Gabon
The hairs on our arms rise in excitement when we speak of Gabon. A part of the biodiverse Congo Basin, 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 wondering its canopy. With a cultural heritage that retraces the origins of mankind, Gabon holds as much historical importance as it does ecological.
A few of our favourite places in Gabon..
Loango
Lowland Gorillas and Hippos in the Surf
Picture this. The roaring and mighty Atlantic ocean, its waves crashing against a white sandy beach, a scene of both beauty and power. And then….elephants walk past to graze along the beach. Behind you, a tropical forest, home to habituated lowland gorillas and an incredibly diverse number of species, mammalian, reptilian, avian and smaller invertebrates of sorts. Buffalos roaming the sand, hippos wallowing in the ocean and the Loango River. More than being one of the most off the beaten track destinations there is, Gabon is a pioneering wildlife destination and Loango National Park is a prime example. 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!
Lopé National Park
Discover One of Central Africa’s Most Ancient Parks
Lopé’s beautifully diverse landscapes were formed around 12 000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. Home to the largest colony of some of the last mandrills on the planet, Lopé remains one of the last vital strongholds for primates of both the New and Old World. During two weeks only in their mating season (July-September), hordes of mandrills congregate in what is perhaps one of the most impressive spectacles in Africa. Western lowland gorillas (4000 to be precise), chimpanzees, forest elephants and buffalo, red river hogs, elusive leopards and golden cats as well as more than 400 species of birds will enchant any bold visitor that ventures far off the beaten track to one of Gabon’s crown jewels. Not to mention Lopé’s cultural relevance, as a historical corridor for pygmy tribes, and as a site of palaeolithic relevance bearing traces of 400 000 years’ worth of human evolution.
Pongara
Sea Turtles and Humpback Whales Meet Gorillas and Elephants
The place that has it all. Close to Libreville and easily accessible, Pongara is home to primates of all shapes and sizes – the norm, it seems, for Gabon’s pristine national parks – and is a key nesting site for the Leatherback turtles, prime breeding season taking place from November-March. Timed right (around midway through the season), it is possible to see the young hatch and head to the mighty Atlantic. From savannah, to mangrove flats, to forest, to ocean, beauty is at every corner, and you may come across elephants, hippos and buffalos making their way across the beach. From the months of July-September, spectacular sightings of Humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins migrating north to escape the chilly southern winters offer a very different kind of safari indeed.
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