Nature & wildlife

Arrival in Libreville, Gabon

Upon arrival at Libreville International Airport, a representative of Africa’s Eden will meet you and bring you to your hotel. He or she will help you with customs procedures and collecting of your luggage. Please note that you will need to show your vaccination booklet. After that you will be taken to Hotel Le Meridien.

You can spend the evening as you like; there is no organised programme. If you would like to go out for dinner, the " Quartier Louis" is Libreville's most lively neighbourhood with many restaurants. In addition, Tropicana (near the airport) is also a good spot for a nice dinner or a relaxing drink by the sea.  
 

Transfer directly to Loango / Evengué Island & Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Sanctuary

In the morning, you will be picked up by a representative of Africa’s Eden and brought to the airport for the 08h30 flight to Port Gentil. The pick-up time from your hotel will be communicated upon arrival in Libreville. From Port Gentil you will go on a 3-hour boat ride to Omboué. Therefore it is recommended to bring along some snacks/drinks during the trip. 
 
If you're direclty going to Loango, our Loango Lodge staff will meet you there to help with your luggage. From there you will be transferred by car to Loango lodge.
 
If you're going to visit Evengue, you will  have to take a 20-minute boat trip from Omboue to Evengue. Evengue island is a small island just outside Loango National Park where the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Sanctuary is situated, which is sponsored by Africa’s Eden. 
 
During your stay on Evengué Island, our experts of the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project will share their knowledge with you on the bush meat crisis and other reasons why gorillas are a critically endangered species, and they will give you information about the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Sanctuary and Rehabilitation & Reintroduction Programme. Afterwards one of the guides will accompany you on a short bush walk leading to the gorilla family in the sanctuary. 
 

Boat trip on Mpivié River to Loango Lodge

After breakfast, you will start the boat trip up the dark waters of the Mpivié River to Loango Lodge. En route, there will be time to visit the small town of Ste. Anne, where Gustav Eiffel built an iron church in the late 1800s. After the visit to Ste. Anne, the trip will continue up the Mpivié River that from there runs through some very dense rainforest. This is a perfect opportunity to sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views. Monkeys, crocodiles and all kinds of birds (Hartlaub’s ducks, finfoots and fishing owls in particular) can be seen.

In the future, this habituation programme will allow a controlled form of tourism to track and view the gorillas and chimpanzees, while at the same time allowing researchers to gather data on all aspects of their behaviour and ecology. 

From Tassi you can easily go on excursions to Louri, where there is a good chance of seeing buffalos and elephants on the beach: a truly remarkable sight and characteristic of Loango National Park. On rare occasions, even hippos can be seen.

Tassi Savannah Camp is open only during the wet season, which is during period of 01 October - 31 May. You can also see the elephants and buffalos that often roam freely on the beach during this season.

Akaka region

After an early breakfast, the boat departs for a 4-hour journey south to Akaka. After crossing some large lagoons, you will arrive at the Rembo Ngowe River, where you will spend the last 1.5 hours. During the trip you might encounter birds, elephants, buffalos and sitatunga (swamp-dwelling antelopes), possibly even bathing in the river.

Akaka is one of the most remote parts of Loango National Park. The Akaka forests thrive with butterflies and are home to a number of rare bird species. The bush camp is situated on the riverbank in the heart of the tropical rainforest and the wetlands.

At times, the wildlife, especially elephants, passes right through the camp. Akaka is a good starting point for excursions like forest walks, or trips by kayak or motorboat along the Rembo Ngowe and Rembo Echira rivers. In the dry season, the concentrations of particularly forest buffalo and forest elephant that migrate into the area are easily seen. Smaller mammals like sitatunga, red river hogs, forest duikers, five species of monkey and great apes inhabit the area all year round. 

Akaka Bush Camp is open only in dry season, which is during period of 01 May - 31 October. 
 

 

Pte. Ste. Cathérine 

In the afternoon, a short boat tour over the lagoon takes you to the Pointe Sainte Cathérine Beach Camp. This basic camp is situated at a beautiful spot on the beach in the north of Loango National Park.

Beach walks, collecting shells and fishing are amongst the possibilities. You can also simply relax here, with one of the most beautiful beaches on earth all to yourself.

As the sun sets, dine in the restaurant, on the lounge deck, or enjoy a feet-in-the-sand beach barbeque affair. During the rainy season, from November to April, Pte. Ste. Cathérine sunsets are even better than usual. 
 

 

Flight to Libreville, Gabon

In the morning, approximately at 10h00, you will depart to Omboué, where you will go on a boat ride to Port Gentil. During the boat trip, you will be provided a lunch package from Loango Lodge. Upon your arrival in Port Gentil, you will be prepared to take the connecting flight to Libreville, where you will arrive in time (approximately at 18h30) for your connecting international flight.