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"Africa's Last Eden" - 8 days

8 days (from Libreville, Gabon)

Day 1: Friday – Arrival in Libreville & flight to Port Gentil

Upon arrival at Libreville International Airport, your connecting Africa’s Eden private charter flight to Port Gentil will be waiting for you. In Port Gentil, a representative of Africa’s Eden will meet you, help you with your luggage and bring you to Hotel Le Méridien.

Lodging: Hotel le Méridien, Port Gentil

Day 2: Saturday - Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project

In Omboué, our Evengué Lodge staff will help with your luggage. In a 20-minute boat trip you will be taken to Evengué, a small island just outside Loango National Park where the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project 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.

Lodging: Evengué Lodge

Day 3: Sunday - Boat trip over 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, fin foots and fishing owls in particular) can be seen. After approximately 2 hours, the boat is exchanged at the end of the river for a 4x4 jeep that will drive to the lodge within 45 minutes. Upon arrival at Loango Lodge you will be welcomed with refreshments and shown to your room. Depending on the time of arrival, it might still be possible to make a first visit to Loango National Park by boat or by 4x4.

Lodging: Loango Lodge

Day 4& 5: Monday & Tuesday - Tassi / Akaka (depending on season)

  • Tassi region (wet season)

One of our 4x4 jeeps will take you south-west to the Tassi / Louri area. During this drive, animals such as elephants, red river hogs, buffalos, birds and sitatunga (a swamp-dwelling antelope) can be seen. Tassi Camp is situated on the savannah, surrounded by primary and secondary forest.

Take the 4x4 and visit the research camp of the Max Planck Institute in Tassi Sud. From here, the researchers go into the forest to carry out studies amongst the shy, elusive gorillas and chimpanzees. 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 very rare occasions, even hippos can be seen.

Lodging: Tassi Savannah Camp

  • Akaka region (dry season)

Embark on the boat for the 4-hour journey south to Akaka. 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.

Lodging: Akaka Bush Camp

Day 6: Wednesday – Loango National Park

After returning from Tassi / Akaka around lunchtime, you can relax at Loango Lodge or discover some other parts of the park: by car into the savannah, on foot into the mangroves, or by ‘houseboat’ along the shore.

  • Game drives
    Game drives in a 4x4 jeep are an easy and comfortable way to view the park and see wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, red river hogs and sitatunga. In the rainy season from November to April, you can find large mammals roaming freely on the beach.
  • Walking Safaris
    You can venture out with one of our eco-guides into the forest. On foot is one of the best ways to learn more about the diversity of the park. You can encounter wildlife such as elephants and buffalo, but even more so, discover the more inconspicuous forest animals and birds.
  • Cultural Walks
    From the lodge, 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”
  • Crocodile Night Patrol
    After dinner, navigate along the shores of the lagoon to search for crocodiles that shelter in the mangroves at night.
  • Whale Watching *)
    From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales visit the coastline of Loango National Park. Go out on a boat with our skipper to look for these impressive, playful mammals.

Lodging: Loango Lodge

*) Please note that sightings cannot be guaranteed and this excusion is not included in the cost of this programme.

Day 7: Thursday - Pte. Ste. Cathérine

In the afternoon, a 20-minute 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.

Lodging: Pte. Ste. Cathérine Beach Camp

Day 8: Friday - Flight to Libreville, Gabon

After returning from Pte. Ste. Cathérine, the Africa’s Eden private charter flight will depart for Libreville, where you will arrive in time for your connecting flight to South Africa.