TOUR AVAILABLE DURING JULY AUGUST (WHALES) SEASON
DAY 1:Thursday
Arrival at Libreville
Overnight at Sunset Beach
DAY 2: Friday
In the morning, you can acclimate yourself on the beach in the shadow of the huge “badamier” (a fruit tree which produces “badames”) .
In the afternoon, you will go for a Libreville tour. Upon your preferences, you can ask the driver to lead you to the St Michel of Nkembo church with its amazing carved wood pillars, the very African Mont-Boué market, the Sibang arboretum or the craftmarket… For lunch time, you will make a stop at Le Saffir restaurant where you will be served local and traditional dishes.
In the evening you will be transferred to the train station for your train departing 8.45pm
Overnight in the train and at Lopé Hotel
DAY 3: Saturday LOPE NATIONAL PARK
Arrival at Lopé around 2 am. The driver of Lopé Hotel will collect you from the station to drive you to your bedroom. When waking up, you will be hearing the roaring of the wild Ogooué River. Lope Hotel is located at the foot of Mont Brazza and its pool looks out onto the Ogooué River.
In the afternoon, you will be driven through the savannah by 4X4 vehicle when you should have the opportunity to see some wildlife, especially forest elephants, buffaloes and monkeys.
- savanna excursion by Caroline Eggermann
Between March and July, fruits are in the savannah and the animals start coming out of the forest end of February to eat these fruits. Then July is within the best period to see some wildlife. In August, the savannah is voluntarily set alight and the animals return to the forest.
Overnight at Lopé Hotel
DAY 4: Sunday MIKONGO
After an early breakfast, you will go around 7.00 am for a 45mn drive to Mikongo forest camp. From there, you will go with experienced guides for a full day hike in the jungle to track gorillas in the forest. You might also sight forest elephants, buffaloes, mandrills, a wide range of monkeys and sometimes shy antelopes. A basic picnic will be served at lunch time in the forest. In the evening, you will come back to Lopé Hotel.
- forest excursion by Caroline Eggermann
- buffalo in the forest by Caroline Eggermann
Overnight at Lopé Hotel
DAY 5-6-7-8: Monday to thursday LEKEDI PARK
In the Sunday-Monday night, a driver will come to fetch you and will drive you to the station where you will catch the 2.00 am train to MOANDA.Arrival time should be around 8.20 am and the driver of Lekedi Park will collect you from the station for your one hour transfer to BAKUMBA.
Situated south of Moanda and Franceville, Lékédi Park is the successful result of an astonishing conversion project. Bakoumba, the place with the longest mono-cable way in the world (76km), became in some years a “nature” town. On 14.000ha has been set up: fish culture, breading of wild animals, ecotourism, mushroom production, roof tiles, pottery, weaving of raffia. Platforms for observation of the animals (especially mandrills and chimps), the ties of the railway used as fence posts, and most spectacular, a 30m high bridge of 360m long overlooking the canopy where a colony of chimpanzees is living. On a small island on the lake, a group of habituated gorillas grown up in the park is accessible by boat. A large group of wild mandrills live in the park and can be approached at very close quarter.
- By Caroline Eggermann
- By Caroline Eggermann
Many alternatives will be offered to you in the Lekedi Park, including a sail on Lekedi Lake. The silent electric boat should multiply the opportunities to see birds, varanus and reptiles. You could also opt for a hike in the forest till the rapids of Lekedi or for a botanical circuit.
Overnight Lekedi park when accommodation ranging from standard hotel bedrooms to three bedrooms villas is offered.
In the evening of day 8, transfer to Franceville
Overnight day 8 at Poubara Hotel
DAY 9: Friday FRANCEVILLE
In early morning, a taxi driver will come to fetch you at your hotel and will drive you to the liana bridge and waterfalls of Poubara. In the afternoon, you will experience a boat trip down “La Passa” following Savorgnan de Brazza’s footsteps. The boatman is a direct descendant of the native who met first Savorgnan de Brazza. During this excursion, you will approach at a close quarter the Djoumou waterfalls and rapids. At the end of the day, transfer to station to catch up train back to Libreville.
- Djoumou waterfalls by Jean Louis Albert
- Liana bridge by Jean-Louis Albert
Overnight in the train
DAY 10: Saturday
Theoretical arrival time in Libreville: 7.10 am
You will be welcome at the station at your arrival and you will be transferred to Akewa Hotel.
Overnight Akewa Hotel
DAY 11: Sunday WINGOMBE VILLAGE
Around 9am, you will take your boat shuttle from Michèle Marine Port to Wingombe Village.
Situated on the Atlantic coast of Pongara, just at the point, Wingombe Village benefits from some of the most beautiful beaches. The Lodge is concealed in a small forest reaching high up into the air which gives it a picturesque aspect. The sea in one side and the river on the other make this place enchanting and ideal for nautical activities and for relaxing.
Overnight at Gabon decouverte Lodge on stilts
DAY 12: Monday WINGOMBE VILLAGE
Each year, one of the most spectacular ballets in the world takes place between July and August. Hundreds of humpback whales come to mate off the coast of Gabon (Mayumba, Loango and Pongara) and offer an extraordinary show for nature observers.You will go in the morning for a full day excursion to stand a chance to watch this exceptional “mating call” of the whales. Whales sighting cannot be guaranteed but your chance to see them is really significant.
Overnight in Wingombe village
DAY 13: Tuesday
After breakfast, you will enjoy the beach and nautical activities all day long.At the end of the day, Transfer to Libreville
Please note that whales are visible only from July to beginning of September
