Experience the Magic of Coastal Gabon (Dry Season)

Upon arrival at the Leon Mba International Airport in Libreville, you will be welcomed by a member of the Gabon Wildlife Camps ground personnel and transferred to our boutique Hotel, Hotel De la Sabliere, for your night’s accommodation. With some time to relax and get use to the tropical climate of Gabon you can enjoy a meal in one of the hotel’s two restaurants or enjoy a drink on our large terrace overlooking the Komo estuary.

Note: Your hotel accommodation is included in this package, but meals and beverages however are excluded.

About Hotel De La Sabliere

This Stunning property, with a rich history, has recently been taken over and renovated by Luxury Green Resorts and forms part of the Gabon Wildlife Camps management portfolio. The hotel is situated a mere 5 minutes from both the Afrijet and International Terminals of Libreville International. The property boasts two restaurants; a pool bar /terrace,serving light meals and incredible wood -pizzas, whilst the fine dining restaurant offers a variety of authentic plates with an emphasis on“locally sourced”. A cognac and whiskey bar serves some of the finestbeverages. Whilst we strive to provide punctual and professional service, a friendly and personalised service style is our preferred way. With only 21 rooms/suites, the hotel property has large open spaces, a swimming pool and a large deck overlooking the Komo Estuary mouth. 24hour room service is available with free wifithroughout the property. Thisis not a transit, but rather an experience on its own !

Start your day with a 06h00 hot beverage and breakfast at the hotel (you may order room service if you prefer ) before a 5-minute drive to the airport terminal for a scheduled flight to Port Gentil (07h30 take - off) . At Port Gentil airport, one of our staff members will meet you and introduce you to your transfer vehicle and driver. (You may choose to refresh at one of Port Gentil’s favourite lagoon side restaurants before starting the road trip to Loango National Park.) The first part of this journey takes you through downtown Port Gentil and on towards the town of Omboue. Beside for a slightly bumpy first 10 km, the next 117 km is an excellent tarred road, crossing some of the most spectacular bridges in Africa. Exactly 50 km from Loango National Park, you’ll follow a laterite road for a further 40 km, before joining a small bush track for the last 10 km. This entire drive takes around 3 hours. You’ll meet your guide(s) and after registering at the parks board offices, you will start your journey by crossing the Iguela lagoon by boat for a 15 minute journey to our Ndola Luxury Tented Camp, well in time lunch. After your checkin formalities and a leisurely lunch, your guide will propose to you the program for the next days.

Your 6 night stay at Loango Camps

Our N’dola Tented Camp, Louri Wilderness Camp and Akaka forest camp forms the Loango Camps Experience. Although the specific programs are often determined by weather conditions and animal movements, our aim is to showcase the rich diversity of Loango National Park through our network of intimate camps.

Activities using N’dola Tented Camp as a base.

(1-2 Nights depending on your program)

Situated in the extreme north west of the Loango National Park, the areaaround 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 forest and rich marine birdlife which includes the 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 our N’dola Tented Camp

N’Dola Luxury Tented Camp is our base camp. Completed in March 2022, the camp was constructed using 80% locally sourced materials and 100% locallabour, mainly from the nearby villages. This 8-tent camp boasts spacious canvas safari tents, placed on 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 comfortably appointed. Our Large public area serves as the restaurant, bar and lounge area whilst the terrace provides the perfect space to relax and soak up the incredible views.Our team of cooks prepare meals with emphasis on fresh simplicity with freshly caught fish as the highlight menu item. Our well stocked bar offer 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. For us at Gabon Wildlife Camps, it is of extreme importance that the population around the national parks benefit directly from tourism activities.

Akaka Camp and Region as Base - DRY SEASON HIGHLIGHT

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. 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 fequent the Akaka camp during the evenings. Please ask your guide to accompany you to your tent.

About Akaka Forest Camp

This remote and exclusive tented camp is situated on higher ground,overlooking the confluence of the Ngowe- and Eshiera rivers. Our 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.Spending nights at Akaka Camp is not just about excursions and activities. Sleeping in the hart 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 thelandscape, 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.

Visiting the Loango Gorilla project

The Gorilla visit are optional and can be booked through Gabon Wildlife Camps and Safaris office as the exclusive vending point for trekking permits.This project, a longstanding joint-venture between the National Parks Board and the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, resulted in the first, properly habituated, lowland gorilla group in Gabon. The project which started back in 2005, officially opened for tourism for the first time 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,before enter the forest on foot following a team of Pygmy master trackers whose daily task it is to track the Atananga group, with Kamaya the silverback. The group is dynamic and the group size can range between 9 and 11 individuals. Once contact is madewith the gorilla group, you will have the chance to observe them from a distance which can be as little as 10 meters, depending on the location and the behaviour of the group. It is an incredible experience watching these great apes in their natural habitat. Unlike Mountain Gorillas, Lowland Gorillas moves a lot. The home range of the Atananga group consists of typical coastal forest,large swamps and mangrove forests. The terrain, coupled with the group’s movements, may result in some hard work and a fair level of fitness and mobility is required. The project requires guests over the age of 65 years to provide a certificate of good health from a general practitioner and a fair level of fitness and mobility is required, especially since forest elephants are present and regularly encountered. Gorilla visits may depart from either N’dola (40 minutes by boat) or Louri’s Hippo Point (20 minutes by 4x4 followed by a 25minutes Boat ride) or en-route to Akaka camp.

Activities using Louri Wilderness Camp as a base.

Our 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. 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 beautifulcoastal 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. Research at Louri Gabon Wildlife Camps and Safaris has teamed up with the parks board of Gabon and a NGO to conduct research with Louri as base camp. Camera trapping, DNA sample collecting, phenology and tracking of wild chimpanzee, gorilla and redcapped mangabe is part of the research activities in which guests may participate.

Spending nights at Louri Wilderness Camp

The site was suggested by world renowned National geography explorer, Dr. J.Michael Fay in 2016 and construction was completed I 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 semiopen 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 atrue 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. Elephantsfrequently visit the camp- please let you guide accompany you to your tent at night.Louri tent at night Louri’s bathrooms with hot showers.

This, your last morning at Loango National park will leave you with enough time for a morning activity before continuing with your tour. Weather the last night was spend at Louri or N’dola, you will leave the Camp at 12h00, for a boat ride to meet-up with the driver for your road transfer back to PortGentil. You will arrive in Port Gentil in time to check-in for your Flight back to Libreville. Upon arrival in Libreville, the Gabon Wildlife Camps team will assist you once again, to reach the Hotel De La Sabliere. (PLEASE ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR FLIGHT TICKET/VOUCHER FOR ACCURATE TIMES) Spend the night at Hotel De La Sabliere.Treat yourself to a scrumptious meal in one of the Hotel’s restaurants andchoose to end the evening in our exclusive whisky and cognac bar, whilst reflecting on the week spend in Loango National Park. The next part of your journey will take you to Pongara National Park andperhaps not as rich in fauna as Loango, Pongara’s natural beauty is absorbing. The next two days will allow you to wind-down and relax whilst still being able to explore the beauty of the park and discover the numerous surprises of this incredible park, just a short hop from Libreville.

Note: In season whale-watching can be arranged out of Libreville, priorto your departure to Pongara Lodge.

At 08H45 you’ll be picked up from the Hotel by our ground staff for a drive to theMichel Marine Marina in central Libreville for a boat transfer across the lagoon to Point Denis (15-20 minutes). From Point Denis, an adventurous forest drive, lasting about 1 hour, will take you to Pongara Lodge. This drive through a very pretty forest will already showcase the beauty of the the Pongara National Park. Dry season drives on this forest track has already delivered some wonderful chimpanzee sightings and presence of elephant prints along the way is evidence that you can meet up with these forest giants at any point. Upon arrival at Pongara Lodge, you will be welcomed by the lodge management and after a short briefing and check-in formalities you will settle into your accommodation. Our Pongara lodge is located in the hart of Pongara National Park on the opposite site of the Komo Estuary. The landscapes of Pongara national park captures the essence of coastal Gabon. The forest gives way to endless beaches and a network of small swamps and lagoons. The undulating landscape of Pongara makes for amazing forest walks. Forest Buffalo, Elephant and red river hog is not uncommon and the variety of Monkeys are almost always present ( red capped Mangabe,Mustac and Putty Nose ) The two Savannas in the vicinity of Pongara Lodge offers the perfect opportunity for some afternoon drives, which can be followed by a kayaking experience on the nearby lagoon.Birdlife in Pongara is prolific and no better way to observe some of our highlight species on a long forest hike. (Lookout for the green touraco and the Black-casqued hornbill) . Short nighttime walks around the camp provides the chance of spotting the elusive Golden Potto and the Swampy area behind the cabins has a healthy population of dwarf crocodile“Emile” a regular visitor to Pongara Lodge.

About Pongara Lodge

Pongara Lodge is situated on the edge of a small plain with the forest as backdrop. Thelodge has 3 twin room bungalows, a two bedroom family duplex and 3 individual bungalows making up the 11 rooms. All units are fully air-conditioned, en-suite and each room has a spacious terrace. Our bar, restaurant and Lounge are is situated in a large open-air building, a mere stonethrow from the beach. We put a lot of emphasis on our food quality and the team of Chefs never fails to impress. Beach barbecues forms part of the regular events at Pongara. The beaches of Pongara allows for long leisurely strolls and bicycles are available for the more active guests. Enjoying the sunset over the Atlantic is a daily highlight. Sun-beds on the beach is the perfect spot for an after-lunch siesta. Note that Pongara Lodge has a limited wifithrough a boosted GMS network, available in the restaurant only. Electricity is provided by diesel generator and is available 24 hrs per day. Our guiding team will discuss your daily programs with you well in advance. Activity options Bicycling (guided or non guided) Extensive Forrest Hikes 4x4 Buggie drives Fishing (equipment rental) Kayaking Turtle excursions (in season)

This, your last morning at Pongara Lodge can be dedicated to another activity,as proposed by the guides or you can spend the morning enjoying the surroundings of the lodge and the incredible beaches of Pongara.You’ll enjoy lunch before your transfer back to Libreville at around 14h30 byforest. NOTE: Helicopter charters are available between Libreville and Pongara for those who Wish to make the maximum of their Gme at the lodge before deparGng. Our office can book the helicopter charter for you.Departure - Outbound interna/onal Flight Depending on your outbound flight schedule, you can spend the afternoon relaxing at the hotel prior to your evening flight.A day room/ late checkout can be arranged with the front desk. The Gabon Wildlife Camps and Safaris Logistics team will facilitate your transfer to the airport.An extra night at Hotel De La Sabliere is an addition to this program and can be arranged by our office, subject to availability. View from Pongara Lodge to the beach.