Lesio-Louna and the Blue Lake

North of Brazzaville, the Bateke plateau rolls its strange savanna - grass hills seamed with gallery forest - and the Lesio-Louna reserve uses it for second chances: orphaned western lowland gorillas rehabilitate here through island and forest stages toward wild release, a project visitors support with day permits that include boat approaches past the residents' islands. The reserve's scenic set piece is Lac Bleu: a round, spring-fed lake of cobalt clarity cupped in white-sand savanna, swimmable, photogenic and the traditional picnic finale. Together they make Brazzaville's classic escape - conservation, landscape and lake in one long day.

The landscape

• The gorilla islands - rehab residents seen by boat at distance.
• Lac Bleu - the cobalt spring lake in white-sand savanna.
• The Bateke hills - grass plateau seamed with forest galleries.
• The Lefini river margins - hippos and birdlife on the reserve's water.

When to go

June to September, the long dry season, keeps the sand tracks passable and the plateau light glorious; day trips leave Brazzaville early - the distances eat hours.

Before you go

Arrange permits and a capable 4x4 (or an operator) ahead - the sand roads defeat city cars and improvisation both. Gorilla viewing is conservation-first: distances fixed, some stages off-limits. Lac Bleu's swim is the reward; facilities there are none.

Nearby

Brazzaville, the Lefini reserve and the plateau villages.