Dubbed as “Africa’s last Eden”, it stands as one of the few remaining untouched wilderness regions on the continent. We hopped on multiple planes and boats to reach our incredible lodge in the middle of Loango National Park.
Set on the African equator, this country has been on my list for years. This stunningly beautiful has so much potential for ecotourism. With astonishing wildlife like lowland Gorillas, Chimpanzees, endangered turtles and whales, this is a country endowed with nature’s bounty - which also means it comes at an exceptionally high cost for tourism.
Whether you’re exploring the dense forests, embarking on boat safaris across lagoons, hiking to enjoy up-close wildlife experiences, this untamed nation has something for everyone. Forest elephants, dwarf crocodiles, mustache monkeys, hornbills, hippos prehistoric in sight and in sound as they seemingly buzz you walking into the forest floor.
It takes an extraordinary amount of pre-planning to ensure a Gabon safari is seamless, and a healthy bit of homework to ensure reward. The effort it takes to design a Gabon expedition reassures you that this is far from the crowded safari in the Masai Mara. In theory, the harder it is to plan a safari and the longer it takes to formulate, the more remote you’re going. That is where this guide comes in handy.
ITINERARY | GABON TRAVEL GUIDE
Arrival in Libreville Loango Natinal Park
Libreville city tour
Departure
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FLIGHTS + VISA
We flew from Cameroon to Gabon by Afrijet. You can also use Afrijet to travel between Libreville and Port Gentil (which is the base for Loango National Park)
If you hold an Indian passport, you will need an entry permit to get in. There is an online portal but all my sources told me it’s unreliable. I used my local agent booking our safaris & resorts to also do our visas. It takes 3 weeks.
LANGUAGE
French and English are the official language. Some people speak English but keep your google translate on hand.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Gabon is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. The weather is drier, cooler, and less humid, making it ideal for outdoor activities. There's also less rainfall, which makes it easier to explore the country's national parks, beaches, and wildlife areas.
CURRENCY
I used Euros but we did exchange for local currency for tips, food and tips.
GUIDE
As is always the case in Africa, I highly recommend having a a local guide to get the ground logistics sorted. Contact me if you need a reliable one for your trip.
COSTS
There is a very common misconception that an adventure in Africa is cheap. I would beg to differ - these are some of the most expensive trips we do in a year. A Gabonese Safari can set you back EUR 2500 per person for the 4-5 days.
WHERE WE STAYED
Getting to Loango is a task - we took a plane from Libreville to Port Gentil, followed by a 4 hour drive through rough roads and the jungle to get to the port; finally an hour long boat ride through the mangroves to arrive at our lodge. If you plan to visit the Loango National Park, there are three options to pick from, depending on the season you visit. As frequent visitors to Africa, we are no strangers to remote tented camps.
These camps provide the ideal base from which to explore the National Park. All the camps are intimate and low-impact safari style stays nestled in the forest, on the shore of the Louri Lagoon. Beautifully set up at the base of the park, you can take both a boat into the lagoon or a safari into the forest.
For the perfect bedtime story, fall asleep to the sounds of the nocturnal calls and the rolling waves that caress the shores. The food is exquisite and caters to every dietary specification.
Just over 40-minutes away by boat is the Atlantic Ocean where you can walk the soft-sand, catch a few waves or sit around a log fire at dusk as the fiery sun melts into the horizon. A tantalizing ending where Loango’s wild beauty never lets up!
VEGAN + VEGETARIAN FOOD
It is not easy being vegetarian in Africa - but there are ways you can get around it. If you are doing a safari, the best way to do so is my having your meals included in the package and informing the team ahead of time of you dietary preference.
Highlights
Libreville
It’s a bustling city that offers a mix of urban charm and a hint of wild adventure that awaits you further afield. Libreville is not your typical African capital. It’s smaller, cleaner, and has an understated elegance with a laid-back vibe. My first day was spent unwinding, adjusting to the equatorial heat, and exploring some of the city’s highlights.
Places to See in Libreville:
Sainte Marie Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the oldest in Gabon and features stunning architecture with stained glass windows that tell the story of the country’s colonial past.
National Museum of Arts and Traditions: A must-visit to understand Gabon’s rich cultural heritage, with artifacts, traditional masks, and art pieces that tell the stories of Gabonese tribes.
Point Denis Beach: If you need a break before your safari adventure, head to Point Denis Beach, where you can relax on the golden sands and dip your toes in the Atlantic. It’s the perfect way to shake off the jet lag.
Marché du Mont-Bouet: Libreville’s largest market is where you can get a sense of the local life. The vibrant stalls are filled with everything from fresh produce and spices to clothing and crafts.
Loango National Park - 4 days
In the untouched wilderness of Loango there is something for everything. In the first part of the year, December to February, turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Later in the year from July to September humpbacks are to be found just off the coast and the dry season from June to August is the best time to see wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, and hippos along the flood plains of the Ngové River.
The lagoon is vast, and the horizon merely a faint blur between water and sky. Thick walls of entangled green crowded down upon the water’s edge, where the dark waters of the river provided a brilliant reflection of the canopy. The swampy vegetation hides a multitude of animals. From baby crocodiles, mighty pythons, herds of buffalo, hippo, elephant and monkeys, which stared back at us before rushing back into the security of the forest. Egrets fluttered by us we puttered past. Ibises patrolled the river margins, and a fish eagle zoomed past.
Nearly three-quarters of the country is covered in tropical rainforests, which are among the richest and most diverse on Earth. The least densely populated country in Central Africa, Gabon has only one minuscule percent of its land falling under the agricultural axe. Although Gabon is principally known for its tropical rainforests it also has coastal woodland areas and open savannah grasslands where the coastal plains meet the forests. This is why I had come to Gabon & it didn’t disappoint. An AUTHENTIC wildlife experience in every sense of the word.
We have been lucky enough to see elephants in a variety of places and environments across Africa and yet this was as special as those other occasions. The ombre sky, the sound of the Atlantic crashing on the beach, the feel of the sea breeze on our faces and the sight of this lone elephant or even the small herd of elephants, adults and calves walking on the beach was incredible.
The remoteness and inaccessibility the swamps provide have inadvertently been a savior: protected by nature, elephant here have not to the same degree as elsewhere experienced poaching, know the area is safe, and consequently show their trust when you approach within a few feet by boat. Very few places in Africa offer forest elephant experiences of this kind.
For me, this makes Loango one of the most exciting safari destinations in Central Africa. The habituation process will be a long, slow process but then that is half the charm of Loango, it is raw and untouched. This is an area not for those with tick-lists but those with a thirst for adventure, those who wish to LIVE through an experience!
FINAL THOUGHTS
On paper, Gabon has it all. Which doesn’t mean it’s easy. It takes an extraordinary amount of pre-planning to ensure a Gabon safari is seamless, and a healthy bit of homework to ensure reward. The effort, however, it takes to design a Gabon expedition reassures you that this is far from the noisy charter plane skies of the Masai Mara. In theory, the harder it is to plan a safari and the longer it takes to formulate, the deeper and more remote you’re going.
The geographical location and low human population are the key driving forces behind the biomass’s pristine condition. The challenge for intrepid travelers like us is both debilitating and stimulating. The feel of the ‘frontier-ness’ is palpable.
Careful planning and patience are essential for a Gabonese adventure, which is as things should be. The unique wildlife and miles and miles of ‘broccoli’ are a testament to the country’s relative inaccessibility and to its enlightened forest conservation policies. Long may it all continue. For those in search of a true blue African experience where wildlife numbers outweigh that of humans, few places top Gabon. Hope I have convinced you to visit
Thanks for reading. Leave your questions and comments below.
Lots of love,
Anki
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