The Ba’aka Pygmies of Central Africa.
led by Rod Cassidy and Louis Sarno.
This trip will be the first of its kind to spend time in the tropical rainforests of Central Africa with an extraordinary group of people the Ba Aka pygmies.
After which we will have a few days to visit Dzangha-sangha national park , go Gorilla tracking, and visit the world famous Dzangha Bai.
Our trip with the Ba aka will involve quite a bit of walking over a number of days, not too much walking on any one day. Each day we will be moving out further into the forest until we enter forest which has never been logged. There will be net hunting each day, and gathering. A spear hunt with the men will take us out to the farthest spot, a lovely little bai, and after that we will begin the return to Bayanga; our walk back out of the forest will not be lengthy as we will rendezvous with a vehicle at a prearranged point.
Day 1, 10 Jan 2009: The tour begins on arrival in Yaoundé in the Cameroon’s. Where we will be met and transferred to our hotel.
Day 2, 11 Jan 2009: After an early breakfast we pack our vehicle depart on our adventure, first visiting the primate sanctuary at Mfou where we learn some of the problems facing primates in central Africa, here there will be plenty of opportunity to photograph these animals. Drive to Bertoua for the night.
Day 3, 12 Jan 2009: Drive to Yokadouma and overnight
Day 4, 13 Jan 2009: Drive to Libongo and from here travel by pirogue and 4WD to Bayanga. Overnight at Lodge.
Day 5, 14 Jan 2009: Today we get briefed fully by Lois sarno as to the dos and don’ts of forest life after which we consolidate our supplies with an excursion to the local store.
Ba Aka Sojourn
It is Important to bare in mind that although this itinerary is here as a guide the trip with the Baa ka cannot be scripted and will vary considerably in what is written here, though we expect the destinations to remain the same, we rely on spontaneity rather than script.
Day 6, 15 Jan 2009: Three-hour walk to the temporary camp near the
middle Kenye river. Maybe there will be a little music in the evening, such as harp-zither music. Possibly this music will be played late at night while most people sleep. It is a luxurious feeling to hear this music from bed.
Day 7, 16 Jan 2009: Begins with a ceremony Makuse (ma-KOO-say),
This is performed before sunrise around the base of a large tree. This ceremony is performed only once and only on the morning that the people arrive at their permanent camp. Its purpose is to guarantee that food will be plentiful on the forest sojourn. It's also a "farewell" to the village, and often ends with the BaAka cursing at all aspects of village life. Then a 3-hour walk to our next campsite. Probably the men will try to get in some net-hunting while the women prepare camp, building leaf huts etc. Possibly music that night, maybe more harp- zither (a traditional Aka instrument) or something bigger like Boyobe (boy-O-bay), the hunting ceremony.
Day 8, 17 Jan 2009: A day of net-hunting, which includes the women who help with the hunt and also gather foods in between each round with the nets. That night definitely Boyobe, with forest spirits (bobe) (BO-bay).
Day 9, 18 Jan 2009: Probably spear hunt for red river hog with a contingent of men. This involves a lot of walking and stalking, and we will almost certainly spend the night away from the comfort of our hunting
camp. Depending on where the hog trails take us, we may spend the night at the beautiful mini-bai called Moala, the only bai not in a national park. If the men have killed a red river hog, we'll be in high spirits.
Maybe there will be some sort of music (men only, of course).
Day 10, 19 Jan 2009: Second day of spear hunting while making our
way back to the hunting camp ( a more direct return to camp if the men have speared a red river hog. At night, more Boyobe.
Day 11, 20 Jan 2009: Net hunt. Night: Boyobe or another ceremony/dance called Enyomo (from Congo).
Day 12, 21 Jan 2009: We will begin the return to Bayanga; our walk back out of the forest will not be lengthy as we will rendezvous with a vehicle at a prearranged point on the Kongana track.
Days 13-15, 22-24 Jan 2009: : Dzangha- Sangha is the northern section of the Northwestern Congo Basin. In the reserve are large populations of forest elephant, Lowland gorillas, 16 of the country’s primate species (such as De Brazza’s monkey with its distinctive white beard), hundreds of bird species, reptiles, frogs etc. The next few days will be spent visiting Dzanga bai, tracking lowland gorillas, and relaxing. Nights in Doli Lodge.
Day 16, 25 Jan 2009: A private Charter will fly back to Yaoundé in Cameroon. Overnight in Yaoundé.
Day 17, 26 Jan 2009: Depart for home.
The projected costs for this trip will be Euro 5300 per person, and I have done everything possible to keep the costs down. [THIS is based on a total of 7 of us traveling together]
To this end we will be driving in to Central Africa from Yaoundé in Cameroon, in a minibus. This will take 3 days. But will save a lot of money. Our return we will fly out on a chartered plane to Yaoundé, this is the single biggest expense, of around 1400 euros each.
I have included all accommodation and a fee donation of euros 150 per person per day to the Ba aka pygmies and Louis Sarno, but must now stress that this only includes us being there with them, and they are not there to cater for us. This means we have to do all our own catering, as well as bring our own camping gear etc. The details we can work out later.
1. Driving into CAR from Yaoundé in Cameroon
2. Charter flight out from Bayanga to Yaoundé.
3. All accommodation en route and at Doli lodge in Bayanga.
4. Some park entrances and fees for Dzangha sangha activities.[1 gorilla tracking permit, 1 visit to Dzangha bai, and 1 Bai walk.]
5. All meals while not with the Baa ka.
6. All costs in shared accommodation. [2-3 per room at doli.]
Excludes
1. International air tickets.
2. All food while camped in the forest
3. Extra activities not in the itinerary.
4. Drinks, laundry, and items of a personal nature.
5. Single accommodation.
