Gabon & Gorillas
Gabon
Departure Dates:
- Jun 07, 2009 - Jun 18, 2009
Itinerary: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Day 1
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
Libreville
Upon arrival in Libreville, transfer to your hotel situated on an estuary of the Komo River. This evening gather for a festive welcome dinner at the hotel.
Lodging: Le Méridien Re-Ndama (D)
Day 2
MONDAY, JUNE 8
Loango National Park
Depart after breakfast and pay a visit to L'Église St. Michel, a traditional wooden church covered in colorful carvings of biblical scenes en route to the airport. On arrival at Libreville airport, board your private aircraft for your first private charter to Omboué and travel by road to the Loango Lodge. Mike Fay completed his legendary Megatransect in this park in 2001, emerging from the forest onto its pristine beaches. Loango Lodge was built as part of Operation Loango, a series of projects promoting low impact eco-tourism and conservation in Gabon. Ideally positioned with unimpeded views of the Nkomi and Ndogo lagoons, the lodge offers a rare opportunity to spot elephants, buffalo, and hippos that sometimes roam the white sands of this 60-mile stretch of coastline.
Lodging: Loango Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 3
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
Loango National Park
Over the next three days, explore coastal forests, savannas, wetlands, and lagoons in search of gorillas and chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, and countless species of birds. Game-viewing activities include walking safaris, boat and kayak excursions, and game drives in open four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Lodging: Loango Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 4
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Loango National Park
Cruise across Iguela Lagoon into the Akaka Forest on a voyage that captures the essence of coastal Gabon: vast and remote waterscapes with a constant backdrop of thick jungle. Bird life along these waterways is prolific, and during the dry season forest buffaloes and forest elephants can be spotted. Smaller mammals, including sitatunga (a swamp-dwelling antelope), red river hogs, forest duikers, five species of monkey, and great apes inhabit the area all year round. The Akaka Forest is also rich in butterflies and harbors a number of special bird species.
Lodging: Loango Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 5
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Loango National Park
Spend today on Evengue, a small island where Operation Loango has a gorilla sanctuary. Meet naturalists who are working to rehabilitate families of western lowland gorillas and go on a short bush walk to get an up-close view of one of these families. Take a boat ride down the black water Mpvie River to St. Anne, where an iron church built by Gustav Eiffel in the late 1800's juts incongruously out of the bush. Continue to the lodge through dense rainforest, on the lookout for exotic birds, monkeys, and crocodiles along the way.
Lodging: Loango Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 6
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Lopé National Park
Early this morning, return to Omboué airstrip and board our private aircraft for a flight to Lopé National Park, Gabon's first protected area and now a World Heritage Site. Settle into your bungalow at the Lopé Hotel, splendidly located at the foot of Mount Brazza. Lopé National Park is home to the largest known gatherings of mandrills. Spend two days on safari in search of troops of this enchanting primate, as well as other endangered gorillas and chimpanzees. Exotic birds such as the great blue turaco and the rosy bee-eater can also be found in the park.
Lodging: Lopé Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 7
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Lopé National Park
Today you will have the chance to go mandrill tracking in Lopé National Park with scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society. Mandrills are the largest and least understood monkey and live in enormous packs. Males are the star attraction with their exuberant red and blue faces and yellow beards. During the mandrill tracking there is also a possibility of spotting gorillas, other small primates and elephants. Return to the Lopé Hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Lodging: Lopé Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 8
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Mikongo
Depart the Lopé Hotel this morning after breakfast by 4 x 4 vehicle and head deep in the Lopé forest to Mikongo, to the research camp of ZSL (the Zoological Society of London). The location of the camp is ideally situated to search for primates. Six species of monkey live in the forest (black Colobus, moustached, putty-nosed, crowned, mangabey and mandrill), as well as the elusive western gorillas and chimpanzee. Other animals include: sitatunga, duikers, forest elephants and red river hogs. Depart on a walk from the camp accompanied by a guide and tracker to search the forest for its mammal inhabitants. Please note wildlife viewing is not easy: visibility in the forest is often less than 10 meters. Therefore, no guarantee can be given regarding wildlife observation. However, if you are quiet, persistent and follow your guides' instructions you will maximize your chances and experience a true unique rainforest adventure. Return to the Lopé Hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Lodging: Lopé Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 9
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Ivindo National Park
Take a short flight to the remote Ivindo National Park. Slated for logging until a National Geographic expedition team passed through on the Megatransect, this region became one of the Gabon's 13 new national parks in 2003 at the urging of Mike Fay and the Wildlife Conservation Society. A 4 x 4 vehicle will drive you approximately an hour and a half to the Langoué trailhead. The first 30 minutes of the drive after departing the Ivindo airstrip are on a gravel road. The remaining hour of the drive is on a dirt road that crosses three small bridges. The entire drive leads through lush green surroundings with an abundance of overhanging flora. After being met by porters, start a three-hour hike to the research camp of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The first 45 minutes of the walk will be up-hill in a humid climate, and requires guests to be fit. The next three nights will be spent at the WCS Camp, a rustic but comfortable accommodation situated in a naturally rocky clearing. The tents are set on a wooden platform, each with its own balcony. Meals will be taken in the communal dining room with the Langoué team.
Lodging: Langoué Camp (B, L, D)
Days 10 - 11
TUESDAY, JUNE 16 TO WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
Ivindo National Park
The Langoué Bai, a breathtaking forest clearing discovered by Mike Fay and visited by few other westerners, is a one-hour walk from camp. Spend two days exploring these pristine forests and observing frolicking forest elephants, lowland gorillas, and other wildlife from platforms in the trees at the edge of the Bai. After breakfast each morning depart camp by foot to Langoué. The one-hour walk is relatively flat with a steep hill at the end. The viewing platform is situated in the trees along the edge of the bai and provides an ideal location for wildlife viewing.
Lodging: Langoué Camp (B, L, D)
Day 12
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Libreville and International Flights Home
Return to Libreville by private air and gather for a farewell celebration before transferring to the airport for your return flight.
Lodging: Tropicana, day-room (B, L, D)
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