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| Viewing: Central Africa's Best Kept Secret - Gabon & CAR |
Package ID: 1985 |
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| Central Africa's Best Kept Secret - Gabon & CAR |
Track lowland gorillas, observe forest elephants, discover the dense rainforests of Gabon. The perfect destination for adventurous travellers who love nature!
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Day 1: Tuesday – Arrival in Libreville, Gabon
Upon arrival at Libreville International Airport, a representative of Africa’s Eden will meet you and bring you to your hotel. He or she will help you with the customs procedures and collecting of your luggage. Please note that you will need to show your vaccination booklet. After that you will be brought to the Hotel Le Méridien.
You can spend the evening as you like; there is no organised programme. If you would like to go out for dinner, the "Quartier Louis" is Libreville's most lively neighbourhood with many restaurants. In addition, Tropicana (near the airport) is also a good spot for a nice dinner or a relaxing drink by the sea.
Lodging: Hotel le Méridien, Libreville
Day 2 -4: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, C.A.R
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and brought to the airport for your Africa’s Connection flight to Bayanga, which will take approximately 2 hours.
In Bayanga, the Doli Lodge staff will help you with your luggage and drive you to the lodge where you will have some time to settle into your room before having lunch in the restaurant, on a terrace above the river.
After lunch, the group will be divided into smaller groups for the programme in and around the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve. All forest activities are accompanied by trained guides who speak French and also some English. On the next page you will find a description of the excursions.
Gorilla Tracking (1 x half day)
At sunrise, a team of researchers and pygmy trackers leaves the camp of Bai Hokou to find the nest where the gorillas slept the previous night. As soon as this nest site is found, the team then follows the traces left by the gorillas while moving on and feeding. To do this, one takes elephant paths and narrow trails. Sometimes it takes one or two hours before establishing contact with the gorillas. Once the position is known, it is communicated to the camp by radio so the relief team can set off in the right direction. Encountering the gorillas is not guaranteed, but in previous years nearly 90% of those taking part in this activity have seen gorillas in close proximity.
Observing Forest Elephants
(2 visits)
To observe the timid forest elephant in the wild is an experience usually reserved to a limited circle of researchers. At the clearing (saline) of Dzanga Bai in Dzanga-Sangha, visitors have this chance. Early in the morning, as the grey parrots alight at the Dzanga Bai to savour the mineral-rich grass, emitting their extensive repertoire of whistles and squawks, the first elephants have already laid claim to their choice watering-holes.
From the platform you can observe them while they feed, drink, engage in games of (social) rank and maintain their social bonds. More than 3000 individual elephants have been identified visiting the saline of Dzanga Bai. At the same time, the open clearing allows you to observe other species typically found in the Reserve: sitatunga, buffalo and sometimes bongos, boars and storks.
Hiking around the Saline (1 x - duration dependant on group)
By taking elephant paths you are led to these animals’ favoured spots. Often these are clearings and saline, traversed by streams, and kept open by the elephants. With a bit of luck you will not only see elephants and buffalo, but also bongos, monkeys and traces of other animals. The sounds, smells and luminous green of the vegetation create a very unique atmosphere.
Net hunting with Pygmies (1 x half day)
Accompany the BaAka pygmies hunting and help with carving up of the game, let the BaAka women show you the medicinal and other plants of use, taste a typical dish of liana leaves with a sauce made from forest nuts, watch how they construct in the forest, in no time at all, a hut to protect against the rain. Getting to know this secret culture is an experience few have known.
Music & Dance (Evening)
The essence of the BaAka culture, which has been preserved over the millennia, is mainly expressed in music and dance, serving to maintain their bonds with their gods, spirits and ancestors. Each singer and percussionist chooses his or her own rhythm resulting in a wonderful array of harmony. This universe of movement, rhythm and sound is very difficult to describe – you have to experience it for real.
Visit to Bayanga Village (1 visit)
The best way to get a glimpse of daily life in Bayanga is a visit to the village with one of our guides. People are more than happy to show you around in their small shops and if you’re lucky they will demonstrate how they produce homemade palm oil wine. The local bar has a nice view over the Sangha River and is a good place to get a taste of the Bayanga spirit.
Presentation by WWF (evening)
The Dzanga-Sangha Reserve is both extremely beautiful as extremely delicate, the latter due to mining and logging activities in the area, and the fact that natural resources are an important food source for the local population. WWF is the main conservation organisation in the Reserve, and is more than pleased to share their knowledge with you on the protected areas and their activities in the region.
Lodging: Doli Lodge
Day 5: Saturday – Flight to Evengué
On Saturday after an early breakfast, the Doli Lodge staff will bring you to the airstrip at Bayanga, where the private charter plane departs, first to Port Gentil, and then from Port Gentil to Omboué. After a short stop for customs in Port Gentil, you will arrive in Omboué in the afternoon.
In Omboué, our Evengue Lodge staff will help with your luggage. In a 20-minute boat trip you will be taken to Evengué, a small island just outside Loango National Park where the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Sanctuary is situated, which is sponsored by Africa’s Eden.
During your stay on Evengué Island, our experts of the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project will share their knowledge with you on the bush meat crisis and other reasons why gorillas are a critically endangered species, and they will give you information about the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Sanctuary and Rehabilitation & Reintroduction Programme. Afterwards one of the guides will accompany you on a short bush walk leading to the gorilla family in the sanctuary.
Lodging: Evengué Lodge
Day 6: Sunday – Mpivié River to Loango Lodge
After breakfast, you will start the boat trip up the dark waters of the Mpivié River to Loango Lodge. En route, there will be time to visit the small town of Ste. Anne, where Gustav Eiffel built an iron church in the late 1800s. After the visit to Ste. Anne, the trip will continue up the Mpivié River that from there runs through some very dense rainforest. This is a perfect opportunity to sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views. Monkeys, crocodiles and all kinds of birds (Hartlaub’s ducks, finfoots and fishing owls in particular) can be seen.
After approximately 2 hours, the boat will be exchanged at the end of the river for a 4x4 jeep that will drive to the lodge within 45 minutes. Upon arrival at Loango Lodge you will be welcomed with refreshments and shown to your room. (A late) Lunch will be served in the restaurant. Depending on the time of arrival, it might still be possible to make a first visit to Loango National Park by boat or by 4x4.
Lodging: Loango Lodge
Day 7 & 8: Monday, Tuesday - Tassi/ Akaka region (depending on the season)
Tassi region*
After breakfast, one of our 4x4 jeeps will take you south-west to the Tassi / Louri area (approx. 1.5 hours). During this drive, animals such as elephants, red river hogs, buffalos, birds and sitatunga (a swamp-dwelling antelope) can be seen. Tassi Camp is situated on the savannah, surrounded by primary and secondary forest.
Take the 4x4 and visit the research camp of the Max Planck Institute in Tassi Sud, 30 minutes from Tassi Camp. From here, the researchers go into the forest to carry out studies amongst the shy, elusive gorillas and chimpanzees. This also acclimatises the animals gradually to the presence of humans in the vicinity. In the future, this habituation programme will allow a controlled form of tourism to track and view the gorillas and chimpanzees, while at the same time allowing researchers to gather data on all aspects of their behaviour and ecology.
From Tassi you can easily go on excursions to Louri, where there is a good chance of
seeing buffalos and elephants on the beach: a truly remarkable sight and characteristic
of Loango National Park. On rare occasions, even hippos can be seen.
Lodging: Tassi Savannah Camp
* Tassi Savannah Camp is open all year round, however, during the rainy season, elephants and buffalos often roam freely on the beach.
Akaka region*
After breakfast, the boat departs for a 4-hour journey south to Akaka. After
crossing some large lagoons, you will arrive at the Rembo Ngowe River, where you will
spend the last 1.5 hours. During the trip you might encounter birds, elephants, buffalos and sitatunga (swamp-dwelling antelopes), possibly even bathing in the river.
Akaka is one of the most remote parts of Loango National Park. The Akaka forests thrive with butterflies and are home to a number of rare bird species. The bush camp is situated on the riverbank in the heart of the tropical rainforest and the wetlands. At times, the wildlife, especially elephants, passes right through the camp. Akaka is a good starting point for excursions like forest walks, or trips by kayak or motorboat along the Rembo Ngowe and Rembo Echira rivers. In the dry season, the concentrations of particularly forest buffalo and forest elephant that migrate into the area are easily seen. Smaller mammals like sitatunga, red river hogs, forest duikers, five species of monkey and great apes inhabit the area all year round.
Lodging: Akaka Bush Camp
* Akaka Bush Camp is open all year round, however, during the rainy season, the staff will determine if it possible to go on either a day trip or an overnight trip, depending on the weather conditions and number of tsee tsee flies, mosquitoes and other insects.
Day 9: Wednesday – Safari possibilities in Loango National Park, transfer to Pte. Ste. Cathérine
This morning, you will have time to discover some other parts of Loango National Park. Some of the possibilities include:
• Game drives
Game drives in a 4x4 jeep are an easy and comfortable way to view the park and see wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, red river hogs and sitatunga. In the rainy season from November to April, you can find large mammals roaming freely on the beach.
• Walking Safaris
You can venture out with one of our eco-guides into the forest. On foot is one of the best ways to learn more about the diversity of the park. You can encounter wildlife such as elephants and buffalo, but even more so, discover the more inconspicuous forest
animals and birds.
• Cultural Walks
From the lodge, you can go on a cultural walk to the nearby village or the “Operation Loango” school, which is sponsored by Africa’s Eden’s sister company “Société de Conservation et Développement”.
• Whale Watching*
From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales visit the coastline of Loango National Park. Go out on a boat with our skipper to look for these impressive, playful mammals.
* Please note that sightings cannot be guaranteed and this excursion is not included in the package price of this programme.
• Fishing *
The point where the lagoon empties into the ocean contains some of the largest game fish in the world, making it an ideal spot for fishing – and only 10 minutes by boat from Loango Lodge!
*) Please note that this excursion is not included in the package price of this programme.
• Presentation / Dinner with the Wildlife Conservation Society researchers
Loango Lodge is base camp for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). WCS is engaged in a collaborative venture with SCD (Societé de Conservation et Développement) in Loango National Park, a unique effort to bring the private sector and an international NGO together to achieve a series of key conservation activities. WCS is partly funded by Africa's Eden tourism revenues and is active in conservation, monitoring, surveillance, and research activities in the park, all aimed at maintaining the long-term integrity of this ‘window into the past’. The researchers are happy to give a presentation about their activities in Gabon, and/or simply to chat about what they do over drinks / dinner.
In the afternoon, a short boat tour over the lagoon takes you to the Pointe Sainte Cathérine Beach Camp. This basic camp is situated at a beautiful spot on the beach in the north of Loango National Park.
Beach walks, collecting shells and fishing are amongst the possibilities. You can also simply relax here, with one of the most beautiful beaches on earth all to yourself.
As the sun sets, dine in the restaurant, on the lounge deck, or enjoy a feet-in-the-sand beach barbeque affair. During the rainy season, from November to April, Pte. Ste. Cathérine sunsets are even better than usual.
Lodging: Pte. Ste. Cathérine Beach Camp
Day 10 - 12: Thursday, Friday, Saturday – Príncipe
In the morning, the Africa’s Connection plane will fly via Port-Gentil to Príncipe airport, where the Bom Bom staff will be waiting to meet you. You will arrive in Bom Bom Island Resort in the afternoon. Before dinner, you will have time to settle into your room, have a swim in the pool or the ocean, or simply to relax and enjoy a cocktail.
While Bom Bom is a wonderful place to relax and recharge your spirit, there is also plenty there to explore and discover in the next few days:
Hiking
Circumnavigate Bom Bom Island by foot, and discover its beautiful rock pools with their own ecosystems varying from one pool to the next. Or go on a leisurely hike through the forest to experience the sounds of the jungle and catch glimpses of a Mona monkey or the African grey parrot.
Kayaking
Let our guides introduce you to kayaking on the calm waters around Bom Bom Island, then kayak out to the ruins of the old church from the first Portuguese settlement on Príncipe 400 years ago.
Diving
Discover the underwater world of Bom Bom! São Tomé and Príncipe, both ancient volcanic islands, are home to some of the world’s most spectacular rock formations, above and below the waterline. With drop-offs of over 35 metres, overhangs and cascading boulders, there is plenty of sea life here to keep you coming back for more!
Whale Watching*
From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales visit the waters around Bom Bom as they migrate from their low-latitude summer feeding grounds to more tropical mating and calving areas.
*) Please note that sightings cannot be guaranteed and this excursion is not included in the cost of this programme.
Lodging: Bom Bom Island Resort
Day 15 - Sunday – Flight to Libreville, Gabon
In the morning you can enjoy a final stroll on the beach and recollect your experiences of these two weeks. In the late afternoon you will be brought to the airport for your return flight to Libreville, Gabon, from where you will connect to your international flight. Please check in two hours in advance for you international flight.
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