A Client’s Story: Adventure in the Two Congos!

29.09.2026 17:37

The story and photographs below were shared with us by our loyal client, Maya Ameratunga, who travelled on our first trip of Journey into the Heart of Darkness. We’re proud to publish this personal travel experience, which reflects the kind of journeys we design - authentic, immersive and off the beaten track.

In the heart of Central Africa, it feels like we’re in the midst of wondrous scenes straight out of National Geographic. The differences between species melt away, as my fellow travellers and I are enthralled by our closest cousins in the family of great apes. Just a few steps away, primates rescued from human exploitation are on their journeys to be forever free in protected areas of the wild. 

• Orphaned baby bonobos (their mothers were hunted for the bushmeat trade and to capture the babies for the pet trade) cling to their human surrogate mamas in the nursery of a sanctuary. Soon, these adorable infants will be adopted into bonobo families, to be released together into the wilderness.
• A greedy gorilla sneakily steals his neighbour’s breakfast fruits in their island sanctuary. A mighty silverback splashes through the river, taking to heart his job of patrolling up and down his territory.
• A chimpanzee in a forest reserve, about to start her final journey into the wild, recognizes her former caregiver. She cups his face tenderly, grooming his hair and animatedly chattering. Perhaps she remembers how he used to bathe her as a rescued orphan, as she extends her powerful legs for him to wash. They embrace in loving farewell; then she returns to where she belongs – her chimp family.

These are some of my favourite moments from Penguin Travel’s trip, Journey into the Heart of Darkness.

The tour takes us through the two Congos – the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville). In DRC we focus on the more stable, western part of this gigantic country.

If you’re a ‘hardened’ adventure traveller – accustomed to roaming far, far off the beaten track – this may just be the small group tour for you. 

The trip will appeal to those who love nature and wildlife, are curious about other peoples and cultures in far-flung destinations, are flexible and can retain a smile amidst chaos and craziness of the external environment. 

When we’re stuck for several hours in DRC’s mammoth traffic jams, our fellow commuters in surrounding cars, trucks and on motorbikes commiserate and cheer us along. Street hawkers have a captive audience when traffic is at a stand-still; so it’s an opportunity for us to sample local delicacies. 

The tour strikes a balance. Immersion in local cultures and traditions. Historic monuments and modern life. Cities and countryside. Wildlife sanctuaries, rain forests and unspoiled nature in spectacular environments. There are hikes to waterfalls, river boat rides and even a motorbike pillion passenger ride on bumpy tracks to ancient caves. 

We use local public transport - a ferry boat across the Congo river - to get from Kinshasa to Brazzaville. It’s only a ten-minute boat crossing, but the bureaucracy on either side takes hours. 

Across the river, a different world awaits. We find in Brazzaville an oasis of peace and calm … and empty streets with no traffic. The two capitals couldn’t be more different! 

We enjoy a vibrant evening at a Brazzaville bar with 20 ‘Sapeurs’ (‘Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People’) – a cultural phenomenon of ultra-elegantly dressed individuals, combining over-the-top French fashion with African flair, parading flamboyantly up and down a neighbourhood street as their runway. As we join them in copying their moves and dancing up and down the road, never have I felt so under-dressed! 

A forte of Penguin Travel is promoting travellers’ immersion in local culture and communities – such as visits to schools to donate educational materials and interact with children and teachers. On this trip, we visit a ‘special school’ in Brazzaville for disadvantaged youngsters.

It’s a breath-taking, magical experience to witness wildlife conservation in action. Lesio Luna sanctuary for critically endangered western lowland gorillas is coordinated by the Aspinall Foundation’s gorilla protection programme.  Tchimpounga chimpanzee reserve is supported by the Jane Goodall Institute. Lola ya Bonobo (‘Paradise of the Bonobos’) is the world’s only bonobo sanctuary.

Tourism in the Congos is in its infancy. Travellers from the other side of the world are a rarity. So the locals constantly greet us, welcome us, shake our hands and pose for selfies. Children, unaccustomed to the outside world, touch our skin, curious about our differences but also our similarities. Girls stroke my straight hair, asking if it’s real! 

So, if this fascinating trip appeals to you, come with an open mind, curiosity, a spirit of adventure, plenty of patience and a sense of humour. Plan that your plans may not always go to plan – so go with the flow and take each moment as it comes.

A unique adventure awaits!