Gorilla safari, Gabon
| country: | Gabon |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary |
| price: | From £3500 (15 days) excluding flights. We can offer advice on flights from the UK |
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introduction to Gorilla safari, Gabon
Combining Loango, Ivindo and Lope National Parks this lowland gorilla safari in Gabon visits the highlights of this remarkable country. We have the opportunity to see a diversity of wildlife from crocodiles, elephants and birds to whales and leatherback turtles; an experience not to be missed. And there is still time to relax in the tranquility of this fabulous landscape, or explore on foot or by kayak. The best time to visit varies; whale sightings are July to Spetember, mammals on the beach are November to April and gorilla visibility on the bias is June to August.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival at Douala airport (Cameroon) and transfer to Loango Lodge, where we will serve French/Gabonese cuisine. Have your first look at the splendours of Loango National Park during a short lagoon tour with our crocodile experts. |
| Day 2: | Visit Loango National Park by 4x4 jeep, kayak or on foot to discover the beauty of the reserve and its diversity of landscapes and wildlife. Go sport fishing with our guides, or take a tour of Ntchongerove village and the Okoume Forest. Our eco-guides will explain local myths, the medical uses of plants and how to survive in the forest, and you will see how the local population manages to live alongside nature. We also offer you the unique experience of joining a team conducting research into whales, leatherback turtles and crocodiles (August is a great time of year for whaling). |
| Day 3-4: | Boat ride to Akaka, during which you have a good chance to see various species of birds, elephants, buffalo’s and sitatunga. This is one of the most remote parts of Loango National Park. Our bush camp is situated in the heart of the tropical rainforest and the wetlands, and is a good base for excursions by boat, by kayak or on foot. At night the sounds of the elephants and the other animals will give you a real African experience. Akaka has a small restaurant with a terrace overlooking the river: a perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful sunrises. NOTE: In dry season the alternative is to visit Tassi. |
| Day 5: | Return from Tassi / Akaka. Your guide will discuss how you would like to discover other parts of the park; on foot into the mangroves, by kayak over the lagoon or by ‘houseboat’ to Bat and Bird Island and its flocks of birds. We offer you the unique experience of joining a team conducting research into whales, leatherback turtles and crocodiles (depending on the time of year). |
| Day 6: | Choice of safaris and possibility of a picnic. Afternoon boat transfer to our attractive beach camp situated on a beautiful spot on the beach in the north of Loango National Park where you can go swimming, shell seeking or fishing. Alternatively, simply relax with this gorgeous beach all to yourself. A barbeque on the beach can be arranged. |
| Day 7: | Transfer to board a Gabonese ‘peroque’ for a 2.5-hour boat tour on the beautiful Mpivie River, which runs through dense rainforest. You will see monkeys, crocodiles and all kinds of birds, Hartlaubs Duck, Finfoots and Fishing owls in particular. Visit the small town of St. Anne, where Gustav Eiffel built an iron church in the late 1800s. Other features of interest are the missionary post, the boarding school and the ‘bamboo cathedral’, where, on rare occasions, ceremonies are held. Arrive at Evengue Island, a small island where there is a gorilla sanctuary where our eco-guides will take you on a bush walk to the gorilla family that currently consists of eight gorillas. For the rest of the day you can discover the island on foot or by kayak, or simply enjoy the tranquillity and fantastic views from the terrace. Start off the evening with an aperitif by the campfire. |
| Day 8: | Transfer to Ivindo, where a member of the Ivindo National Park will pick you up. Pass the logging activities and drive through lush green surroundings. When the car cannot take you any further, you will start the 3-hour hike to the WCS research camp. Upon arrival it is possible to visit Langoué Bai. |
| Day 9-10: | Langoué Bai, an hour’s walk from our camp has three platforms in the trees providing an ideal location for wildlife viewing. Guides are available to accompany you to the bai, and on walks through spectacular tropical forest. Red river hogs, monkeys, birds and chimpanzees can sometimes be seen. Elephants (Apr-Jun & Nov-Jan) and gorillas (Apr-Jul) are seasonal visitors. |
| Day 11: | Train to Lopé National Park. Located at the foot of Mount Brazza is our charming hotel with bungalows, swimming pool and restaurant. |
| Day 12-13: | This World Heritage site is one of the largest and most beautiful national parks in Central Africa. 4-wheel drive vehicles will take you on game drives to marvel at the wide variety of wildlife: red buffalo, elephant herds, antelopes, wild boars, varieties of birds and more. Footpaths are also available for hikers to take a closer and more intimate look at monkeys and the smaller mammals. |
| Day 14: | Flight to Port Gentil with fantastic views of the vast forests below. |
| Day 15: | After lunch and a relaxed morning, your flight to Douala will leave around noon. |
this holiday is operated by a primate specialist
Typically trips are expertly guided by a leading specialist with a good knowledge of the area to be visited. Primates are the main focus of attention however most safaris also incorporate other fauna and flora highlights of the destination as well. Primate specialist trips are conducted by local guides and drivers.how this holiday makes a difference
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As recently as 2002 Gabon’s President implemented the creation of 13 new National Parks throughout Gabon; this is undeniably a treat for the adventure traveller and one of the most impressive wildlife conservation initiatives to take place in recent times. Combining Loango, Ivindo and Lope National Parks this safari visits the highlights of this remarkable country.
As Gabon is still a developing destination in relation to tourism we have the opportunity to make sure that it is done correctly. Employing local eco-guides wherever possible this has had a direct impact on local society and cultures. The prime example of this is reflected in the local pygmy tribes who were once the principal candidates for poaching throughout the forests of this beautiful country. Nowadays however these pygmy tribes play an essential part in the conservation and tourism process, as they are the experts in finding and showing to travellers the wildlife that there is to see in the forests of this Central African country. Wherever possible we work with local people that have been trained up as eco-guides to lead our safaris through the parks of Gabon; it has to be said there is not better way to see wildlife and experience the true nature of a country than by spending time with the local people that know it best. Throughout the parks visited we use a mixture of western style eco-lodges and rustic forest research camps combining the safari experience with a chance to meet the conservationists that are helping to make all of this possible. A number of camps are “temporary” – but comfortable - in style resulting in a lower impact on the surrounding environment and increasing the visibility of wildlife to the traveller. On payment of a supplement and in conjunction with researchers it is possible for the traveller to tag crocodiles at night, monitor humpback whales off the coastline, and just as importantly to sit down and chat about how the frequent traveller can help in promoting the conservation of wildlife in the world today. If travellers would also like to contribute to the protection of primates throughout the world please request further details regarding our “Protect the Primates” wristbands from which all proceeds go to the conservation of endangered primates. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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