Tourist Attractions & Monuments Gabon

1 070 km ². A deep forest hole of 100 km in the heart of the Mitsogo country, south of Lopé. Prior to the creation of the national parks in 2002, Waka belonged to a forest area and remains schizophrenic for the visit.

870 km ². Pongara Park runs along the left bank of the Komo estuary in front of Libreville. Large tracts of mangrove trees cover the waterfront side of the estuary, west of the park. The region has a varied coastal landscape, including mangroves, forests and coastal savanes. Despite its very high attendance, the park is still rich in wildlife, such as buffalo and small elephants of the forests (assala). In addition, each year from November to February, these beaches become the sanctuary of leatherback spawning.

1 160 km ². Located east of Makokou, between the Lodié and Louayé rivers, extending to the border of Congo, Mwagné Park has the largest forest baïs (or clearings), particularly rich in gorillas and elephants, otters and parrots. The park does not yet have effective tourist facilities.

4 500 km ². Last population of savanes fauna with the defassa and jackal cob. The Parc-Doudou Park also surveyed large elephant herds and gorilla populations. It is possible to access the park by the Mouila-Tchibanga road in the south-east, which runs along the reserve, but attempts to develop tourism have remained at their test stage.

1 190 km ². The mountain chain extends to the border of Equatorial Guinea; it is cut in two sites at the pronounced relief. It covers the richest area of plant species in Africa: trees, begonias and orchids, and at the highest elevations, mosses and lichens.

7 560 km ². The park is located in the north-east of the country, and it is in the middle of this forest that pointent, granite dome domes overlooking the forest. It is the largest uninhabited forest bloc in Gabon, but unfortunately still inaccessible.

80 km ². A language of sand at the southern tip of Gabon, Conkouati is the smallest reserve, and its appeal is mainly marine. The first site in the world for leatherback spawning, there are also humpback whales from endless beaches between lagoon and ocean. Sport fishing developed at the mouth of the Banio lagoon, but today all tourist activity is at stand-by because of the lack of hotel dynamics.

5 360 km ². The first protected area in Gabon, in the heart of the country. Bordered on the north by the Ogooué River, the park is bordered to the east and west by the Offoué and Mingoué rivers respectively. It covers a variety of landscapes, with, in the north, a mosaic of savanes and forests that is a characteristic of Lopé. However, the dense wet forest covers most of the park, while to the south peak peaks more than 600 m: the massif Du Chaillu crosses the reserve from north to south. The sparsely populated region guarantees quality protection for forest, fauna and flora, even though 20 years ago the park was the subject of a forestière forest. The activity ceased once the new forest code was promulgated in 2001. The reserve was classified as a national park in 2002. Since 2000, the very numerous mandrills have been subjected, with gorillas, to a research program at the Mikongo camp. A process of habituation of gorilla families to human presence is under way, in order to associate tourism development with the control of the reserve. 400 bird species make it a special point of interest for ornithologists. There is also a large elephant population. Many prehistoric sites (carved stones, rock art, low furnaces) attest to a human occupation of 350 000 years and constitute a unique cultural heritage in Central Africa. In June 2007, he was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1 550 km ². Loango is the natural jewel of the entire West Coast. This park, along the coast of Iguéla to Sette Crete, has a beautiful nature. Extending to both the lagoon and the sea, it allows the observation of a rich and wild fauna in an exceptional setting: elephants, crocodiles and hippos on the lagoons and even on the beach, but also the ballet of the humpback whales during the big dry season. Furthermore, in the interior, the equatorial forest interspersed with large savanna plains offers access to the typical fauna and flora of this environment: céphalophes, buffalo, elephant elephants, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees. Fishing is the flagship activity of this well-organised tourism area.

3 000 km ². In eastern Gabon and south of Makokou, this reserve crossed by the equator forms the park of Ivindo, between the Ogooué and the Ivindo. This is Gabon's «future star» because of its untouched natural riches. Families of gorillas and large elephants of the Baï de, in the heart of the primary tropical forest, were not in contact with man. The extraordinary waterfalls of Kongou and Mingouli in the north are also the main assets. Discovered by Mike Fay in 2000, Langoué's clearing houses a vast and varied fauna and makes Noah's Arch in Gabon!

690 km ². Created in 2002 in order to preserve the forests of the mountains in the massif Du Chaillu, in the province of Ngounié, the Parc des Monts Birougou, a forest haven of great biological richness, offers mountain landscapes. There is now a desire to put the park in value to develop tourism as a privileged means of combating poaching.

Possible activities: various walks on the island and meeting with the Gorilla Protection Program team, led by Michel the veterinarian.

Africa's Eden offers excursions to the different sites of the Loango Park, where this réceptif has satellite camps (besides the main lodge in Iguéla, on the edge of the lagoon). It also offers extensions from POG to Dzanga Sanga Park.

Accessible from this same beach by shuttle boat from the hotel du Relais or by car (4 x 4 recommended because the track is often banged). By the track, turn right before the lighthouse. It is a white sand beach where the water is really clear and the bath pleasant. No matter what the tides, bathing is always possible!

At the entrance to the city, by taking on the right, we descend towards the bridge that crosses the Ogooué to enjoy the view on the river and the Fetish island. Once again, when the place was still called Mandji, "thieves and adulteresses from the State Duma and Wandji countries were enslaved and stored on the Fetish Island, before being sold to Okandé, which went to Lambaréné to sell them to Aloa." Even today, Fetish Island keeps the local population a part of the mystery that deters people from getting there.

Traditional dances, canoeing on the Offoué, fishing, traditional catering, crafts and art objects, guided tours in forest, accommodation in camp, accommodation in the village. The president of the association is also the president of the federation.

You can contact the GPRS, who works on the site. Ask a village guide to accompany you at the entrance to the park.

In Kessala, an association has set up an eco-tourism project to support visitors and allow them to stay in the village. A 4 x 4 vehicle is required to go to the village (1 hour 30 min). At the moment it is possible to accommodate 4 people (2 double beds) on the floor and 2 people downstairs under the tent. The project no longer seems operational: find out. Possible excursion in dry season: the Chutes falls, 10 km south of Franceville and not far from the village of Kessala. Find out about the existence of this benefit.

The Moukalaba-Doudou Park belongs to the protected area of Gamba. As such, it has been the subject of several studies conducted by research groups at the Smithsonian Institute in partnership with WCS and WWF. It has a very diverse animal population, with a preponderance of the species of primates and an antelope, the Cob cob, listed only in this park. The park is accessible from the north through the village of Doussala.

Mayumba National Park comprises a protected area, mainly marine, where the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) works. It protects a coastal area of nearly 960 km², as well as a strip of beach and vegetation 1 km wide and 60 km long. Sand beaches, mangroves, savannahs and forests bathed in freshwater lagoons are all habitats that are home to a wide variety of fauna and flora.

Mayumba Park owes its reputation to its leatherback turtle nesting site, ranked among the top sites in the world. You can also see the ballet of the humpback whales, a grandiose spectacle between July and October, the great period of reproduction which involves nuptial parades and love songs, as well as fights between males.

The best thing to do is to contact the park's very active curator, Winand Viljoen, at least a week in advance. In addition to providing you with an entry permit for the park, he can suggest various activities:

whale watching expeditions, from the coast or from a boat, are organized from Mayumba Park;forest walks, offered by Mayumba National Park guides in July and August. Contact the curator; visiting the villages of the Banio lagoon. In the company of Winand or one of his colleagues, walks are offered to Tchianzi, Kayes and Yoyo, among other fishing villages;Leatherback turtle nesting.To be seen on the beach between November and February. Authorization to be requested from the curator.

The organisation of tourist reception in Gabon is still in its infancy, but the current dynamic management team is working to structure and value the tourism sector through concrete actions that should bear fruit in the years to come.

The GabonTour agency is an office of tourism. It is a small agency located in the city centre on the plateau, on the same sidewalk as the UGB bank at 50 m. Some brochures will be delivered to you. An official guide, updated in 2007, lists the main destinations, but the information provided at the counter is still succinct.

Under the aegis of Mayumba National Park, the ten women of this district have joined together in an association to have their crafts recognized. In the shade of the trees, they have meticulously woven beautiful mats since childhood into pandanus, a tropical plant thicker than raffia. The mats are then coloured with vegetable-based ink, manufactured on site. You can visit them and enjoy their work, accompanied by a park guide.

At the entrance to Léconi, this small beach in the heart of lush greenery lives up to its name! It is bordered by a river of remarkably clear water, originating from the Batékés plateau and used by Sobraga for its Andza water. From the bridge, you can even see the fish swimming! Makeshift huts have been set up on the bank, allowing picnics in the shade. In the late afternoon, children and teenagers have fun jumping off the bridge. The site is very pleasant and relaxing, but it's a pity it's not better maintained.

Close to Port Môle, Baie des Rois is a new urban site currently under development, built on the sea with sand reclaimed from off the coast. In the long term, this future district will include modern housing, a shopping center and a cultural zone with a large open-air stage. The seafront promenade, still sparsely planted with trees, already offers locals and tourists alike a pleasant space with children's games, craft stalls, bars and restaurants, frequented mainly at weekends. A walk to enjoy with the family or after a hearty lunch.