1 July – 15 September 2025 (Dry Season Safari)
11 Days/10 Nights
Accommodation: hotel (BB), Tented Lodges (FI), Beach Lodge (FI)
Gabon is home to western lowland gorillas and nearly 200 other mammal species and 600 species of birds.
During the dry season the focus is on the rich coastal forests, home to many unique forest animals.
Staying in intimate tented camps – a safari here is like travelling back in time to a place rich in nature, yet still far away from the busy Africa safari circuits.
Gorilla Trekking in Gabon
Gabon is one of the lesser known places to visit gorillas.
This project is the result of years and years of investment and hard work, which resulted in the first, properly habituated, lowland gorilla group in Gabon which first opened to tourist in 2016. You will meet up with the research team and be given a briefing about the visit.
After the briefing you will depart by boat and then enter the forest on foot following a team of Pygmy master trackers whose daily task it is to track Kamaya, the western lowland gorilla silverback, and his family, including two youngsters.
Once contact is made with the gorilla group, you will have the chance to observe them from close-up (often 10 – 15 meters).
It is an incredible experience watching these great apes in their natural habitat doing what gorillas do for a living.
Accomodation at Loango National Park
➤ N’dola Tented Camp as a base – GREEN SEASON HIGHLIGHT ( 1-2 Nights depending on your program )
Situated in the extreme north west of the Loango National Park, the area around the N’dola camp offers some of the best “green season” fauna experiences in Gabon. Whilst N’dola in the dry season might be a bit less productive, the area is a favourite retreat for a variety of species and morning hikes are very productive in this area
Forest buffalo is always present in the area and good sightings of Monkeys, especially the elegant red-capped mangabey is common. Fortunate guests may also have a glimpse of the yellow backed duiker – the largest duiker in the family.
The N’dola area also provides access to the vast Iguela lagoon with its spectacular Mangrove forests and rich marine birdlife which includes the elegant African Skimmer. A lagoon tour by boat is a must and no trip to Loango will be complete without a sundowner on the beach, overlooking the large Iguela Lagoon mouth.
Your guide will discuss your daily activities with you and propose the best possible options in order to make the most of your stay at N’dola.
About N’dola Tented Camp
N’Dola Luxury Tented Camp is the base camp. Completed in March 2022, the camp was constructed using 80% locally sourced materials and 100% local labour, mainly from the nearby villages.
This 8-tent camp boasts large canvas safari tents, placed on large platforms in a small patch of coastal forest overlooking the Iguela estuary . Each tent has a large terrace, a living area of 18 square meters and a semi open bathroom with hot shower. The tents are all air-conditioned and comfortable appointed.
A large public area serves as the restaurant, bar and lounge area whilst the large terrace provides the perfect space to relax and soak up the incredible views.
The team of cooks prepare meals with emphasis on fresh simplicity with freshly caught fish as the highlight item. A well stocked bar offers a variety of local and international brands with a small carefully selected wine list.
Electricity at N’dola is provided by a Diesel generator, water is obtained from a well. Gabon’s Airtel network is available to N’dola and the lodge offer wireless internet access in the public areas.
As is the case with the entire Loango Camps project, The Majority of Service personnel, cooks, cleaners and guides at N’dola is from the nearby villages.
It is of extreme importance that the population around the national parks benefit directly from tourism activities.
Note: The N’dola camp is frequently visited by elephants. A guide will accompany you to your tent after dark. The current around the camp and closer to the mouth is very strong and swimming is not permitted.
➤ Akaka Camp and Region as Base – DRY SEASON HIGHLIGHT (2-3 nights)
After crossing the length of the Iguela lagoon, one enters the Rembo Ngowe (river). This river, together with the Rabi river, are the two main feeds to the large Iguela lagoon. The incredible river system takes us into the hart of the Loango National Park’s coastal rainforest.
This part of Loango captures the essence of coastal Gabon: vast waterscapes, remoteness, and the constant forest backdrop.
A visit to Akaka completes the story of Loango’s incredible diversity of ecosystems. The river system and surroundings plays home to the Slender-snout, Dwarf and Nile crocodile.
The Akaka forests are rich in butterflies and harbour a number of special bird species. Hippo, Forest buffalo, Red River Hog, sitatunga are fairly common, but it is really the high density of forest elephants which makes Akaka one of West Central Africa’s most exclusive and remarkable destinations.
But, more so than just what one might see, Akaka is really about being immersed in a peaceful outback setting and having one’s senses flooded by natural splendour.
Long forest hikes on a variety of trails, known to our guides, always holds the possibility of an encounter with a variety of monkey species, whilst chimpanzee and gorilla sighting are not uncommon. The occasional leopard sighting on foot is also not too farfetched, but rare.
Night time activities on the river offers the opportunity to see Loango’s healthy population of slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphracts). Pel’s Fishing owl and the vermiculated fishing owl are often some of the favourite nighttime encounters.
During the rainy season, it is advisable to carry a suitable raincoat and protection for Camara equipment.
Tsetse flies can be a nuisance on the river, avoid dark blue and black clothing Remember a sunhat and sun screen for the boat ride.
Elephants also frequent the Akaka camp during the evenings. Please ask your guide to accompany you to your tent.
Akaka Camp is not just about excursions and activities. Sleeping in the heart of the forest is a magical experience and waking up in the morning to the calls of the black-casqued hornbill is a memory not easily forgotten.
Listening at night to the hippos grunting or sitting on the terrace during the afternoon hours and absorbing the landscape, is revitalising experience.
At Akaka the remoteness creates a sense of community between the guests and personnel and highlight of a cool dry-season evening is sitting around the campfire and sharing stories and creating memories.
About Akaka Forest Camp
This remote and exclusive tented camp is situated on higher ground, overlooking the confluence of the Ngowe- and Eshiera river. Just six comfortable safari tents are all with en-suite bathrooms ( hot-water showers ), comfortable beds and a spacious terrace. Pedestal fans, LED lighting and charge points are available in each tent.
A large open deck with its panoramic views, is the perfect place for a morning coffee or a sundowner, overlooking the Akaka floodplains. The well stocked bar and extraordinary “forest kitchen”, always ensure that meal times are part of the Akaka experience.
➤ Louri Wilderness Camp as a base ( 2nights- depending on the specific program
Louri camp is a 1 hr drive from N’dola in a southern direction.
This intimate camp is situated on the banks of the Louri Lagoon; a long narrow lagoon of 16 km, parallel to the beach.
Early morning walks or Kayaking is the best way to get up, close and personal with some of the forest creatures. On morning excursions it’s not uncommon to encounter a variety of Monkeys, duiker, red river hog, a rich variety of birds and of course Elephant. Chimpanzee and Gorilla which is always a possibility and a nearby forest regularly produce sightings of both these primates. Half day trekking in one of the nearby forests often produce good results.
Louri camp is located in a very diverse part of Loango National Park with Louri lagoon in-front of the camp and a mosaic of savanna and beautiful coastal forest all around. Your guide will propose a rage of activities, which may include boat rides on the Louri Lagoon, Kayaking, hiking, Safari Drives or combination Safaris
The Lagoon is home to some of Africa’s largest nile crocodile and nighttime excursions on the lagoon often produce some sighting of these prehistoric water creatures. The lagoon is rich in marine live and is considered a very important breading spot for crocodiles.
Further down the lagoon is a nesting sanctuary where Pelicans, herons and egrets all share the same, confined space to raise their young. ( excursions depends on the level of the lagoon). The beach is a short boat ride away from the camp and further adds to the diversity of the area.
The site was suggested by world renowned National geography explorer, Dr. J. Michael Fay in 2016 and construction was completed in 2018.
The intimate Louri Camp offer guest accommodation in 6 comfortable canvas tents. All tents are equipped with LED lights, pedestal fans and charging points for cameras, tablets and phones. All tents are connected to wood fired hot-water boilers with semi- open bathrooms, offering a stunning view of the forest. Each tent has a spacious terrace which is the perfect place to enjoy an early morning beverage.
The essence of Louri camp lies in the absolute peace and quietness of the camp, the beautiful views of the Louri Lagoon with easy access to the beach, a short hop from the camp.
At Louri Camp, the restaurant serves splendid meals with BBQ fish as a highlight.
Paraffin Lanterns on the terrace and along the pathways completes the setting of a true wilderness camping experience with all the necessary amenities and comforts.
Louri Lagoon is home to Hippo and some of the Largest Nile crocodiles in Africa. Elephants frequently visit the camp- please let you guide accompany you to your tent at night.
Overview
Gabon is blessed with amazing forests, spectacular rivers and an incredible coastline of over 800 km.
The dramatic transition from the interior of the country to the coastal zone consists mainly of old coastal forest and often a mosaic of forest and open plains, separated by large lagoon systems estuaries which eventual spills into the Atlantic Ocean.
The river systems provide fairly easy access to some spectacular locations on the African continent whilst the open plains and coastal forests plays home to a variety of unique forest animals.
With this tour, we allow you to discover the magical Loango National Park and explore the unspoiled beaches of Pongara National Park.
Through our network of intimate camps and Lodges, trained camp staff and qualified guides, we provide access to the natural and cultural gems of these two national parks.
Highlights
- Gorilla Tracking and Project visit
- Ecologically and culturally sustainable project with temporary tented camps and community involvement
- River and Lagoon Safaris
- Beach Safaris (although during dry season many animals retreat to the forest)
- Loango National Park (Africa’s Last Eden from National Geographic documentary)
- Forest and Beach Activities in Pongara
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