Travel Guide Forêt De La Mondah

By taking the direction of Cape Esterias, the entrance of the classified forest of Mondah is indicated on the left, approximately 3 km after the entrance of the Cape Santa Clara. It is pleasant to take a walk in the very shaded paths, traced by the National School of Water and Forests. This protected area is now known as the Raponda Walker Arboretum, in honour of the first Gabonese naturalist (1871-1968). Its management is under the supervision of the National Agency for National Parks, which preserves it. A small wooden house and a red and white barrier mark the start of the 5 circuits. At the Sarkozy crossroads, a sign explains the different routes, marked all along by a distinct colour. Unfortunately, only some of the trees are labelled, allowing you to identify some species. The best thing to do is to take an eco-guide, which you can find at the entrance, to learn about the specific characteristics of each tree. Although the forest has been considerably reduced in recent years as a result of programmed deforestation for urbanisation reasons, it remains a natural, peaceful and regenerating refuge, where many species of large trees survive and can be admired. Classified since 1951, not for its natural wealth, but because it was a planted forest, it receives the same rainfall as Akanda Park and has the characteristics of a wet forest. There are still large primary and secondary forest trees here that do not exist elsewhere in the country