butterfly! The scenery is sublime and the photography is amazing, and you'll enjoy the best of both on a boat cruise. Time it just right and you'll witness the sun setting beautifully over the trees. The most pleasant time to visit the forest is in the least rainy months, from May to September.

As far as you can get from the beaten track, the forests of Dzanga-Sangha are lush and home to incredible species of mammal and rare birdlife, best explored on foot. Head off with a private guide, who knows this forest like their own home, to explore groves of palms and some of the tallest trees in Africa, cross stretches of savannah, and walk beside quiet streams, keeping your eyes peeled for the 'Forest Five' - bongo, western lowland gorilla, forest elephant and forest buffalo, and the giant forest hog. Have your camera and binos at the ready to capture these creatures in action and, depending on the time of day, enjoy a cooling dip in the stream or sit with your feet in the water as you sip on a sundowner.

Dzanga-Sangha has no shortage of incredible wildlife and endangered creatures, but it also happens to protect the highly endangered pangolin. Visit the Sangha Pangolin Project, which works tirelessly to research, rehabilitate and conserve pangolins - all while including the local people. You'll have the chance to meet the team of researchers and observe this fascinating, scaly creature in the wild as they forage for termites with their long, sticky tongues (sometimes they reach longer than their body). Take a walk through the forest, learning all about the habitat of the world's most trafficked animal.

The forests of Dzanga-Sangha are a true mystery, from the remarkable lack of predators to the marshy, sunlit bais where wildlife gathers in droves. After sunset, the mystery deepens as a cast of nocturnal creatures replace the daytime ones and your senses come alive as you try and spot as many as you can. With your guide leading the way, turn your eyes to the canopy to spy on lurking palm civets and species of bush baby, their great round eyes glowing in the dark, and the most elusive of all - the pangolin. Tune your ears into the cracks and calls of the forest, including the plentiful birdlife and enjoy the moments of silence, led only by the light of a firefly. Return to camp to enjoy a warming drink and swap stories round the fire.

In the dense, green forests of Dzanga-Sangha, where you'll easily believe few humans have ever visited, the Ba'Aka people have lived for centuries. Believed to be the oldest inhabitants of the area, visit the community for a glimpse into life as a hunter-gatherer and lend a hand with building new structures and net hunting. Your local guide will accompany you, sharing information and facilitating conversations. The lifestyle of the Ba'Aka people has remained unchanged for millenia and their knowledge of the land has become an irreplaceable resource for conservation in Dzanga-Sangha.

Dzanga-Sangha is one of the most primate-rich rainforests in Africa, from the western lowland gorilla to the Agile Mangabey. Join a team of trackers, guides and researchers on a walk through the forest to see these playful, expressive creatures in the wild. Watch them scamper through the treetops, grabbing fruit off the branches, grooming each other and calling loudly through the air. Learn all about the habits of these quirky primates, who are often as curious about you as you are of them.