Adventure Tourism

 

A Pygmy World

in association with

Sustainable, fair and ethical travel

presents

 

« The Oubangui River and the Aka Pygmy’s Forest » - 16 days in Central Africa -

 

Bergou the Pygmy in front of an ebony

 

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Presentation of the journey
- between river and forest -

The itinary
- day by day -

The practical informations
- equipment, health, price, dates-

And, in french only...

The Central African Republic
- useful informations -

Who are we?
- the association, the guide -

                         

Accounts of travellers

!!!  For journeys of quality, groups from 1 to 6 people maximum

THE JOURNEY

Located in the heart of Central Africa, and long considered one of the world’s last frontiers, our destination is so remote that it was the last on the African continent to be explored in the 19th Century. This is because France, the region’s former colonial power, was too busy connecting the Chad and Congo basins. Perhaps fear of the long lost tribes of cannibals also kept the explorers at bay...
The area was found in 1886 and mapped in the early 1900’s. Since then, it has remained almost completely forgotten from the rest of the world.
Our journey will retrace that of the original colonial explorers along the Ubangi and Lobaye rivers, travelling in a replica of the ‘whaleboat’ they used all those years ago.

Our journey will take us to the junction of the old colonial empires of French Equatorial Africa and French West Africa met. This special voyage will take you into the depths of the African continent, far off the beaten tracks of so-called “adventure tourism” operators.

You will be embarking on a true expedition spanning across two very different Africas where large rivers banked by small fishing villages and old colonial relics meet the continent’s deep unspoilt jungles. This is the home of the Aka Pygmies, the legendary hunter-gatherers whose lifestyle still echoes that of their ancestors thousands of years ago.

In short, our downstream journey will be akin to travelling back in time...

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TO NAVIGATE for a few days on an African river is a rare experience which offers a sense of total freedom.
We can disembark wherever we wish from our spacious " whaleboat ", a traditional wooden river vessel.

For a couple of days and with no roads in sight, we will explore some of the world’s most remote villages and receive a warm welcome from the locals who speak excellent French, hence facilitating our communication either directly or via your French/English speaking guide.

 

And all of this will take place well before setting foot into Pygmy territory.

Our evenings will be spent by camp fires set up in small fishing hamlets or on the spectacular sand bank islands which emerge from the Ubangi River in the dry season.

Soon, the first signs of our pending arrival at the door of Great Forest start to show: villages become few and far between, the humidity increases, giant and lush vegetation appears along with the first Pygmies...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Then, we finally  ENTER THE FOREST.

 

To walk deep into a primary forest is also a truly unique and wondrous experience.

 Along with a team of at least a dozen all-Pygmy porters and trackers, we will enter into a sea of centuries-old giant trees forming one of the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful forests.

Through narrow and winding tracks, we will reach our trip’s final destination: Pygmy settlements lost deep in the forest.

 

There, you will be able to share their lives for a few days.

 

It’s an experience you will never forget.

NOTE: Groups from 1 to 6 people maximum.

 

                                  ------------------ STOP STEREOTYPING....---------------                                         

 

1. Pygmies

Despite being known to us since the High Antiquity of Egypt, this fascinating group of small men and women from the deep rainforests of Africa occupy an even smaller place in our collective consciousness.

They are often perceived as pre-Neolithic relics, confined to small isolated clearings inside their forests and living on the sidelines of history.

These negative perceptions are compounded by the grim reality of their day-to-day life.

They are traditionally treated as second class citizens by their neighbours, marginalised, discriminated against and often enslaved.

 

As a result, they are a shy people which makes outside contact that much more difficult.

The media also plays an active role by ignoring the Pygmies’ plight, preferring instead the more ‘glamorous’ Massaï, Yanomamis or the Mentawaï tribes. But if you take a closer look, today’s Pygmies are just as fascinating, if not more so. They also offer great insight into sustainable living and can teach us a great deal about true human values.

Some of these Pygmies still live virtually untouched and remain fiercely attached to their ancestral way of life right in the middle of one of Africa’s last remaining great rainforests, our final destination. But for how long? I often ask myself that question as the exploitation of their native habitat by unscrupulous forestry companies intensifies each year.

PS : Yes, Pygmies are small. But they grow, just like you and I. In fact, they can end up towering over some of our intrepid travellers!!

2. The « jungle » 

Dealing with a jungle environment is no more or less difficult than being up in the mountains, on the ocean or in the desert.

All you need to do is to respect some basic rules and to be in good physical health.

As within any primary forest, the undergrowth isn’t very dense.

But the horizon is blocked by a thick layer of green everywhere you look; the humidity in the air is at its highest; the tracks are mostly open and clear but strewn with obstacles such as fallen trees or large roots at regular intervals.

It’s a flat environment, except for the occasional giant termites nest which will require some scaling.

The “law of the jungle” rules here, like in every such forest.

But except for butterflies and centipedes, all the other creatures make themselves very scarce.

So don’t count on seeing as many as on a safari.

In all honesty, the only unwelcome creatures are the rare Magnan Ants which will occasionally appear and require jumping over to avoid.

It is also important to note that there are no leeches in these forests.

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The main focus here is the incredible beauty of one of the world’s last unspoilt rainforests and its vast array of fauna and flora, ranging from the tiniest ferns to the largest trees you will ever see.

In one word, the rainforest walk is a very enjoyable one indeed.

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Next departures (from Paris) from February 15 to March 01st 2012 (full) from April 11 to April 26, 2012 from July 11 to July 26,  2012 from October 3 to October 18, 2012 from december 19 to January 3, 2013

For custumized journeys, please contact us

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Presentation of the journey
- between river and forest -

The itinary
- day by day -

The practical informations
- equipment, health, price, dates -

And, in french only...

The Central African Republic
- useful informations -

Who are we?
- the association, the guide -

                         

Accounts of travellers
  

!!!  For journeys of quality, groups from 1 to 6 people maximum

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If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us

Un Monde Pygmée
ocourtemanche@yahoo.fr

In association with LA ROUTE DES SENS (The Road of Senses) Sustainable, fair and ethical travel Mairie - 34150 Puechabon - FRANCE     www.laroutedessens.org Tel/Fax : 33 - (0)4 67 57 37 59  Tourism licence LVT AG 075.08.0001 RCP MAIF – Police n°3262472N   La Route des Sens is a member of the ATES

 

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