Day 1 - Libreville
Arrive in Libreville and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Tropicana Hotel or similar.
Day 2 - Libreville
We start the day with a visit to the Raponda Walker Arboretum, an area of protected forest that covers around 6,747 hectares and is home to various equatorial rainforest trees and plants. We trek in the forest, learning about the properties of medicinal plants that we come across, and reach the coast where we have a picnic on the beach. Head back to Libreville in the afternoon to explore some of the city. Overnight Tropicana Hotel or similar. (BL)
[boldDay 3 - Lambarene
In the morning we continue exploring Libreville with a visit to the St Michel Church and other sites. The church showcases an interesting mix of traditional Gabonese and Christian art styles. In the afternoon we head to Lambarene, on an island in the Ogooué River. Lambarene is known for its lakes, with several endemic bird and fish species, as well as the Schweitzer Hospital, established in the early 20th century and a centre for research into malaria. We spend the night in the hospital guest rooms for a sense of the history of this town. (BD)
Day 4 - Lambarene
In the morning we explore the hospital and the house of Albert Schweitzer which now houses a museum. We have the afternoon to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings here, before driving to the outskirts of Lambarene in the evening to witness a very special – and unique to Gabon – ceremony, that of the Bwiti belief system. This is a ‘secret’ society based on indigenous beliefs, where initiates seek to communicate with spirit world, and a highlight of the trip. Overnight Albert Schweitzer Hospital or similar. (BLD)
Day 5 - Lambarene
Free morning to relax or take a walk after a late night. In the afternoon we explore Lambarene town, visiting the Isaac market and Ogooué river. Overnight Albert Schweitzer Hospital or similar. (BLD)
Day 6 - Oguemoue Lake
This morning we travel by boat along the Ogooué River, a stunning journey which gives a sense of how the first European explorers of this region must have felt. We then reach our base for the next few days, Oguemoue Lake, and set out to try and catch our first glimpse of the local wildlife. Overnight tented camp. (BLD)
Days 7-8 - Oguemoue Lake
Two full days to explore Oguemoue. The wildlife here is rich and includes elephant, hippos, crocodiles, gorillas, chimpanzees and numerous antelope species, as well as a huge number of bird species. However, as in any forest environment, it requires a bit of luck and determination to see. Accompanied by local guides we venture into the forests and along the lake each day in search of the iconic wildlife that lives here. We also have the opportunity to visit local communities and learn about their traditions. Overnight tented camp. (BLD)
Day 9 - Lambarene - Libreville
After breakfast we make our way back to Lambarene and continue to Libreville in the afternoon. Overnight Hotel Tropicana or similar. (BL)
Day 10 - Libreville
We spend the day exploring Libreville with visits to some interesting workshops including those of wood sculptors and painters. We also visit the Museum of Arts and Traditions and there will be the opportunity to purchase traditional musical instruments as well as items used in traditional Bwiti ceremonies. Transfer to the airport in the evening for your flight home. (B)
Please note that we sell this trip in conjunction with our local partner, so there may be other nationalities in this group.
What's included:
Airport transfers - We include arrival and departure transfers regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you're booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers. Please note though that if you arrive earlier than Day 1 of the tour, and leave after the final day, we may need to make an additional charge for an airport transfer.
Accommodation - Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we'll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you're used to elsewhere.
Guides - In most cases you will be accompanied by one guide from start to finish. However there may be occasions when this is not practical, for example if your trip covers a number of different countries. In these cases it often makes more sense to include different guides for each place, to take advantage of their specific knowledge of the destination.
Meals - As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip - in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to 'do their own thing' now and again.
Entrance fees - Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you'd like to see, these would be at your own expense.
What's not included:
Visas - We don't arrange visas for our travellers, but if an invitation letter is necessary then we will arrange this for you. If you need any advice with visas then let us know.
Airport taxes - If there are any departure taxes to pay that are not included within the cost of your ticket, you'll need to pay these yourself.
International flights - Many of our travellers arrive from different destinations and so we don't include international flights in the cost of our tours. If however you would like us to book flights for you, then just let us know and we'll be happy to discuss your options.
Travel Insurance - If you need any assistance with this, then let us know - although we can't arrange it ourselves we can point you in the direction of a reputable provider that can assist.