Where to see Gorillas in Gabon
Where to see Gorillas in Gabon: Locations for Gorilla Trekking in Gabon Western Lowland Gorillas in Gabon are located in Loango National Park, situated in western Gabon. It safeguards unique coastal ecosystems, the sole notable instance of a typical West African lagoon system that is preserved within a national park, and hosts numerous species including lowland gorillas.
Locations to observe gorillas in Gabon. A minimum of 7 days is required for trekking Western Lowland Gorillas in Gabon’s Loango National Park, commencing and concluding your journey in Libreville with Gorilla Trekking in Africa.
Itinerary for visiting Loango National Park
Day 1 – Radisson Blu Okoume Palace Hotel, Libreville
Upon arrival at Leon Mba International Airport in Libreville, our personnel will greet you following immigration procedures and promptly escort you to your private vehicle for a 25-minute trip to the hotel. Check-in, dinner, and overnight accommodation at Radisson Okoume Blu Palace.
Day 2 – Libreville – Port Gentil – Loango National Park, Ndola Lodge
Departing on an early flight to Port Gentil, followed by a 4-hour 4×4 journey to Loango via Liambisi. At midday, if you possess sufficient stamina, you can embark on a forest walk in Loango National Park for a game drive. Accommodation at Ndola Lodge for one night
Day 3 – Trekking Western Lowland Gorillas in Gabon at Loango National Park: Ndola – Yatouga – Ndola Ndola Lodge
Following breakfast, we depart Ndola and embark on a powered canoe for a two-hour journey to the Yatouga Research Camp, the starting point for an enriching gorilla safari. The Yatouga Forest contains a significant population of Western Lowland Gorillas, including a sizable habituated family group that provides a 95% likelihood of an encounter. In the wet season, gorilla tracking is relatively easy since the apes do not need to travel far for sustenance, resulting in the gorilla safari lasting between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours before encountering the group. We will be permitted to spend one hour in their immediate area, watching their lifestyle, social interactions, mating behaviors, feeding habits, and familial structure.
Subsequently, we return to the study camp for refreshments and promptly embark on our canoe to navigate farther south of Loango National Park. This water navigation will require around one further hour and will direct us to Akaka Forest, a secluded area of the park that features an unspoiled rainforest abundant with species, particularly in the dry season. Visiting during the arid season is advisable. Nonetheless, even in the wet season in Akaka when water levels are elevated, large mammals are infrequent; however, insects such as bugs, flies, and midges abound. It remains gratifying to navigate this pristine forest, as there are substantial opportunities to observe small mammals, including Red River Hogs, water antelopes such as Bongo and Sitatunga, Blue Duikers, and various avian species. In the afternoon, we return to Ndola Lodge for a delicious dinner. Overnight stay at Ndola Lodge
Day 4 – Ndola – Louri Wilderness Camp
This morning, we embark on a game drive in Loango National Park. This drive across the park will allow us to encounter a diverse array of wildlife species for which Loango National Park is renowned. This encompasses Dwarf Buffaloes, Red River Hogs, Forest Elephants, Sitatunga, Western Lowland Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and a diverse array of bird species. We may traverse an area abundant in diverse plant species and towering trees, where numerous monkey species leap from one tree to another in search of fruit. We will engage in the game drive during the morning, after which we will return to the Lodge for lunch. Post-lunch, we depart Ndola Lodge and proceed to Louri, an area of the park renowned for its diverse wildlife sightings. The journey to Louri is rather brief and varies according on the mode of transportation utilized to reach this section of the park:
The initial alternative by boat is to navigate the primary Lagoon for approximately thirty minutes to reach the destination.
A 4WD may be necessary for a one-hour journey into the forest, increasing the likelihood of wildlife encounters.
Initially, you will navigate the Louri Lagoon by boat for around 30 minutes, followed by disembarking at a small harbor. Subsequently, you will board a 4WD vehicle for a trip of about 30 minutes to reach Louri Wilderness Camp.
Irrespective of the means of transportation employed to reach Louri, we will be doing a fulfilling safari expedition rather than only a transfer. In March, the safari experience is remarkable, offering enough opportunities to observe creatures such as Hippopotamuses, Gorillas, and Elephants along the coastline. Overnight stay at Louri Wilderness Camp
Day 5 – Louri – Ndola Ndola Lodge
We dedicated the day to explore Louri, the savannah section of the park. It hosts a diverse array of species and is renowned for the opportunity to observe the “surfing hippos” for which Loango National Park is well recognized.
Louri Wilderness Camp is one of the operational satellite camps within Loango National Park. It is a compact, intimate tented camp, with each tent constructed on a stilt platform that overlooks the Louri Lagoon. Your visit will provide an experience of profound immersion in the mysteries of nature, where serenity is only interrupted by the flow of water, the rustle of the forest, the calls of wildlife, or the songs of birds.
In the afternoon, we return to Ndola, which is situated not far from Louri. Overnight stay at Ndola Lodge
Day 6 – Ndola – Port Gentil – Libreville Radisson Blu Okoume Palace Hotel
In the morning, we embark on our final excursion to Loango National Park. We plan to embark on a forest hike in the coastal forest, anticipating the observation of wildlife, before returning to the lodge for lunch. Following lunch, we embark in our vehicle and proceed to Port Gentil via Liambissi, anticipating arrival in the evening. Upon arrival in Port Gentil, we proceed to the airport in preparation for the internal trip to Libreville, which we reach after a 30-minute flight. Upon arrival at Libreville airport, you will be greeted and transported to the hotel for the evening. Overnight stay at Radisson Okoume Palace Hotel
Day 7: Libreville – Departure flight
Leisure day at the hotel with optional activities prior to our Air France journey this evening.