Gabon

The hairs on our arms rise in excitement when we speak of Gabon. A part of the biodiverse Guinean-Congolese Forest, this stunning country is a naturalist's dream. Very much off the tourist charts, stories of hippos frolicking in the Atlantic surf, of forest elephants, giant forest hogs and gorillas roaming sandy beaches get our hearts racing and minds dreaming. Whales, dolphins and sea turtles, amongst other marine creatures, also call these waters home. And inland, one will find ancient mineral-rich baïs, lush jungles of all kinds teeming with wildlife, biodiverse rivers, waterfalls and a dark and enchanting forest home to the bizarre and beautiful mandrill monkeys wandering its canopy.​ With a cultural heritage that retraces the origins of mankind, Gabon holds as much historical importance as it does ecological.

Forest elephant to the beach!

Observe the unique sight of forest elephants, buffalos and other forest wildlife feeding along the shores of the Atlantic!

Gorilla Trekking 

Head inland and join researches in their monitoring of habituated lowland gorilla families

There and back again...

One of Odysseia’s ‘crown jewels’… our escapades to Gabon. This is the brain-child of our very own authority in West-Central African travel, our co-founder Alice. Every guest that has gone and returned, whether it be on their own or on one of our popular group safaris, have showered the experience in praise, sometimes returning year after year! An unearthly, intellectual, spiritual and completely unique destination like none other! To fully enjoy a trip here, one must have an open mind and a keen sense of adventure.

"There was no stone unturned in getting us there and ensuring our safety while we were on safari. There was never a moment that felt out of control. Even the uncontrollables felt as though they were a planned part of the trip."
"You both complimented each other perfectly. Except for "lasagna-gate" there is nothing that I can think of that would be an approvement (I kid!) Andrew's knowledge of photography and wildlife mixed with Alice's planning and interpreting were exactly what we needed to pull off this once and a lifetime trip."
"Alice-words will not do you justice, from interpreting French, to logistics to making any request happen!! Just incredible, from the incredible photography tuition to the wonderful pep chats, the enthusiasm, the stories, the knowledge, the fun!! Can't wait to travel with you both again soon!"
"I felt like this was a trip that cannot be matched mostly because of the untouched landscape. It was very fun to see the raw reactions of everyone even if they'd experienced this type of adventure many times."
"Yes! I came in with little expectations, but the lodges were all uniquely unbelievable. I also loved the order - each place had a little bit of added luxury that was a nice perk to the changing environment."
"Frank is a hero. You could tell he had a true passion for showing us what Gabon had to offer and genuinely cared that we experienced the place he loved. Everyone was exceptional and made us feel at home, but Frank stood out as one of the more pleasant people I've been around"
"It was the literal definition of a "life changing experience". Every safari drive or forest walk seemed to bring on a new and exciting adventure - endless amounts of elephants, goofy buffalo spread across the savannah, huge groups of red river hogs....and the gorillas in the wild???"

Who is this for?

Are you adventurous and relatively physically fit?

Have you seen a lot of Africa and want to see something different?

Are you interested in encounters with rare species such as gorillas, bongos, forest elephant and giant forest hogs?

Are you open-minded, have a sense of adventure and humour, and can adapt to the unexpected?

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Founder’s thoughts…

Gabon is one of our personal favourite destinations on the continent. It will test your patience, and the logistics are not straightforward, but what an incredible reward for those bold enough to step out of their comfort zone. 

 

In Loango, and along the coastline, all the way down to Moukalaba-Doudou, at a specific time of year, forest wildlife meet The roaring and mighty Atlantic ocean, a scene of both beauty and power. Trek with great apes, go on forest and beach walks searching for unique landscapes and wildlife that very few people have the privilege of encountering in their lifetime! In the dry season, the focus is inland, where murmurations of rosy bee eater take to the evening skies, elephants, sitatunga, buffalo and red river hog spend days in the papyrus and fringes along the Akaka River. 

 

For those wanting to head deep into Gabon, the Lopé-Ivindo forest is a magnificent environment. It is unbelievably wild and not for the faint of heart, but here, wild mandrills can be tracked (and what a thrill to do so during their mating season, when they gather by the hundreds!), spectacular waterfalls reached and time spent gazing out to mineral-rich baïs where elephants and gorillas meet. This is an extraordinary adventure and one that will always send shivers of wonder through our spine. Langoué Bai and the Kongou Falls are as remote as it gets, but well worth the journey for those who can make the time; 

 

There are many other areas within Gabon that we love such as Lambaréné and TsamTsam, in the Lower Ogooué Lakes region, and so if you would like to join us and explore, please get in touch! 

 

The best time of year to travel is in the dry seasons, and we recommend avoiding travelling to Ivindo and Lopé outside of the long dry season (June – September).