The Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve in the Republic of Congo is a vital resource that cares for Western Lowland orphaned gorillas and releases them back into the wild. Visitors can experience gorillas from a boat, just a few meters away from huge silver back adults, youngsters and solitary gorillas .
This is just a 3.5 hour drive north from Brazzaville, and is truly an amazing experience. So, if you are up for a day trip with our furry cousins, then read on to find out about all the logistics of how to visit Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve in the Republic of Congo.
Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve – Rescued Gorillas
The Lésio-Louna Gorilla Reserve, a partnership between the Republic of Congo and the Aspinall Foundation, is a beautiful and diverse area 150 km north of Brazzaville. It covers 173,000 hectares and includes grasslands, dry mixed forests and swamp forests. This variety provides habitat for both savanna and forest animals.
The reserve is culturally significant too. Locals have a legend about Lac Bleu, a crystal-clear lake that we had an opportunity to swim in a long the way to the reserve. Locals say that Lac Bleu is a mirror dropped into the verdant valley by a beautiful celestial creature who fears being captured if she retrieves it.
Around 17,000 people live near the reserve and their traditional way of life can threaten the wildlife. The Aspinall Foundation works to address this through community projects that promote sustainable practices to reduce pressures like illegal logging, poaching, and bush fires.
The reserve’s biggest success story is the reintroduction of critically endangered western lowland gorillas. Through The Foundation’s Gorilla Protection Project, orphaned gorillas are raised and released back into the wild. This has led to breeding groups forming, with the largest troop led by a silverback who arrived at the project as an orphan in 1993.
Day Trip Schedule
Located within the Lefini Reserve north of Brazzaville, the Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve offers a unique opportunity for a day trip unlike any other. This haven provides a vital sanctuary for orphaned western lowland gorillas, offering them care and rehabilitation with the ultimate goal of reintroduction back into their natural habitat.
- Pickup from the hotel in Brazzaville, is either at 06:00 or 10:00. The gorillas that are getting ready for reintroduction back into the wild are fed twice per day. The first feeding time is at 09:30 and the second time is at 15:30. Therefore there are 2 possible times to leave Brazzaville.
- Getting out of Brazzaville does take a bit of time and later you will be driving for about 1.5 hours on a nicely paved road followed by a very bumpy 4×4 valley trail which is absolutely stunning.
- The first stop is at Lac Bleu which is a bumpy ride down to this pristine lake set in the bottom of a verdant valley. The lake is a fabulous place to cool off with a swim.
- After Lac Bleu, the 4X4 traverses back up the same bumpy road to a beautiful viewpoint of the lake below and the verdant valleys around.
- After about 30 more minutes of bumpiness the car exits to a nice paved road. The last 30 – 45 minutes of the ride are again on a dirt road, but the views are stunning and worth the bumps.
- After arriving at the camp we went directly to the boat where 2 large fruit buckets were loaded on, and off we went.
The Meetings with the Western Lowland rescued Gorillas:
The first meeting was with Kebu (age 24). Kebu is a solitary male western Lowland gorilla who was waiting for us to arrive. He is a very large gorilla and stared into my eyes for a very long time. Patrice, our guide talked to Kebu in different sounds and words. It really seemed like Kebu understood him. Patrice believes that he can communicate with all the rescued gorillas – and I believe him.
After about 15 minutes with Kebu, we were off to visit with 2 other rescued gorillas. The boat ride this time was much longer, as we traversed the calm river twisting and turning through dense mangrove shoots of the river.
When we arrived we immediately saw Joshi (age 18). Joshi is a very large western lowland gorilla who was on his own on the beach side of the river. Patrice threw the food towards the beach for Joshi to eat, which he started to do very solemnly. Joshi did not have any interest in interacting with us.
On the left side of the beach opening, hiding in the tree we saw Bomassa (8 years old), the young prankster Western Lowland rescued gorilla, is just learning to be a gorilla. We were warned that Bomassa would steal our hearts, and it was true. Bomassa really did.
Patrice was teaching Bomassa to beat his chest like a gorilla and Bomassa followed. He ate all of his food and then started to look around for more. He saw that Joshi had retreated a bit into the bushes. So quite stealthily, Bomassa started making his way towards Joshi’s stash. He crept slowly, stole a few pieces of fruit and went back to his side of the river. The whole transaction was beyond adorable.
After our hour to an hour and a half with the absolutely adorable rescued gorillas we had to go. Saying goodbye to Bomassa was tough, as he really found his way into our hearts. Our boat glided a long the river past beautiful mangroves and vistas.
- As soon as we arrived back to the camp, it was time to return to our hotel in Brazzaville. This time, we did not need to go to Lac Bleu. Therefore, after the 40 or so minutes of the bumpy dirt road, we were on very even pavement which took us all the way back to Brazzaville in 3 hours.
Planning Your Visit to Lesio Louna Gorilla Reserve
- Advance Booking: Keep in mind that due to the reserve’s focus on responsible tourism, advanced reservations are required. Plan to contact Projet Lésio-Louna in Brazzaville at least a week before your trip to confirm availability.
- Contact: The person to contact to plan your trip is Thomas Morgan, Coordinateur Reserve Naturelle de Lesio Louna Aspinall Foundation Congo Gorillas. Email: [email protected] What’s App: +242 06 459 66 40
- Travel Time: The reserve is located approximately 150 kilometers north of Brazzaville. Allow for a travel time one way of roughly 3 hours by car, with most of the roads paved until you reach the entrance of the reserve. Remember that adding the Viewpoint and Lac Bleu to the trip will add about an hour to the drive (one way).
- What to Pack: Comfortable clothing suitable for both walking and swimming is recommended. Don’t forget insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, and some water and food for the day.
PRO TIP: Booking directly through Lesio Louna is the cheapest and best way to go. We noticed that there were a few “tour operators” reselling this trip at much higher costs than going directly through the Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve (Thomas).
Wrap Up – Republic of Congo: Rescued Gorillas
A visit to Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve allows you to witness these magnificent creatures up close. The Gorilla Reserve offers a glimpse into the remarkable world of rescued gorillas while contributing to their conservation efforts. This unique day trip from Brazzaville is sure to leave a lasting impression on any nature enthusiast.
But Lésio Louna Gorilla Reserve offers more than just gorilla encounters. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear waters of Lac Bleu (Blue Lake), a scenic spot that adds a touch of tranquility to your wilderness adventure. This day trip is ideal for those seeking a taste of the Congolese wilderness without venturing deep into the country’s remote national parks. The accessibility makes it perfect for travelers with limited time or those looking for a less strenuous wildlife experience.
For us, the Republic of Congo was a very special place – it was our 180th country that we visited so far! Our goal here, beyond the big cities of Point Noire and Brazzaville was to visit with the gorillas just north of the capital. We have been incredibly lucky to have already spent time with the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda, the Lowland Gorillas of the DRC, and the rescued chimpanzees of the Pongo Songo.
Therefore, this priceless adventure was just an encounter that we could not miss. Have you had any encounters with rescued gorillas or any other wild animals? We would love to hear from you!
