Setting the Scene
The kind of entrance you’ll make at Lango – soaking wet from the thighs down with squelching boots – is probably (hopefully?) not how you usually arrive at a lodge. But here that’s all part of the experience.
From Mboko Lodge, the scenic route to Lango involves a gentle kayak downstream, maybe passing a forest elephant drinking from the bank, before pulling up on an island and clambering out into knee-high water. From here, you’ll wade your way towards Lango Lodge – perched on stilts above a baï of the same name – where you might meet a herd of forest buffalos grazing in the flooded clearing, slurping up a grassy version of noodle soup.
Nests for the Night
Pry off your waterlogged boots and grab a cold beer, letting your soaked trousers start to dry out on the sunny deck. Here you might meet other guests who took the cheeky shortcut between lodges – a decidedly less dramatic half-hour stroll through the forest.
You’ll be staying in one of the six thatched chalets overlooking the baï. After a well-deserved hot shower and a change of clothes (your luggage is transported by vehicle – this is soft adventure, not Survivor), head back to the main area for an al-fresco lunch.
The Secret Sauce
Kayak through the winding waterways of the Congo Basin. Get your feet dirty on a guided nature walk to find forest elephants and forest buffalo going for a dip in the baï. Put your feet up and let a boat do the work on a river cruise that takes you into the heart of the Basin. When you’re not in full on adventure mode, spend the afternoon watching the wildlife comings and goings in the clearing from the viewing platform. Regather around the firepit for G&T sundowners as birds flock to their evening roosts and a chorus of frog chirps signals closing time at the baï.
