We might not have had a rainforest (or any sunshine), but on Saturday, we completed the South Africa part of our Running for Rainforests challenge! 42 runners took part, in either an 11km or a 6km race around the beautiful Berg River Dam in Franschhoek.⁣ ⁣ The very first Running for Rainforests took part earlier this year, in Odzala, with the aim of bringing together the various players in conservation in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Along with the race in South Africa, we also raised funds that will go back into the conservation of the park.⁣ ⁣ Thank you to everyone who took part and for all your incredible support!⁣ ⁣ #Odzala33 #RunningforRainforests ##odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #race #runningevent #conservation #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper

Today we are mourning the sad passing of one of our team, Charles Sanaga: 22 Nov 1965 - 09 Sept 2021⁣ ⁣ Charles worked in maintenance, and was a carpenter. He has been involved from the beginning, building the camps with Bas and Mathieu, and then working in the maintenance team. He was also a staff representative or Delegate, and very involved in staff matters and the community. He always had something to say, and a ready smile, and most recently participated in the 10km run/walk of the Odzala 33 on 28 August, encouraging staff who were tired and sore to finish.⁣ ⁣ RIP Charles.

We held our first ever Odzala 33 Running for Rainforests event on Saturday and are delighted to report that it was a huge success!⁣ ⁣ 5 runners entered the 33km race, and 15 for the 10km. The 33km champion was our very own Wilfrid (the Odzala Discovery Camps’ kitchen assistant) who ran a fantastic time of 2 hours and 47 mins! The 10km race kicked off at a little later and was a fun walk/run. The champion here was Bayonne, another proud CCC member of staff, who finished in a lightning fast 50 minutes.⁣ ⁣ Thank you to everyone involved for making the event happen 🙏🏼⁣ ⁣ Our friends and partners in South Africa will be running 10km in Franschhoek on Saturday 16th October (date changed due to the weather), so please join in virtually and share your successes on social media, with the tags #Odzala33 and #RunningforRainforests⁣ ⁣ Roll on next year! 🍃⁣ @wcs_congo @africanparksnetwork

This year is our very first Odzala 33 event, Running for Rainforests. Hosted by Congo Conservation Company, the 33 kilometre running event and aims to bring together the various players in conservation in the beautiful Odzala-Kokoua National Park.⁣ ⁣ This year, the race is being held on Saturday, 28th August (in 2 days!), with athletes running from Mboko Camp, 33km through the Park to Mbomo Village. There is also a 10km fun event - and some of our friends and partners will be mirroring our efforts in Franschhoek, South Africa on Saturday, 4th September.⁣ ⁣ We invite all friends of Odzala Discovery Camps to participate on the 28th and do your own virtual Odzala 33 (or 10!) in support of united conservation in the Congo Basin. Post photos and remember to tag us on social media: #Odzala33 and #RunningforRainforests.⁣ ⁣ Image by @scottramsay.Africa⁣ ⁣ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #race #runningevent #conservation #IUCN #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper

This #WorldElephantDay is particularly important to us, following the announcement earlier this year that the Africa forest elephant is now listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.⁣ ⁣ Before this update, African elephants (bush or savannah elephants, and forest elephants) were treated as a single species, listed as vulnerable. This is the first time the two species have been assessed separately following the emergence of new genetic evidence. The forest elephant, which has a more restricted natural distribution, is thought to occupy only a quarter of its historic range today, with the largest remaining populations found in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo.⁣ ⁣ This #WorldElephantDay join us in spreading the word about the plight of these majestic creatures. Together, we can make a difference.⁣ ⁣ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #elephant #forestelephant #IUCN #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper

We are lucky enough to have a team of permanent researchers and trackers from nearby communities who work with the gorilla families in the forest on a daily basis. Guest researchers working on shorter term projects are frequently welcomed by our team, ensuring we keep on top of any scientific developments and research. In fact, Ngaga Camp has become one of Africa’s most important gorilla tracking destinations, offering guests an opportunity to not only see the Western lowland gorilla, but to engage with science and nature through exploration.⁠ ⁠ Image by @scottramsay.africa⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #westernlowlandgorilla #research #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper⁠

Rich in minerals, Dzanga Baï is undoubtedly the best place in Africa to see forest elephants, bongos, giant forest hogs, and forest buffalo as they congregate to enjoy the mineral deposits in the water. See you at the baï…⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #rainforest #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper⁠

“To everything its season, to everything its time” Proverb⁠ ⁠ This #FieldNoteFriday, we’re rewinding back to May to July, at which time the trees of the rainforest and savannah start fruiting in Odzala-Kokoua. The Western lowland gorillas love feasting on the variety of fruits, and it potentially brings more primate sightings and some very interesting gorilla behaviour that’s always fascinating to watch.⁠ ⁠ Image by @mlorentz23⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #westernlowlandgorilla #rainforest #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper⁠

Did you know that the Odzala wilderness area and rainforest is around the same size as the Serengeti? That’s 9 times larger than the Masai Mara! ⁠ ⁠ With just under a month until our opening date, we can’t wait to show you around our rainforest wonderland. Click on the link in our bio for more info. ⁠ ⁠ Image by @scottramsay.africa⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #rainforest #adventure #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper

This #FieldNoteFriday is dedicated to the putty-nosed monkey, a small species of monkey that lives high in the tree canopy, rarely descending to the ground. ⁠ ⁠ In material published by the researchers of the WCS Congo program, they reported seeing female monkeys chirping out an alarm call to the males on detection of a predator, essentially sending them out for protection. In response, the males approach the group while making high-pitched sounds, demonstrating their commitment to serve as bodyguards, and possibly enhancing their reproductive opportunities.⁠ ⁠ Sounds like the female putty-nosed monkeys know exactly what they’re doing ;)⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #monkey #primates #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper⁠

At the moment, there are over 100,000 Western lowland gorilla in the wild, with around 25,000 in Odzala. The Congo Basin is one of the most important Western lowland tracking destinations in Africa, and our experiences are founded on research and, most importantly, the conservation of the incredible species. ⁠ ⁠ We are always conscious of our impact, especially in this new world we live in, and when our camps reopen on the 2nd September 2021, our increased safety measures around gorilla tracking will be firmly in place. As always, we believe in observation, not engagement, and connecting with the gorilla families in a respectful and authentic way. ⁠ ⁠ Click on the link in our bio for more information on planning an adventure to the rainforest with us. ⁠ ⁠ Image by @scottramsay.africa⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #westernlowlandgorilla #rainforest #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper⁠

Odzala-Kokoua National Park is one of Africa’s oldest protected areas. Covering an area of 13,550 square-kilometres, it is a pristine ecosystem and the biodiversity is nothing short of phenomenal with 114 mammal species, 440 birds and over 10,000 varieties of plant life.⁠ ⁠ If you would like to explore with us, click on the link in the bio. Our camps reopen on 2nd September 2021 and this place of immense wonder is simply waiting to be explored.⁠ ⁠ Image by @scottramsay.africa⁠ ⁠ #odzaladiscoverycamps #odzalanationalpark #adventure #travel #congobasin #republicofcongo #exploredeeper⁠