Gabon Loango National Park and Bwiti rituals

Best season to travel: October-April
(rain season but best chances to observe animals on the beach).
From mid-July to mid-September (dry season), for humpback whales observation.
Fitness level required: Intermediate

SHORT DESCRIPTION:
Gabon is a natural paradise little known by the Western traveller. The ‘jewel in the crown’ of Gabon’s natural park’s is Loango National Park, one of the only places on Earth where wild animals roam freely along the beach. Together with the rich natural environment, Gabon is unique for its African Animistic cult known as Bwiti. In the first part of this trip the traveller will be introduced to this traditional form of spirituality. The second part of the trip focuses in the discovery of Loango National Park and Evengué gorilla Sanctuary Island. The Loango National Park is located on the west side of Gabon, south of Port-Gentil. It has an area of 1.600 km² and is protected to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the Lagoon Iguéla and impenetrable forest. This site does not undergo destruction or poaching and Nature remains unchanged for twenty or thirty thousand years ago. Thus, in the Loango National Park, you travel in time.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: Bwiti culture and ceremonies – Lambarené’s colonial heritage – tropical lakes – birding – Ogooué River – Evengué gorilla island – African forest fauna – primary Congo Atlantic forest – animals in the beach.

Day 1: EUROPE – LIBREVILLE
Arrival in Libreville where the guide will be expecting the travellers at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in: Tropicana Beach Hotel. BB

Day 2: LIBREVILLE 
Breakfast in the hotel and morning tour around Gabon’s political capital. This African city denotes the ‘boom’ of the petrol years and the heavy influence of the French former colonial system. Tour around one of the many markets that have sprung around the city and the ministries’ avenue. In the city centre there are some historical buildings dating back to the XIXth century when the French missionaries used the Gabon estuary as a basis to Christianize the Bantu tribes living in this part of Africa. Probably as a response to this early Christianization very little is left of the original culture with the exception of the pygmy populations living around the Lambarené region and the Bwiti Animistic rituals, practiced by different bantu-speaking groups in Gabon. This day will be focused in urban tourism of Libreville. Accommodation in: Sunset Beach Hotel. BB

Day 3: LIBREVILLE – LAMBARENE (5h)
Breakfast and drive towards the forested center of Gabon. Stop in small Bantu villages along the way. Our objective is the colonial town of Lambarené, a river island town famous for its many natural lakes with several endemic bird and fish species and the Albert Schweitzer Hospital and Museum. This unique hospital was established in 1913 by German Doctor Albert Schweitzer. Its Medical Research Unit is one of the leading scientific institutions in Africa working to end the scourge of malaria, and also serves as a highly-regarded training site for African physicians and scientists. We will visit the hospital, where we will spend the night and the town and its beautiful natural surroundings. Visit the Dr Albert Schweitzer old hospital, the museum, the new hospital, and small tour in and relax in the hotel. Accommodation in: Albert Schweitzer Hospital Guestrooms. 

Day 4: LAMBARENE
Breakfast and today we will explore the Ogoue River and the village around plus the Pelican Island, pique nique to a special place in one island and visit the people who leave in that village, return in Lambarene and relax in the hotel. Accommodation in: Albert Schweitzer Hospital Guestrooms.

Day 5: LAMBARENE – SINDARA                                                                                                          Breakfast and drive to Sindara, time to visit one of the hold and colonial town in Gabon with the French mission, on the way we can see the bantou traditional houses and the colonial houses. Installation in the catholic Mission and short walk to visit a small waterfalls, return in the mission and lunch. and introduction to the unique and fabulous Bwiti ceremonies, there are important chances of observing one of these Animistic ceremonies in the popular neighbourhoods  spend the night in Catholic Mission.

Day 6: IKOBE – SINDARA – LAMBARENE
– Breakfast                                                                                                                                            – Drive to Lambarene                                                                                                                                    – Get the rest to big Foundation of Dr. Schweitzer                                                                                            – Night to the foundation of Schweitzer

Day 7: LAMBARENE – NDJOLE (3h)
Breakfast and to point where we will exchange the car and get a 4×4 car, lunch in Ndjole and continue to Lope, on the way we can appreciate a beautiful landscape, installa. Accommodation in: Motel E’Mbeyi (annexe of lope hotel)

Day 8: LOPE – MIKONGO
Breakfast and departure to Mikongo camp, today is introduction in the forest, walking around 15 minutes to the first saline to observ some animalsn, pique nique  in the forest and animals observations Accommodation in: tented camp. FB

Days 9-10: LOPE NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast at 06:00h. and exploration of the Park, because today our ojective is to observe Gorilla and Chimpanze in the nature. The eco-system at Mikongo is one of the richest and most complex in Central Africa: here, we find mangroves, beaches with coconut trees (rally appreciated by the elephants), river forest, Congolese forest and inland forest with huge trees, and even tropical meadows… A true mosaic of landscapes with breathtaking vegetation and wildlife.

We will follow the Park guides to explore the areas they consider best at the point of our trip. We can observe, sitatunga, duikers, a variety of monkeys, a huge array of birds, western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales can be spotted in the Atlantic waters in front of Loango national Park. Accommodation in: Motel E’Mbeyi (annexe of lope hotel).

Day 11: LOPE 
After breakfast and today is a relax day at the swimming pool in hotel Lope and observation from the hotel around the river Ogoue some buffalo who comes to get water.  Accommodation in: Motel E’Mbeyi (annexe of lope hotel). BB

Day 12: LOPE – LIBREVILLE
Breakfast and drive to Libreville, transfer to Tropicana hotel and afternoon we will visited the handicraft for souvenir, lunch in some restaurant and relax at the hotel.

Day 13: LIBREVILLE – SAO TOME
Breakfast and transfer to the airport and flight to Sao Tome, transfer to the hotel, and relax there. 

Day 14: SAO TOME
Breakfast. Visit the old town centre of Sao Tome and pick up on the vibes of the colonial era. There is some splendid architecture, lively market and streets, and an impressive museum where the guide will tell you about life on the plantations and Sao Tome’s torrid pre-independence history. Accommodation in: BB.

Day 15: MALANZA
Breakfast. Trip by car to the Wild South of Sao Tome. This full day trip takes you into the heart of the Caue district at the extreme south of the island, where the road ends and the adventure begins. After a stop for coffee at renowned Roça Sao Joao plantation, you head for Malanza, a small village near to Sao Tome’s largest mangrove area which is part of the Obo National Park. Here fishermen will take you in traditional canoes to discover the peculiar bio diversity on the mangroves. Lunch isthen taken at the unique community- managed Jale Ecolodge and from there you continue to the plantation of Roca Porto Alegre and its breathtaking views of the Logo-Logo Bay. Stop at one of Caue’s most secret beaches for a swim. Accommodation in: BB

Day 16: SAO TOME
Breakfast. Relax day on the beach Accommodation in: BB

Day 17: SAO TOME-EUROPE
Breakfast. Last shoping, relax time in the hotel, after last diner in the restaurant transfert to the airport and back home. Evening flight to Europe. BB.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Whales observation in the sea (mid-July to mid-September): 250 € per person (minimum 4 pax) Note: The price and the number of pax is just approximate and can change, please ask if interested. 
• In the dry season, especially from July to September, there are fewer chances to observe animals on the beach. To observe big mammals the clients visit Akaka area (interior of Loango NP).