德赞噶-桑哈国家公园(Dzanga-Sangha National Park)坐落在中非共和国最西南端的角落,这片占地大约4450平方公里的原始雨林是刚果盆地保存最完好的生态系统之一。2012年这里被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产名录,核心景观是举世闻名的德赞噶林间空地。不同于东非开阔的稀树草原,在这里寻找野生动物需要穿行在茂密的雨林中,不仅能看到密密麻麻的森林象,还有机会追踪高度濒危的西部低地大猩猩。
如果说世界各地的国家公园都有自己的招牌,那么德赞噶林间空地(Dzanga Bai)绝对是这片森林的灵魂。这是一片富含矿物质的沙质空地,常年吸引着成群结队的森林象来此挖掘盐分。森林象比草原象体型稍小,象牙笔直且向下生长。在空地边的观察台上坐着,眼前的景象相当震撼。运气好的时候,你会看到超过100头森林象同时出现在视线里。它们在这里社交、嬉戏、争夺领地,由于矿物质引诱,大象对人类的观察台几乎视而不见。除了大象,森林水牛、红河猪以及极其罕见的林羚也会偶尔现身,这里被很多资深摄影师评价为非洲最容易出片的地方之一。
在白霍库(Bai Hokou)科研站附近,生活着已经习惯人类存在的西部低地大猩猩群落。追踪大猩猩通常在清晨六点半出发,由于林下灌木丛极厚,你要做在密林里连续步行三四个小时的心理准备。这里的植被密度比卢旺达或乌干达的火山公园要大得多。目前追踪许可费大约在350欧元到400欧元之间,虽然价格不菲,但看到银背大猩猩在距离你不到10米的地方剥食树皮,那种震撼感会让你觉得一切劳累都值了。为了保护大猩猩的健康,靠近时必须佩戴口罩,且观察时间严格限制在1小时内。
抵达这片秘境确实费劲。最快捷的方式是租用从首都班吉(Bangui)出发的小型包机,飞行时间大约1.5小时,直接降落在小镇巴扬加(Bayanga)附近的简易跑道。如果选择陆路,那将是一场意志力的考验。大多数旅行者会从喀麦隆的贝尔图阿(Bertoua)出发,驱车约12小时抵达边界,再换乘船只跨过桑哈河(Sangha River)。说实话,陆路交通极其依赖路况,雨季时道路泥泞不堪,陷车是常有的事,建议在预算允许的情况下尽量选择包机。
中非的旱季从12月开始一直持续到次年3月,这是前往公园的最佳时期。这段时间森林里的路比较好走,林间空地的动物聚集度也更高。虽说是旱季,雨林里的湿度依然能维持在80%以上。衣服一定要带排汗速干的,千万别穿短袖,林子里的各种昆虫和带刺的藤蔓会让你吃尽苦头。建议准备一双已经磨合好的高帮防水登山鞋,因为追踪过程中难免要趟过一些没过脚踝的溪流或泥滩。另外,这里的疟疾风险极高,出发前务必向医生咨询并备好抗疟药。
除了看动物,与当地巴阿卡(Ba'Aka)原住民一起走进森林是不可多得的文化体验。他们是天生的森林之子,对植物的药性了如指掌。跟着他们体验传统的网猎(Net Hunting)非常有趣,这绝不是表演,而是他们真实的生活方式。巴阿卡人会一边走一边采集野果或蜂蜜,他们发出的独特复调吟唱在雨林间回荡,那种人与自然共生的状态会让你对文明有新的思考。这种徒步通常持续半天,体力消耗适中,适合大部分身体健康的游客。
桑哈河是公园的血脉,也是连接周边村落的重要通道。傍晚时分租一艘木质独木舟在河面上漂流,能看到河岸两旁茂密的原始森林像一道绿色的墙。运气不错的话,能观察到河马在水中起伏,或者各种色彩鲜艳的翠鸟在水面掠过。桑哈河的河水颜色较深,那是森林植被腐殖质浸泡的结果,当地人管这叫红茶水。这种巡游方式不需要任何体力,是高强度猩猩追踪之后最好的放松方式。
进入公园需要缴纳每日约20到30欧元的入园费,而最核心的开销在于追踪项目。追踪西部低地大猩猩的许可费大约为350欧元,追踪敏捷长尾猴(Agile Mangabey)约在30欧元左右。所有费用建议准备好充足的欧元现金,因为当地几乎无法使用信用卡。
虽然中非共和国部分地区局势不稳,但德赞噶-桑哈国家公园位于偏远的西南角,且由于受到国际保护组织的直接管理,目前是非常安全的。不过由于这里极度偏远,医疗条件极其简陋,建议必须购买覆盖直升机救援服务的国际旅游保险。出发前务必查看本国领事馆的最新旅行建议。
巴扬加小镇附近有几家生态酒店,其中Sangha Lodge知名度最高,它直接建在河边,推开门就是雨林。虽然有基础的发电设备和简单的餐饮,但不要指望能随时连上高速WiFi。这里更适合那些想要彻底断网、全身心投入自然的旅行者,清晨叫醒你的通常是猴子的尖叫声。
从最近的停车场步行到德赞噶林间空地的观察台大约需要40分钟。路段相对平坦,但会经过一些湿软的泥地。观察台是一个两层高的木质结构,非常稳固。即使体力一般的人也能轻松抵达,关键是要保持安静,避免惊扰到下方的象群。
James Waller My partner and I visited Dzanga Sangha National Park in December 2023. This was a life highlight for us! The WWF team has done a fantastic job in building infrastructure to support tourism and training a high quality team of multi-lingual local guides and trackers. We enjoyed a wide variety of wildlife activites; including lowland gorilla tracking, agile mangabey (monkey) tracking, spending an afternoon in the animal hide at the ten hectare Dzanga Bai watching hundreds of elephants and forest hiking. Our only company in this undiscovered gem was the odd WWF researcher. But better yet was the opportunity to interact with the local Ba'Aka pygmies, made famous for their singing abilities by Louis Sarno. As the traditional custodians of the land, they allowed us into their lives, with sustainable net hunting, water drumming (musical performance), village cooking class, medicinal plant collection, leaf hut construction and more. The humility and good nature of the "foresr people" made them the highlight of an extraordinary trip. Furthermore, the serenity of the entire region is not spoken about enough. Central African Republic has the least light pollution in the world and in the picturesque riverside setting we were serenaded to sleep by the sounds of the river each night. We booked our Central African Republic holiday through the competitively priced and well organised Soviet Tours. We stayed in well appointed Doli Lodge, who organised all activities in the park, and flew to Bayanga (the nearest town to the lodge and national park) from Bangui on a charter organised by the local lodges and park. It is also possible to arrive in Bayanga via boat from Cameroon or overland from Bangui. The other popular accommodation for park visitors is called Sangha Lodge. Whilst this can be a pricier trip, with more complex logistics than others in Africa, it is undeniable worthwhile courtesy of the uniqueness of the location and experiences along with the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of threatened communities and wildlife. This area of Central African Republic is very safe. The broader country is peaceful at this time too, although you'd still be able to make this trip safely even if it wasn't given the Dzanga Sangha area is isolated from the rest of Central African Republic. Don't be deterred by poorly informed and politically charged travel advisories from Western governments, this is an lifetime experience not to be missed.
obed Wandane A natural and heavenly setting where life is good for animal species of all kinds. The panoramic view of this Central African tourist site is breathtaking. Stroll on the river in a canoe, meet the pygmies and local residents, and modern accommodation using local materials are all to be discovered.
Gaara Du Désert A true paradise. There is a large park there where you can find elephants, gorillas, rhinoceroses etc... The vegetation is breathtaking, a beautiful panoramic view. On the gastronomic side, this tourist area offers the best fish... A magnificent city steeped in indigenous values, we feel authenticity there.