Gabon offers stunning scenery, with majestic mountains overlooking pristine primary rain forest dotted with rocky outcrops, mighty waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Officially created in 2002 as one of thirteen new national parks, Loango covers a 1550km2 mosaic of forests, grassy savannahs, lagoons and sandy beaches along the southern coast of Gabon.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: London Heathrow to Port Gentil via Paris and Libreville.
A daytime flight to Libreville where you will be met on arrival and assisted with the transfer to your connecting flight for Port Gentil. On arrival at Port Gentil you will be transferred to your hotel, arriving in time for dinner (at own expense). Overnight Meridien Hotel, Port Gentil.
Day 2: Libreville to Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project, Evengué Island.
This morning we take a short flight down the tropical coastline to Omboué and transfer to Evengué, a small island which has a gorilla sanctuary. Gorillas that lived in captivity for a long time are being cared for by a renowned conservation organization. The gorillas are part of a breeding program enabling offspring to be returned to the wild in Gabon. Eco-guides will explain the program and its long term objectives. Afterwards one of the guides will accompany you on a short bush walk that leads to the gorilla family that currently consists of eight gorillas. The rest of the day is up to you. You can discover the island on foot or by kayak, or simply enjoy the tranquility and fantastic views from the terrace.
Accommodation: Evengué Island. Evengué has two bungalows with en-suite bathroom, a fan and a private terrace with views over the lagoon. There are two tents on sun decks with private bathroom with bucket shower and toilet. Each tent has comfortable beds, chairs and private terrace. The tents are placed more towards the jungle. The wooden restaurant is cozy and friendly. You can eat inside or on the large terrace outside, and if you like, start off the evening with an aperitif by the campfire.
Day 3: Mpivié River–St. Anne-Loango.
After breakfast you will board a Gabonese "pirogue" for a 2.5 hour boat tour on the beautiful Mpivié River, en-route to Loango. This ‘black water’ river runs through some very dense rain forest. Sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views. You will see monkeys, crocodiles and all kinds of birds, hartlaubs duck, fin foots and fishing owls in particular.
Before reaching Loango you will visit the small town of St. Anne, where Gustav Eiffel built an iron church in the late 1800s. The story goes that it was a gift from the first priest’s mother. Designed and built in Paris, it was shipped in sections to Gabon. Transported over the water, elephants were eventually used to pull it out of the water. The church is still intact and if you are lucky you can even attend mass. Other features of interest are the missionary post, the boarding school and the "bamboo cathedral", where, on rare occasions, ceremonies are held.
Accommodation: Loango Lodge. The lodge has seven bungalows with en-suite bathroom with hot and cold shower and three suites with en-suite bathroom with bath. All bungalows and suites have a fan, safe, mini-bar, air conditioning and screen windows. The restaurant, with French/Gabonese cuisine, has a large sun terrace and a library with an extensive collection of books on Gabon birds and other wildlife. The paillotte in the lagoon provides the option of dining privately. Overnight Loango Lodge.
Day 4: Loango Lodge-Akaka/Tassi Bush Camp (depending on the season).
Akaka Bush Camp (during the dry season from May to September) or Tassi Bush Camp (during the wet season from October to April). Akaka, after an early breakfast the boat departs for a four hour journey in a southerly direction to Akaka. After the boat trip across large lagoons, you will arrive at the Rembo Ngove River, where you spend time 1.5 hours. You might encounter birds, elephants, buffaloes and sitatungas, possibly evening bathing in the river.
Akaka is in the heart of the tropical rain forest and the wetlands on the river bank. It is a good starting point for excursions by boat, by kayak or on foot. Accommodation: Akaka Camp. The camp is right on the riverside. From the comfort of the thatch-covered restaurant/lounge deck the view is one over the river, papyrus swamps and distant, high forest. At times, the wildlife, and especially elephants pass right through the camp. Five dome dents are placed along a narrow forest clearing leading uphill from the river. Each tent is mounted on a platform under a palm thatch roof, faces the forest, sleeps two, and is comfortably outfitted with its own private bathroom, toilet and bucket shower. Bamboo torches light the way to each tent at night.
After breakfast one of our 4x4 jeeps will take you southwest to the Tassi/Louri area, which will take approximately 1.5 hours. During this drive you may see animals such as elephants, red river hogs, buffaloes, birds and sitatunga. Tassi bush camp is situated on the savannah, surrounded by primary and secondary forest. Here you may be lucky enough to spot gorillas and chimpanzees. In Tassi Sud, 30 minutes from Tassi Bush Camp, is the Max Planck Institute which carries out an important habituation program with these primates. From Tassi you can easily go on excursions to Louri. Here you will have a good chance of seeing buffalo and elephants on the beach: a truly remarkable sight and characteristic for Loango National Park!
Accommodation: Tassi Camp. The camp has 5 tents on sun decks with private bathrooms with bucket showers and toilet. Each tent has comfortable beds, chairs and a private terrace. The tents are placed far enough away from each other to ensure your privacy. The restaurant is built on a platform, which gives you fantastic views of your surroundings while having breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Day 5: Akaka/Tassi Bush Camp.
Options are as the previous day. Excursions throughout the area to see the wildlife native to this area. Overnight Akaka/Tassi Bush Camp.
Day 6: Akaka/Tassi–Loango Lodge.
After returning from Tassi/Akaka around lunchtime, you can relax at Loango Lodge or discover some other parts of the park: by car into the savannah, on foot into the mangroves, or by "houseboat" along the shore. Game drives in a 4x4 jeep are an easy and comfortable way to view the park and see wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, red river hogs and sitatunga. In the rainy season from November to April, you can find large mammals roaming freely on the beach.
Walking Safaris. You can venture out with one of our eco-guides into the forest. On foot is one of the best ways to learn more about the diversity of the park. You can encounter wildlife such as elephants and buffalo, but even more so, discover the more inconspicuous forest animals and birds. From the lodge, you can go on a cultural walk to the nearby village or a school, which is sponsored by our local partner’s sister company “Société de Conservation et Développement”.
Crocodile Night Patrol. After dinner, navigate along the shores of the lagoon to search for crocodiles that shelter in the mangroves at night. Whale Watching (optional excursion). From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales visit the coastline of Loango National Park. Go out on a boat with our skipper to look for these impressive, playful mammals.
Please note that sightings cannot be guaranteed and this excursion is not included in the cost of this program.
Day 7: Loango Lodge-St. Catherine Beach Camp.
In the afternoon, a 20-minute boat tour over the lagoon takes you to the Pointe Sainte Catherine Beach Camp. There are miles and miles of empty beach perfect for just relaxing or taking extended walks, shell collecting, as well as some sheltered bays for swimming. In the turtle season (October-February), marine turtles nest on the beach at night. For fishing, from September to March, there is often world-class fishing a minute's walk from one's tent. Late in the humpback whale season (June-September), female humpbacks pass close inshore with their newly born calves. The surrounding coastal forest, fringing lagoon, and mangroves shelter abundant bird life and smaller mammals. And during the rainy season, St. Catherine sunsets are something special.
Accommodation: St Catherine Beach Camp. The camp's five dome tents, mounted on wooden platforms and shaded with palm thatch are nestled into the coastal forest right on the beach's edge. Each tent is comfortably outfitted, has its own private bathroom with toilet and bucket shower, and sleeps two. At night bamboo torches provide gentle lighting and although there is a restaurant/lounge deck, most evenings will be a feet-in-the-sand beach barbecue affair.
Day 8: St. Catherine Beach Camp-Loango Lodge–Libreville and departure.
After your return from Point St. Catherine Beach Camp,
you will take a flight from Loango to Libreville arriving in the late afternoon, with plenty of time to make your international connection. Departure from Libreville will be late evening, arriving the UK via Paris the next morning.
Day 9: Arrive UK. Morning arrival on the connecting Air France flight from Paris.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Low Season: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec - £4,200
Mid Season: Jun, Oct, Nov - £4,550
High Season: Mar, Apr, May - £4,850.
Price Includes:
- Domestic flights, including taxes
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation on twin share basis
- All meals (except in Port Gentil and Libreville)
- All park fees in Loango National Park
- All Excursions (Except whale-watching and fishing)
- Water and soft drinks during the excursions in Loango
National Park.
Price Excludes:
- Travel Insurance
- All drinks (except soft drinks during the excursions)
- Visa fees
- Optional whale-watching excursion (possible mid-July to
mid-September)
- Optional fishing trips
- International airport taxes payable locally
- Single Supplement: £650.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Gabon
Nature & Wildlife
Wildlife Viewing
Camping
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