Ngotto Forest

The Ngotto forest in Lobaye is a large block of Congo Basin lowland rainforest at the northern edge of the belt, with the Mbaéré and Lobaye rivers running through it and Aka communities living in and around it, whose knowledge of the forest is the reason anyone can move through it at all. Logging concessions and protected ground overlap here. Forest elephant and primates are present. The forest sits on the Lobaye plateau and drains south toward the Ubangi.

What you actually see

• The rainforest block - Congo Basin forest at its northern edge.
• The rivers - the watercourses running through the forest.
• The Aka communities - the people whose knowledge the forest is read through.
• The wildlife - forest elephant and primates in the canopy and understorey.

When to go

December to February is the driest window. Roads are impassable through much of the year. Humidity is high in any season.

Honest expectations

Roads in are poor and often impassable. There is no visitor infrastructure and everything must be arranged locally. Forest wildlife is difficult to see and encounters cannot be counted on.

Nearby

Mbaéré-Bodingué is west, and M'Baïki is northeast.