Congo (Republic)
Odzala-Kokoua
Odzala-Kokoua by Randi Thomsen
The Forest Massif of Odzala Kokoua comprises savanna ecosystems that have seen post-glacial forest recolonization.
It includes very rare types of forest. The fully overlapping Odzala Kokoua National Park is dotted with clearings, salt pans, and savannas. The park protects a near-complete assemblage of Central African mammal species, except for Lions. It is essential to Forest Elephant migrations in the region and is a critical stronghold for Western Lowland Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Central Africa.
Community Perspective: Randi stayed for 4 nights in 2024 and encountered several silverback gorillas at its 'bais'.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua (ID: 692)
- Country
- Congo (Republic)
- Status
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Inscribed 2023
Site history
History of Odzala-Kokoua
- 1995: Deferred
- 2023: Advisory Body overruled
- From Deferral to Inscription - unanimously after Congo confirmed having revoked the mining rights that were of concern to IUCN.
- 2023: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Natural
- Criteria
- ix
- x
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- africanparks.org — Page by African Parks
- safaritalk.net — Trip Report including gorilla tracking
News Article
- May 9, 2025 bbc.com — African Parks acknowledges that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Community Information
- Community Category
- Natural landscape: Forest
Travel Information
One thousand visitors or fewer
Recent Connections
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Over 100 mammal species
120 species of mammals (AB ev p10) -
One thousand visitors or fewer
No official visitor numbers exist, but … -
Ten years or more to inscribe
1995-2023
Connections of Odzala-Kokoua
- Geography
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Congo River Basin
"at the northwestern limit of the Congo basin" (AB ev)
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- Ecology
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Gorilla habitat
"one of the most important strongholds for Western Lowland Gorillas, Gorilla gorilla ssp. gorilla (CR)" (AB ev) - has habituated groups -
Chimpanzee habitat
"one of the most important strongholds for ..chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes (EN), in Central Africa" (AB ev) -
Pangolin
three species of pangolin inhabiting the region -
Over 300 bird species
463 (AB ev) -
Critically endangered fauna species
Forest Elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis, (CR) and Western Lowland Gorillas, Gorilla gorilla ssp. gorilla (CR) (AB ev) -
Elephants
A "critically important park for Forest Elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis, migrations" (AB ev) -
Rainforests
"MFOK is part of the large tri-national Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM) landscape, which covers 10% of the Congo Basin rainforest" (AB ev) -
High-Biodiversity Wilderness Area
Congo Basin -
Over 100 mammal species
120 species of mammals (AB ev p10)
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- World Heritage Process
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Ten years or more to inscribe
1995-2023
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- Human Activity
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African Parks Network
"The nonprofit conservation organization African Parks began managing the park in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest Economy, Sustainable Development and Environment of the Republic of the Congo in 2010." (wiki)See en.wikipedia.org
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- WHS on Other Lists
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Centres of Plant Diversity
Af14 Odzala NP & Biosphere Reserve - "home to at least 32 plant species unknown elsewhere in the region including one endemic species. In all, 1,150 plant species have been listed" -
Ramsar Wetlands
"also overlaps with the Ramsar site ‘Odzala Kokoua’, declared in 2012" (AB ev)
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- Visiting conditions
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One thousand visitors or fewer
No official visitor numbers exist, but they are considered very low. According to the nom file, 5 tourist camps/lodges exist with a combined capacity of 64 beds.
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News
- bbc.com 05/09/2025
- African Parks acknowledges that hu…
Recent Visitors
Community Reviews
Show full reviews
We arrived the park after nightfall - it’s a 14 hour drive from Brazzaville.
Camp Impalanga, one of the few camps in Odzala, is a small facility run by African Parks, offering just four cabin/tents. There is no luxury here, but perfect for a couple of days in the Congolese jungle, and we believe it will be an unforgettable adventure. We are staying four nights and hoping to see our first gorillas.
Odzala is one of Africa’s largest national parks, established as early as 1935. Today, the National park is also managed by African Parks.
Before breakfast the first morning, we hiked to the nearest bai—a natural forest clearing with water—for a quick look. It didn’t take long before a silverback gorilla appeared. He took his time, eating leisurely and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Breakfast was delayed today. Afterward, we returned to the lookout tower again, but aside from spotting a red forest hog, there wasn’t much to see. Instead, the jungle treated us to a dramatic tropical thunderstorm.
After lunch, during our third visit to the bai, we first spotted a pair of red duikers, followed by another, slightly larger, silverback gorilla. Seeing two magnificent silverbacks in one day far exceeded our expectations. That evening, a cold beer by the campfire tasted particularly satisfying.
Day 2 Again before breakfast we again visited the bai, it is a 500-meter walk along jungle boardwalks. To our amazement, the same silverback returned. Watching him pock and wash …
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