Explore the breathtaking Lopé and Loango National Parks.
Come along on an amazing Gabon Wildlife Safari with Lopé and Loango National Parks as the main destinations of our nine-night safari. We will navigate our way through some of the most stunning and biologically varied landscapes in the area through hiking, kayaking, and boating. Highlights of the wildlife include a wilderness shoreline frequented by forest animals, Hippos riding the waves, a gallery forest with rare and unique primates, a plethora of birds, the opportunity to track Gorillas, and the possibility of seeing some of the continent’s most enigmatic species.
| Starts in Libreville | Ends in Libreville | Duration: 10 Days | Available to book as private guided safari |
Top attractions:
Lupé National Park: UNESCO World Heritage site offering refuge to over 1400 endangered Mandrills. The Park is also home to Western Gorillas, Sun-tailed Guenons, Black Colobus Monkeys, Chimpanzees, and Forest Elephants with a bird list of 420 species.
Loango National Park: 1,550 km2 of uninhabited coastline made up of pristine beaches, savanna, forests, lush mangroves, gently flowing rivers, and vistas of the sparkling South Atlantic Ocean. World-class wildlife destination with Western Lowland Gorilla, Red River Hog, Duiker, Forest Elephant, Hippopotamus, Leopard, and Crocodile.
Mandrill expedition: Experience these exquisite baboon-like primate in their natural habitat
Western Lowland Gorilla Trekking: Trek and spend time in close vicinity with these primates
Top Mammals:
Western Lowland Gorilla, Mandrill, Chimpanzee, White Colobus Monkey, Sun-tailed Guenon, Sitatunga, Forest Elephant, Leopard.
Top Birds:
Rosy Bee-eater, African River Martin, Emerald Cuckoo, Violet-tailed Sunbird, African Finfoot.
Itinerary summary
| Day 1 | Libreville |
| Day 2 | Libreville to Lopé National Park |
| Day 3-4 | Lopé National Park |
| Day 5 | Lopé National Park to Lambaréné |
| Day 6 | Lambaréné to Loango National Park |
| Day 7-9 | Loango National Park |
| Day 10 | Loango National Park – Port Gentil – Libreville – Departure |
Day to Day Itinerary
DAY 1:
Libreville – Upon arrival at the Leon Mba International Airport in Libreville, the capital city of Gabon. You will be welcomed by our ground personnel and transferred to your hotel for your night’s accommodation. Enjoy the warm tropical climate and take some time to relax and unwind after your travels. A leisurely stroll on the beach or a relaxing sundowner on the hotel’s terrace sounds like a perfect way to soak in the beauty of the surroundings. If you need any recommendations for activities or places to explore during your stay in Gabon, feel free to ask!
Libreville is a fascinating destination with its blend of laid-back vibes and vibrant city life. The palm-lined seafront boulevard and the Gabonese sculptures overlooking the coastline offer a picturesque setting for exploring and enjoying the beauty of the city.
DAY 2:
Libreville – Lopé National Park – You will leave in the afternoon for Owendo Station (Setrag) – Boarding at 17h00 on the train Omnibus or Express on route to Lope National Park. Around 1h30 am, we will arrive in Lope. A transfer will collect you from the train station and you will spend the night at the Lope Hotel.
DAY 3-4:
Lopé National Park – After breakfast this morning, we will enjoy exploring Lopé National Park by going on a few hikes and stopping by a few archaeological sites.
The expansive wilderness of Lopé National Park spans 5,360 km2 of pristine forest and meets patches of misty savanna at its northern edge. Established in 1946, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed Park is Gabon’s first protected area and is home to one of the continent’s most significant prehistoric sites as well as ecologically important primate reserves.
Large herds of Forest Buffalo, Elephants, and Gorillas coexist with a variety of smaller mammals, including Red River Hogs, Leopards, Golden Cats, Chimpanzees, Yellow-backed Duikers, and 4000 Western Lowland Gorillas, Sun-Tailed Guenons, and Chimpanzees.
The long-tailed monkey, known as the Sun-Tailed Guenon, is endemic to Gabon and is found exclusively in the park’s northernmost reaches’ secret forests. It was only discovered just over thirty years ago.
You will have the chance to go on a tracking excursion in search of the Mandrills the next day. This may involve a short hike, even if the animals have radio and GPS collars on. The visit should take between three to four hours, depending on where they are. You will return to Lope for lunch.
Enjoy a leisurely paddle on a kayak on the Ogooué River in the afternoon. About 17:30 pm, you will return to the hotel. We will enjoy our last dinner in Lopé.
DAY 5:
Lope National Park – Lambaréné- This morning we will be travelling to the town of Lambaréné after breakfast. Going to Lambaréné through the magnificent Lope countryside can take up to five hours. You will stop for lunch in the bustling Ndjole town meal market before continuing towards Lambaréné. The Albert Schweitzer Hospital Museum is worth a visit on the way to your overnight stay in Lambaréné.
Since its founding by Dr Schweitzer in 1913, the Albert Schweitzer Hospital—which is in a tropical rain forest in Western Gabon on the bank of the Ogoouée River—has provided the majority of the region’s healthcare. Today, patients from all around Gabon receive expert care for over 35,000 outpatient visits and more than 6,000 hospitalizations per year from an international group of Gabonese and expatriate specialists. Annually, two surgeons and their teams do around 2,200 procedures.
The majority of the 160 staff members reside on the hospital grounds, lending the facility a village-like atmosphere. Patients now find themselves in a state-of-the-art medical facility with two operating rooms, a dentistry clinic, and an inpatient ward for paediatric, adult, surgical, and obstetric patients, thanks to support from Schweitzer groups worldwide and the Gabonese government.
DAY 6:
Lambaréné – Loango National Park – You will journey to the lagoon village of Omboué this morning after breakfast, following the course of the mighty Ogooué River. We are looking at a six-hour boat trip. You will be transported in a 4×4 vehicle from Omboué to Loango National Park for the remaining 50 kilometres (40 km on a laterite road). The final 10 km of the journey (1hr30 minutes) will follow a short bush track that leads to “Loango’s park board offices.”
Once you have registered at the parks board headquarters, you will continue the adventure by taking a boat across the Iguela lagoon to Loango Camps, where you can get settled in your tent and take advantage of the camp hospitality.
You head out on safari within the park after lunch, returning to the camp in time to change and get ready for supper.
Thanks to its unique blend of landscape and wildlife, Loango National Park, the crown jewel of Gabon’s 13 parks, provides one of the most thrilling safari experiences on earth. Every year, from November to April, during the rainy season, Forest Elephants can be spotted on the beach.
If you are lucky, you will spot the Forest Elephants, as well as surfing Hippos, Buffalo, Red River Hog Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Gorillas, and three different species of Crocodile: Dwarf, Slender-snouted, and Nile. Loo out for uncommon bird species, like the River Martin and Rosy Bee-eaters, while taking a walking safari along the beach or a sunset game drive.
DAY 7–9:
Loango National Park – You will rise early today, have breakfast at 06h00, and depart by boat to Yatouga via Point Sitatunga at 07h00.
The Gorilla de Loango project is your next stop. The first properly habituated Lowland Gorilla population in Gabon opened its doors to tourists in 2016, marking the culmination of years of hard work and investment in this project.
The research team will explain the overview of the visit. After the briefing, you will board a boat to depart and subsequently hike into the forest with a group of Pygmy master trackers. Their daily mission is to locate Kamaya, the Western Lowland Gorilla silverback, and his family, which includes two youngsters. You will get the opportunity to see the gorilla troop up close, usually within 10 to 15 meters, once contact has been established. Observing these magnificent primates in their natural environment is an amazing experience.
After lunch at Yatouga, you will embark on an afternoon safari adventure before returning to the camp.
On our next day, after breakfast, you will get the chance to explore yet another area of Africa’s last great coastline wilderness. You will engage in a variety of activities while visiting Loango National Park, including walking, boat, and 4×4 safaris in the morning and afternoon. Depending on the season, a night safari is an option. You will arrive back at the camp each day well before dusk so you can change for supper and spend the night beneath the stars in a magnificent paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.
DAY 10:
Loango National Park – Port Gentil – Libreville – Departure – On your final morning, you can choose to spend it relaxing in camp or going on the safari of your liking. You will leave for Port Gentil International Airport at 12:30pm, after lunch, arriving in time for your domestic flight to Libreville and journey home.
If necessary, we can book an additional night’s lodging in Libreville based on the schedules of your flights.
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