Tour Overview
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Gabon — Africa’s Last Eden, Central Africa |
| Price From | $4,895 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Wildlife Expedition / Rainforest & Marine Safari |
| Data Source | Chalo Africa / Gabon National Parks Agency — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Libreville — Africa’s Green Capital
Arrive at Libreville’s Léon M’ba International Airport. Gabon is one of Africa’s most stable and prosperous countries, with 88% of its land covered in rainforest — earning it the nickname “Africa’s Last Eden.” Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit to the National Museum of Arts and Traditions. Evening welcome dinner of grilled capitaine (Nile perch) overlooking the Atlantic. Overnight in Libreville.
Day 2: Pongara National Park — Turtles & Elephants
Boat transfer across the Gabon Estuary to Pongara National Park. Gabon’s coastline hosts one of the world’s most important leatherback turtle nesting sites — up to 30,000 nests per season. Walk pristine beaches where forest elephants come to the shore (Gabon is one of the only places where elephants swim in the ocean). Afternoon: explore the park’s diverse habitats — mangroves, savanna, and rainforest. Overnight at Pongara eco-lodge.
Day 3: Loango National Park — “Africa’s Last Eden”
Fly to Loango National Park, the crown jewel of Gabon’s 13 national parks. Loango is famous for “surfing hippos” — the only place in the world where hippos are regularly seen in the ocean surf. But the park offers so much more: forest elephants on the beach, humpback whales breaching offshore (July-September), gorillas, chimpanzees, and red river hogs. Afternoon: first safari — forest and savanna mosaic. Overnight at Loango Lodge.
Day 4: Whales, Hippos & Beach Safari
Full day in Loango. Morning boat safari on the Iguela Lagoon — spot hippos lounging in the shallows, crocodiles basking on sand banks, and an extraordinary variety of birds: African fish eagles, palm-nut vultures, and the elusive Pel’s fishing owl. Afternoon: whale watching (seasonal) — humpbacks come to Loango’s waters to calve, breaching dramatically just offshore. Beach drive to find forest elephants feeding on coastal vegetation. Overnight at Loango Lodge.
Day 5: Mandrill Tracking — Lopé National Park
Fly to Lopé National Park (UNESCO World Heritage). Lopé is home to the largest-known mandrill troop on Earth — up to 1,300 individuals moving through the forest in a spectacular, noisy, colorful column. Track mandrills with researchers who have habituated specific troops. The sight of hundreds of male mandrills with their electric blue and red faces moving through the rainforest is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles. Overnight at Lopé Hotel.
Day 6: Lopé — Gorillas, Elephants & Ancient Petroglyphs
Full day in Lopé. Morning: gorilla tracking — western lowland gorillas inhabit these forests. Visit ancient petroglyphs carved into rocks along the Ogooué River dating back thousands of years, evidence of human habitation in this region stretching back 400,000 years. Afternoon forest walk: spot forest buffalo, red river hogs, and five species of mangabey. Overnight at Lopé Hotel.
Day 7: Return to Libreville & Pointe-Denis
Morning flight to Libreville. Afternoon: boat to Pointe-Denis, a pristine peninsula with white sand beaches and views across the estuary. Farewell seafood dinner. Overnight in Libreville.
Day 8: Depart Gabon
Morning at Libreville’s artisan market. Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 7 nights (2 Libreville + 1 Pongara + 2 Loango + 2 Lopé)
- Daily breakfast + 5 dinners
- Domestic flights: Libreville-Loango-Lopé-Libreville
- Pongara National Park (boat transfer, safari, turtle nesting)
- Loango National Park (boat & beach safaris, whale watching)
- Lopé National Park (mandrill tracking, gorilla tracking)
- All park entry fees
- 4×4 safari vehicle with driver-guide
- Airport transfers
Why Gabon
- Loango — the only place on Earth with “surfing hippos” and elephants on the beach
- Mandrill troops — the world’s largest, up to 1,300 in a single spectacular group
- 88% rainforest — one of the most forested countries on Earth
- Humpback whales — calving just offshore in Loango from July-September
- Gorillas & chimps — western lowland gorillas in the wild forests of Lopé
