Wet, Wetter. Wettest. These are the seasons of the rainforest, but we have dry days too! In the rainforest, rain is an essential part of the ecosystem and brings a cooling effect on balmy days.
Our big mammals do not migrate, and so they are in the area year-round. For this reason, any time of year is a wonderful time to explore the last jungles of Tarzan. Here is a general guideline based on our experience (subject to the whims of Mother Nature).
Climate Overview
A tropical climate characterised by relatively heavy precipitation, moderately high temperatures, and humidity. The camps of Congo Conservation Company lie just north of the equator where the primary low-rainfall season extends from June through September, with a gentle-rain season from December through February. It starts to get hotter towards the end of March.
With temperatures rising steadily, the short heavy rains begin towards the end of April with high rainfall through May. As the temperature declines gradually, rainfall drops steadily and the long low-rainfall season settles in mid-June.
July is one of the least wet and coolest months. Temperatures stay fairly low right through August. Rainfall starts to increase again towards the middle of September and so does the temperature. September is usually the end of the low-rainfall season.
The heavy-rain season often begins in October, which can be one of the most variable months of the year. Temperatures are high but cool down a bit in November, which can also get very humid. This is the typical feel right through December when the rains start to simmer down.
Odzala-Kokoua National Park Seasons
Seasonal Sightings – Odzala Discovery Camps
Select the month to view climate & sightings
January
Average Temperature: 25°C
Average Rainfall: 9 days/month, 31 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, De Brazza’s Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
January
Average Temperature: 25°C
Average Rainfall: 9 days/month, 31 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, De Brazza’s Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
February
Average Temperature: 28°C
Average Rainfall: 8 days/month, 32 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, De Brazza’s Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
March
Average Temperature: 27°C
Average Rainfall: 10 days/month, 90 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, De Brazza’s Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
April
Average Temperature: 28°C
Average Rainfall: 13 days/month, 90 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
May
Average Temperature: 27°C
Average Rainfall: 12 days/month, 114 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey
June
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 8 days/month, 120 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red River Hog, Palm Civet
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey
July
Average Temperature: 25°C
Average Rainfall: 10 days/month, 124 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red River Hog, Palm Civet
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey
August
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 14 days/month, 151 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red River Hog, Palm Civet
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey
September
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month, 167 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red River Hog, Palm Civet
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Bongo, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey
October
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 12 days/month, 129 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, Palm Civet
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
November
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 5 days/month, 91 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
December
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 3 days/month, 40 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Bushbuck, Putty-nose Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Palm Nut Vulture, Grey Parrot, Green Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco
Possible sightings: Spotted Hyena, Sitatunga, Marsh Mongoose, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: De Brazza’s Monkey, Giant Forest Hog, Red River Hog, Bongo, Palm Civet, Crowned Monkey, Congo Clawless Otter, Agile Mangabey, Pel’s Fishing Owl
Sangha Trinational Seasons
Seasonal Sightings – Sangha Trinational
Select the month to view climate & sightings
January
Average Temperature: 25°C
Average Rainfall: 9 days/month, 31 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Great Blue Turaco, Pygmy Kingfisher, Grey Pratnicole, Eygptian Plover, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Palm Civet, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
January
Average Temperature: 25°C
Average Rainfall: 9 days/month, 31 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Great Blue Turaco, Pygmy Kingfisher, Grey Pratnicole, Eygptian Plover, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Palm Civet, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
February
Average Temperature: 28°C
Average Rainfall: 8 days/month, 32 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Great Blue Turaco, Pygmy Kingfisher, Grey Pratnicole, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Palm Civet, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
March
Average Temperature: 27°C
Average Rainfall: 10 days/month, 90 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Pratnicole, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Palm Civet, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
April
Average Temperature: 28°C
Average Rainfall: 13 days/month, 90 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Bongo, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: African Palm Civet, Great Blue Turaco, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
May
Average Temperature: 27°C
Average Rainfall: 12 days/month, 114 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Bongo, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Great Blue Turaco, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
June
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 8 days/month, 120 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, White-throated Bee-eater, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, Great Blue Turaco, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
July
Average Temperature: 25°C
Average Rainfall: 10 days/month, 124 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, White-throated Bee-eater, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
August
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 14 days/month, 151 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, White-throated Bee-eater, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
September
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 7 days/month, 167 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Grey Necked Picathartes, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
October
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 12 days/month, 129 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Fungi, Grey Necked Picathartes, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
November
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 5 days/month, 91 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Great Blue Turaco, Snouted Butterfly, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
December
Average Temperature: 26°C
Average Rainfall: 3 days/month, 40 mm
Frequent sightings: Forest Elephant, Forest Buffalo, Western Lowland Gorilla, Agile Mangabey, Pangolin, Driver Ants, Great Blue Turaco, Pygmy Kingfisher, Grey Pratnicole, Eygptian Plover, Grey-crowned Nigrita, Chestnut Breasted Nigrita, Blue-Headed Dove, Putty Nosed Monkey
Possible sightings: Bongo, African Piculet, Demidoff’s Galago, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey
Rare sightings: Giant Forest Hog, Crowned Monkey, De Brazza’s Monkey
”I’ve been really lucky to visit some of Africa’s special wilderness areas, and I always experience a sense of the uniqueness of life on Earth. But Odzala National Park in the Republic of the Congo is probably one of those places that I sense the miracle of life the most.
Scott RamsayJournalist & Photographer
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