CREEPER BRIDGE OF POUBARA
Bridge of natural materials located about 50 km south of Franceville, over the river of the same name
To reach the site, two ways are possible: either by 4x4, leaving Franceville in the direction of the railway station (Boumango road), take the track on the right after the signpost, count about 30 min. Or by normal vehicle, by the road to the airport, about 1 hour.
About 50 km south of Franceville, over the eponymous river, this bridge made of natural materials is one of the most popular tourist sites. Tradition and modernity rub shoulders, again very closely, and the view of the water station spoils the scenery a bit. Do not expect to find a huge site that would require a day visit: the bridge of lianas is emblematic of Haut-Ogooué, but the site itself is visited quickly enough and does not present any other interest than the view of the falls and the crossing of the bridge.
A walk of about 30 minutes in the forest allows you to admire the falls of Poubara, upstream of the bridge that you must cross.
Freddy Omoumba, grandson of the creator of the Poubara liana bridge, has been living here since 2001, as the curator of the Poubara tourist site. He was appointed by the village, which entrusted him with the task of preserving the tradition by contributing to the safeguarding of its heritage. For it is indeed a heritage, whether it is a particular technique transmitted according to very precise rules for the construction of this bridge or a ceremony repeated each year at the time of the inauguration of the new bridge: on this occasion, the villagers thank the old bridge for the services rendered. The repair of the liana bridge requires a lot of labour each year to fetch the 2,400 lianas needed on average for this 52-metre bridge, and then for the traditional weaving that ensures the solidity of the suspension.
If you are lucky enough to be guided by Teddy, Freddy's son, he will tell you that in 1915 it was because of an overturned dugout canoe that his great-grandfather had the idea of building a bridge to cross this part of the Ogooué river.
Today, the bridge of lianas belongs to the cultural and tourist heritage of Haut-Ogooué. No state aid was obtained to finance the dozen people hired, only a few benevolent people sponsor the operation in part, by taking charge of the costs of the ceremony at the inauguration of the new bridge. In 2015, the bridge celebrated its 100th anniversary.