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- Adventure
- 9-day trip
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Gabon trip | Adventurous Gabon; gorillas & marine wildlife
Discover the wild heart of Gabon on this unforgettable adventure trip, where you’ll explore the wildlife in both the rainforest and along the coast. After arriving in the capital, Libreville, you’ll take a domestic flight to Loango National Park, one of Central Africa’s most spectacular savannah-forest landscapes. Here, you’ll enjoy exciting game drives in search of elephants, buffalos, antelopes and other impressive wildlife, and embark on a unique gorilla trek through the dense rainforest. The journey then takes you via Libreville to Pongara National Park, where you can admire the rich marine life: sea turtles, dolphins, whales and many species of bird come together here in an unspoilt coastal environment. This journey combines adventure, nature and culture, offering an intimate insight into Gabon’s unique ecosystems. A perfect experience for travellers wishing to discover the rugged landscape, extraordinary wildlife and unspoilt beauty of West Africa.
Travel programme
Travel overview
- Day 1 Flight to Gabon
- Day 2 – 4 Wildlife spotting in Loango National Park
- Day 5 Gorilla trekking in Loango National Park
- Day 6 Return to Libreville
- Day 7 – 8 Marine life in Pongara National Park
- Day 9 Departure from Gabon
- Day 10 Arrival
Flight to Gabon
Your journey to the extraordinary Gabon begins today with a flight to Libreville, the country’s capital. On arrival, you’ll receive a warm welcome and be transferred to your hotel, where you can relax after your flight.
Residence Hoteliere du Phare offers a charming stay right by the ocean, close to the airport, with comfortable rooms and a restaurant serving French and local cuisine. During your stay, you can enjoy peaceful beaches, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere, accompanied by the sound of the waves.
Inclusief:
- Meet & Greet at the airport
- Private transfer to your hotel
- Overnight accommodation including breakfast
Exclusief:
- International flight
Wildlife spotting in Loango National Park
You will be transferred back to the airport for your domestic flight to Port-Gentil. Upon arrival, you will be taken to the entrance of Loango National Park in approximately 3 to 4 hours, where you will board a boat to continue your journey to Ndola Camp Loango.
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the friendly staff at Ndola Camp Loango. They will discuss with you which activities you would like to do over the coming days during your stay here, and when. These might include boat safaris through the mangroves in search of crocodiles, hippos and bird species, or 4x4 adventures on the savannah to spot buffalo and elephants.
Inclusief:
- Private transfer to the airport
- Domestic flight Libreville – Port-Gentil
- Private transfer by 4x4 and boat to your accommodation
- Accommodation on a full-board basis, including activities such as game drives and boat safaris (including a night-time crocodile safari).
Gorilla trekking in Loango National Park
Today, an unforgettable experience is on the agenda; you’re off to see gorillas in the wild!
First, you’ll be taken to the Yatouga Gorilla Camp. This is where the ‘gorilla team’ lives, and you’ll get a glimpse of what it’s like to live in a research camp in the rainforest. Here, you’ll also receive a briefing on the rules for visiting the gorillas. You will then travel by boat (approximately 10–30 minutes) to the drop-off point to enter the rainforest. From there, you’ll trek for between 10 minutes and three hours to reach the gorillas. This is because the gorillas move in an unpredictable manner. The guide is in close contact with the advance team, who set out early in the morning to locate the gorillas, to ensure you reach the correct location.
During this expedition, you will be accompanied by experienced guides. A network of trails is used, but you may also have to go off-trail to find the gorillas, crawling under and over branches and tree trunks, through mud, small streams and possibly through swamps, so expect to get wet and muddy. The visit to the gorillas lasts about an hour. They can usually be seen from a distance of 10 to 30 metres, but sometimes they feed on fruit that is more than 30 metres up in the trees. There is a lot of tree cover and undergrowth in the forest, which can make it quite dark. However, the guides will help you spot the gorillas. During your visit, the gorillas may be resting, playing, eating or moving through the forest.
After your time with the gorillas, you will make your way back through the rainforest to the pick-up point, where the boat will be waiting to take you first back to Yatouga Camp and then back to Ndola Camp Loango. The total duration of the gorilla expedition can vary from 2 to 8 hours.
Tips from the Travel Specialist
Loango is a rainforest, which means it rains a lot. For safety reasons, the expedition will not take place if there is heavy rain. If it rains whilst you are already in the rainforest, the guides will do their utmost to find the gorillas so that you can see them. Gorillas are wild animals and there is no guarantee that they will be sighted during the expedition.
Inclusief:
- Accommodation on a full-board basis, including a gorilla trek
Return to Libreville
Today you’ll return to civilisation. You’ll travel by boat back to the entrance of Loango National Park and board the transfer that will take you to Port-Gentil Airport in around 3 to 4 hours. You’ll take a domestic flight to Libreville, where you’ll be met on arrival and taken by transfer to your hotel. You’ll be staying at the same hotel where you spent the night at the start of your trip.
Inclusief:
- Private transfer by 4x4 and boat to the airport
- Domestic flight Port-Gentil – Libreville
- Private transfer to your hotel
- Overnight accommodation including breakfast
Marine life in Pongara National Park
In the morning, you will be collected and transferred to the port of Libreville, where you will board a boat for the approximately 1 to 2-hour journey to your lodge in Pongara National Park. Upon arrival at the Pongara Lodge, you will receive a warm welcome and discuss with the staff which activities you would like to do and when.
Pongara National Park is home to a diverse range of protected marine ecosystems that form part of Gabon’s network of marine parks and aquatic reserves. The large marine mammals living in the vicinity of Pongara include various species of whales and dolphins. During the right seasons, there are plenty of activities at sea, ranging from whale-watching to observing the arrival of migrating leatherback and olive ridley turtles.
If you time your visit right, you can also see hippos and elephants coming up to the surf after a nature walk or a spot of birdwatching. Beyond the coastline lies a continuous maze of mangrove forests and savannahs, each teeming with mammals large and small, including a huge population of monkeys, reptiles and rare and exotic bird species.
Tips from a Travel Specialist
The best months for whale and dolphin watching are from July to September/October. The sea turtle breeding season mainly runs from November to March.
Inclusief:
- Private transfer to the port
- Boat transfer to your lodge
- Accommodation is on a full-board basis, including activities such as game drives, cycling on the beach, turtle safaris (depending on the season), nature walks and mangrove safaris by boat.
Accommodations
Residence Hoteliere du Phare
Residence Hoteliere du Phare is situated by the sea in Libreville and features an outdoor swimming pool. Free Wi-Fi is available. The rooms are air-conditioned. The en-suite bathrooms are equipped with a shower and a bath. Some rooms offer views of the sea and the garden. The hotel also features a bar and a…
Residence Hoteliere du Phare is situated by the sea in Libreville and features an outdoor swimming pool. Free Wi-Fi is available. The rooms are air-conditioned. The en-suite bathrooms are equipped with a shower and a bath. Some rooms offer views of the sea and the garden. The hotel also features a bar and a restaurant serving French cuisine, a 24-hour reception, a swimming pool, direct access to the beach and a garden. There is also a tour desk. Libreville International Airport is less than 2 km away.
Your stay: 1 night
Ndola Camp Loango
Deep in the heart of Loango National Park in Gabon lies Ndola Luxury Tented Camp, an intimate retreat where the forest meets the lagoon. This remote paradise is accessible only by boat and features eight spacious Meru-style tents, each raised on wooden decks with a private veranda overlooking…
Deep in the heart of Loango National Park in Gabon lies Ndola Luxury Tented Camp, an intimate retreat where the forest meets the lagoon. This remote paradise is accessible only by boat and features eight spacious Meru-style tents, each raised on wooden decks with a private veranda overlooking the serene Iguela lagoon. The camp’s rustic charm is complemented by modern comforts, including en-suite bathrooms and hot water, ensuring a pleasant stay in the heart of nature.
During the day, you can take part in guided safaris, boat trips and birdwatching, immersing yourself in the park’s rich biodiversity. In the evening, you’ll gather in the communal dining area to enjoy fresh, locally sourced dishes, including the camp’s signature jackfish carpaccio, whilst surrounded by the flickering light of lanterns and the sounds of the forest. Ndola Camp offers a unique combination of adventure and relaxation and provides an unforgettable base from which to explore one of Africa’s most unspoilt ecosystems.
Your stay: 4 nights
Residence Hoteliere du Phare
Residence Hoteliere du Phare is situated by the sea in Libreville and features an outdoor swimming pool. Free Wi-Fi is available. The rooms are air-conditioned. The en-suite bathrooms are equipped with a shower and a bath. Some rooms offer views of the sea and the garden. The hotel also features a bar and a…
Residence Hoteliere du Phare is situated by the sea in Libreville and features an outdoor swimming pool. Free Wi-Fi is available. The rooms are air-conditioned. The en-suite bathrooms are equipped with a shower and a bath. Some rooms offer views of the sea and the garden. The hotel also features a bar and a restaurant serving French cuisine, a 24-hour reception, a swimming pool, direct access to the beach and a garden. There is also a tour desk. Libreville International Airport is less than 2 km away.
Your stay: 1 night
Pongara Lodge
Pongara Lodge is situated right on the beach in Pongara National Park, where the sense of seclusion is interrupted only by the extraordinary flora and fauna. It is small in scale, comprising just a cluster of bungalows. There are 11 units, including six eco-style bungalows, built from natural materials in…
Pongara Lodge is situated right on the beach in Pongara National Park, where the sense of seclusion is interrupted only by the extraordinary flora and fauna. It is small in scale, comprising just a cluster of bungalows. There are 11 units, including six eco-style bungalows, built from natural materials in beachy shades. Each bungalow is rustic and simple, featuring queen-size beds, crisp white linen and an en-suite bathroom. The best part, however, is the view from your own balcony of the Atlantic Ocean and the beach.
The main lodge building features a restaurant and a bar, both offering equally enticing views of the ocean. And if you do want to stay in touch with the outside world, free Wi-Fi is also available.
Your stay: 2 nights
Experiences
Gabon gorilla trekking
A gorilla trek in Loango National Park offers nature lovers an unforgettable experience. Accompanied by expert guides, you’ll trek through dense, lush rainforest in search of these impressive primates. The park is home to both western lowland gorillas and a rich diversity of other…
A gorilla trek in Loango National Park offers nature lovers an unforgettable experience. Accompanied by expert guides, you’ll trek through dense, lush rainforest in search of these impressive primates. The park is home to both western lowland gorillas and a rich diversity of other wildlife, from chimpanzees to elephants and buffalo. During the trek, you’ll observe the gorillas in their natural habitat and witness their social behaviour, family structures and communication signals at close quarters. This adventure combines physical exertion with a sense of deep wonder and leaves a lasting impression of Gabon’s unspoilt wilderness.
Destinations
Libreville
Libreville, situated on the coast of the Central African country of Gabon, is the country’s largest city and capital. This laid-back yet vibrant port city boasts a palm-lined promenade featuring parks and six-metre-high Gabonese sculptures overlooking the glistening coastline. Visitors can look forward to a number of interesting activities, including: strolling through the Mont-Bouet open-air market with its wide selection of local produce, visiting the National Art Museum to see local artworks, or exploring the nearby deserted, idyllic beaches of Cap Esterias or Cap Santa Clara. Don’t miss a visit to Pongara National Park, just outside the capital on the spectacular Komo estuary. This vast park covers more than 900 square kilometres of unspoilt nature.
Gabon
This country, which straddles the equator on the west coast of Africa, is a place of natural beauty and a true paradise for adventurous nature lovers. With flat riverbanks and dense rainforests along the Atlantic coast, the Chaillu Mountains in the central highlands and lush jungles in the east, Gabon’s landscape is rugged, unspoilt and teeming with African wildlife, including leopards, elephants, chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.
In addition, the country boasts an idyllic coastline stretching some 800 kilometres, dotted with secluded, palm-fringed bays, hidden lagoons and estuaries teeming with birdlife. With so much to see and experience, Gabon has more than enough charm and diversity to appeal to travellers with a strong sense of adventure. Although the terrain can sometimes be difficult to navigate, the rewards make the effort more than worthwhile.
Loango National Park
Loango National Park, one of the most enchanting of the thirteen parks in the Central African country of Gabon, offers a spellbinding combination of natural beauty and wildlife. With its unspoilt coastline, dense vegetation, lush mangrove forests, gently flowing rivers and views over the glistening South Atlantic Ocean, Loango National Park is a truly special African destination. Situated in an area with a high density of wildlife, Loango offers its visitors the chance to spot an abundance of wild animals, including elephants, hippos, leopards, crocodiles and monkeys, as well as a large concentration of humpback whales and dolphins, making it one of the most unique places in the world for wildlife viewing. Exciting and educational excursions in this spectacular park include guided walking safaris, sport fishing, birdwatching and gorilla trekking.
Pongara National Park
Pongara National Park, which covers 930 square kilometres and is one of Gabon’s most accessible parks, is breathtakingly beautiful. The park covers the Pointe Denis peninsula and the southern Gabonese estuary areas and comprises humid tropical forests, lush mangroves, a few grassy savannahs and a long stretch of sandy beach, offering a magical escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Libreville. The area is renowned for its exceptionally diverse landscape and offers opportunities for beach camping, walking trails and wildlife spotting. The lush natural environment is home to countless animals, including elephants, monkeys, gorillas and buffalo. At the same time, the estuary and beaches serve as a breeding ground for the leatherback, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles. Keep an eye out for the impressive humpback whales, which frequently visit the area during the dry season from July to October.
Gabon trip | Adventurous Gabon; gorillas & marine wildlife
The price for this trip is available on request.
The tour price is an estimate and is subject to factors including availability and travel dates.
Included
• Domestic flights
• Accommodation in charming lodges, tented camps and hotels
• All meals as specified in the ‘itinerary’
• All excursions as mentioned in the ‘itinerary’, including game drives and gorilla trekking
• All necessary private transfers as specified
• Meet & Greet on arrival
• National Geographic or similar travel guide
• Administration fees (€50 per booking)
Positive impact of your trip:
• Contribution of €50 per person towards a positive impact via the Avila Foundation
• Accommodation at Ndola Camp Loango
Not included
• International flights
• Room category upgrade
• Travel and/or cancellation insurance
• Visa fees
• Tourist tax (where applicable)
• Seat reservations
• Personal expenses/tips
• Any departure tax when leaving the destination
• Entrance fees, where applicable
• Meals not specified and optional excursions
• Contribution to the Calamity Fund (€2.50 per booking)
• SGR contribution (€5 per person)