Experience Central Africa's Culture...
INDEX
Culture along the Congo River, Central African Republic
- Net hunting with the BaAka Pygmies
Accompany the BaAka pygmies hunting in the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve and help with carving up of the game, let the BaAka women show you the medicinal and other plants of use, taste a typical dish of liana leaves with a sauce made from forest nuts, watch how they construct in the forest, in no time at all, a hut to protect against the rain. Getting to know this secret culture is an experience few have known.
- Music & Dance of the BaAka Pygmies
The essence of the BaAka culture, which has been preserved over the millennia, is mainly expressed in music and dance, serving to maintain their bonds with their gods, spirits and ancestors. Each singer and percussionist chooses his or her own rhythm resulting in a wonderful array of harmony. This universe of movement, rhythm and sound is very difficult to describe – you have to experience it for real.
"Central Africa's Best Kept Secret" tour
Cultural experiences in Loango National Park, Gabon
"We aim to bring people from around the world into contact with Gabon’s unique pristine nature, where the wildlife of the equatorial rain forests spills out onto the Atlantic beaches, as well as with its 400,000 years of human history that has resulted in 40 ethnic groups and profound traditions. Gabon’s masks inspired artists such as Picasso (...). Our guiding principal is to develop an experience that will move people to understand and care about the cultures and ecosystems they visit, allowing people to discover and learn about little known biological spectacles, whilst cultivating exchange between tourists and local cultures that have been profoundly affected by the forests they have evolved in, creating a product that is uniquely Gabonese."
- Lee White of partner organisation WCS
- Traditional Bwiti Cermony
During your stay in Loango National Park, join the locals and witness a traditional Bwiti ceremony - a mesmerizing evening of Gabonese music and dance played out under the brilliance of the African night sky. Accompanied by the hypnotic sounds of sacred drums and instruments, watch as initiates under the influence of hallucinogenic Iboga make contact with spirits of the dead. An incredibly moving experience!
From Loango Lodge in Loango National Park, you can go on a cultural walk to the nearby village or the “Operation Loango” school, which is sponsored by Africa’s Eden’s sister company “Société de Conservation et Développement”.
"Africa's Last Eden" tour
A mixture of cultures on the island of São Tomé
The mixture of African, European and South American people shows in São Tomé’s culture, dance, music, art and food. Visit the old city centre, the lively central market, the beautiful plantations (locally known as roças) to get a real feel of what São Tomé must have been like during the colonial era.
At the lively Mercado Central, you will discover the islands products and the Calilu’s secret ingredients. With a visit to the National Museum, our guide will tell you about the life on the plantations and São Tomé’s tormented pre-independence history.
Once one of the world’s top exporters, São Tomé is famous for the quality of its cocoa. Conducted by an agronomist, this tour will allow you to discover how cocoa is harvested and transformed on the island by small planters. But there’s more to São Tomé than cocoa nowadays! We shall also visit a coffee estate, a pepper and vanilla plantation and a garden specialized in the export of ornamental tropical flowers.
"Treasures of Sao Tome'" Tour
The friendly culture of Principe
It is a photographer’s dream: the rustic town of Santo Antonio on the island of Príncipe tells the colourful story of a colonial Portuguese village that is now home to the people of Príncipe. Enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere of the town as you stroll through its streets, visit the fish and fresh produce markets, and step into some of the old shops with their assorted goods and trinkets. Sample some of the local delicacies or see what natural remedies the chemist might prescribe.
Visit some of our pubs and bars and meet the locals around an ice-cold beer with Creole music playing in the background. We depart from Bom Bom at 16:30 hours and visit Linda’s bar at the airport for a refreshing drink and a quick game of table football before moving on to the Sundi Road Bush Bar. We then head for Santo Antonio to visit 2 or 3 other bars popular with the local, before returning to Bom Bom at around 19:30 hours for a sumptuous dinner under the stars (and your cocktail served in a coconut).
"Jewels of Principe" Tour
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