We have several day tours for incoming cruise ships at Libreville and we have successfully handled cruise ship services in Libreville before in the past. We have comfortable buses which have 35 sitting seats and they can be increased to 60 seats with people standing (European model with poles) as well. As the distances are not too far this is comfortable enough to go from shore to the activity. We include lunch in all of our cruise ship activities in Libreville.
We can divide the cruise ship passengers in groups of 100 to 150 persons and divide them among the destinations around Libreville.
We offer 4 day tours in Libreville for cruise ships, but we can also add extra tours and activities such as jet skiing.
Our prices are only valid from 100 persons and up. If the total of your group exceeds 500 persons, we can renegotiate different tariffs.
Cruiseship Tour 1 from Libreville: Full Day City Tour of Libreville
Cruiseship Tour 2 from Libreville: Arboretum Raponda Walker
Cruiseship Tour 3 from Libreville: Akanda National Park
Cruise ship Tour 4 from Libreville: Pongara National Park
Cruise ship Tour 5 from Libreville: Wonga Wongue Reserve (overnight)
Cruise ship Tour 6 from Libreville: Monts de Crystal National Park (overnight)
Tour 1, 2, 3 and 6 need additional transport: 1 bus per 35 (can be 55 with extra standing places) passengers.
Tour 1: Full Day City Tour of Libreville
Today we’ll take you into the heart of Libreville, the biggest city and capital of Gabon and a port on the Komo River, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of roughly 700,000 inhabitants. As Gabon is an oil-country, there is much wealth in Libreville and Port-Gentil, meaning there are a lot of modern tall buildings to be seen, cornered by small stalls and houses with gulf plates. As a coastal town, it has a kind or relaxed atmosphere, good seafood and a nice breeze in the air. Tucked in between several national parks and reserves, it’s easy to escape city life and be on a tropical beach in no time, often in the proximity of wildlife.
The French started acquiring the land in the first half of the 19th century and it was used as a trading point for slaves to eventually become an important port in French Equatorial Africa. At the time of its independence in 1960, the city only housed around 32,000 people and has since grown rapidly having almost 25 times that number.
Just like many other African cities, such as Nairobi or Dar Es Salam, the city is changing swiftly, with new cafes and malls popping up while digitalization is slowly finding its way in everyday life. Still, Gabonese hold on to many customs and traditions, so what we get is an interesting mix of modern city life combined with African values and traditions.
On your tour we’ll take you to a few iconic sights such as the national museum, the presidential palace and the Stele of Freedom statue and other buildings of importance such as cathedrals and churches and we’ll have a visit to the artisanal village where you’ll have the chance to buy souvenirs. We’ll end our afternoon with a traditional dance.
Includes:
– Guided city tour and entrance fees
– Local cocktail
– Lunch (around 12h/13h)
– Traditional dance spectacle
– Traditional gift
We ask our clients to bring enough water and take protective measurements against the sun.
Tour 2: Arboretum Rapondo Walker
The Raponda Walker Arboretum is a classified forest of trees and plants of various species which covers approximately 6,770 hectares.
This garden of giant trees welcomes you to a green and soothing space just outside of Libreville, about half hour north of the capital Libreville in the town of Akanda in the heart of Cap Estérias and it has become one of the favorite destinations of local tourism . Raponda Walker was the first Gabonese to be ordained a priest and the first Gabonese naturalist, the Raponda Walker arboretum bears his name in memory of all the studies he carried out in this forest.
Accompanied by an ecoguard, you will discover trees such as:
– The Nyovè: This tree apparently bleeds like human blood. It is used to heal wounds and slow the venom after a snakebite, to make paddles and to produce essential oils.
– Irvingia Gabonensis or Andok or Odika promotes the rise of milk and is used in the preparation of Odika sauce.
– Dacryodes Buettneri or Ozigo is a wild atanga tree. Its fruits are edible.
– Aucoumea Klaineana or Okoume; It is construction wood. Its resin purifies the water and refreshes it, cleans the bronchial tubes and is also used for the native torch.
– The staudte Gabonensis or Niové also called yellow Betadine tree. A bark decoction is drunk against menstrual disorders, dysentery, lung complaints and cough. It is also used to heal wounds, stop bleeding and treat eye pain.
– Azobé Lophiraalata, exploited for its rot-proof wood. It is used as a railway sleeper. Its bark is used for back pain and skin exfoliation.
During our visit we will be able to see colorful birds, frogs, lizards and if we’re lucky we can also spot monkeys.
Besides a lunch in a scenic spot, we will also include a traditional spectacle.
Includes:
– Transport
– Guided city tour and entrance fees
– Local cocktail
– Lunch (around 12h/13h)
– Traditional dance spectacle
Tour 3 : Akanda National Park
Akanda National Park is one of 13 National Parks in Gabon set up in 2002 by President Omar Bongo after a two-year study by the DFC, WCS and WWF. The 13 national parks are designed to represent the biodiversity of the country and encourage tourism. Akanda National Park is located in the northeast of the country, near Libreville, with coastline along the Mondah and Corisco bays.
The national park is composed mainly of mangrove and tidal beach habitats. Gabon has only 2.5% of the total mangrove swamp in Africa, but Akanda together with the nearby Pongara National Park comprises 25% of the total protected mangrove in the continent. They play an important role in the ecosystem and help stabilize the coastline around Libreville. Human encroachment from both building and crop planting are a threat to both parks.
Both of the bays are rich in marine life, and Corisco bay provides an important feeding area for turtles. Akanda is internationally important as a site for migratory birds and is home to the largest populations of such birds in Gabon. It is an IUCN Critical Site.
Includes:
– Guided walking tour in the forest
– River tour in a motorized boat
– Lunch in the lagoon
– Lagoon fishing if desired
– Open bar
– Pool (near the lunch site)
Tour 4: Pongara National Park
Looking for a relaxing day just outside the city, or do you want to finish your trip in Gabon in style? We got you covered! Spend the day at this beautiful beach in the middle of the Pongara National Park. This amazing wilderness lies just outside of Libreville and apart from a few lodges, is relatively untouched. It’s almost 100,000 hectares big and has a wide variety of plants. We can find mangrove forest, swamp forest, riverine forest and seasonally inundated forest and a small savannah, all guarded by a sandy coastline.
It’s hard to believe that a national park so close to a capital is actually full of wildlife. We can find mammals such as elephants, gorillas, monkeys, buffaloes, duikers and even chimpanzees. The beaches are also visited by leatherback sea turtles for breeding. Needless to say the park is also a sanctuary for tons of bird species.
For just 156 euro per person you will have the privilege to spend the day here. You will be picked up from Michel Marine and brought to the site by bought where you will receive a welcome drink. You will get one meal (entry, main, dessert) per person and you’re free to use the pool, table tennis, pingpong, canoes or maybe you would like to play some beach volley or football? It’s also possible to just relax on the beach or to have a relaxing walk in the natural surroundings. In the late afternoon/early evening we’ll make sure you’ll get back safe and sound to Libreville.
Let us know if you’re interested in jet skiing or buggying to your package and we’ll set it up for you!
Includes:
– Boat transfer: both ways
– Welcome drink
– Lunch
– Forest walk
– Canoeing, ping pong, pool, beach volley etc available
Optional:
– Sand buggy (up to 5 persons, 15 buggies available): 295 euro/hour
– Jet ski: 249 euro/hour
– Possibility to overnight: 347 euro per person (full-board)
– Guided visit
Tour 5: Wonga Wongue Reserve (overnight)
Libreville is a nice, enjoyable city and close to the ocean. However, sometimes it’s important to take a break from city life and go back to the roots. Luckily in Gabon we are spoiled with a rich variety of natural wonders and plenty of opportunities to enjoy some peace and serenity. This trip is ideal for weekends and if you want, you can also add another day!
Our site is located on the beach with outstanding views of the ocean in front of you and close to the Wonga Wongue Reserve, a walk away from the elephants who frequently visit the area. The Wonga Wongue Presidential Reserve is located on the northwest coast in between Libreville and Port Gentil and does an outstanding job preserving its biodiversity and wildlife. With its 500,000 hectares it consists of a sand plateau with hilly dunes which can reach up to 300 meter. Besides its white beaches, the reserve also has a lake: Lake Eliwawanyé and home to the several rivers, which attract tons of wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of birds.
The majority of the reserve is dominated by forest, while the rest of the park consists of savanna, mangrove and wetland vegetation. The park is a haven for many mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, mangabeys, colobus monkeys, leopards, sitatungas, duikers and red river hogs. On the beach we can also find turtles who come to breed as the park is an excellent place for animals to hide from poachers.
This is how your trip would look like:
On day 1 we meet in Libreville where you are picked by our boat. We will have a nice ride along the coast before we dive into the mangroves. At the coast we will pick you up to bring you to the site. It’s a bit of a bumpy road for 45 minutes, but that’s part of the adventure, right? We offer basic, simple, but clean and air conditioned accommodation, surrounded by an incredible natural environment. At noon you’ll have a tasty lunch and you’ll have some time to walk on the beach, swim and discover the area or just simply relax and enjoy the calmth. Later in the afternoon you’ll go on a safari on foot and have a really good chance to see animals such as elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, a wild variety of birds and it’s even possible to see a chimpanzee! We’ll head back in the evening and you’ll be treated with another delicious meal. The following morning we offer a morning walk which will give you another chance to see the animals. Afterwards, you will be then brought back to Libreville, satisfied after a relaxing time in paradise!
Includes:
– Transport
– Full board accommodation
– Walking safaris
Tour 6: Monts de Cristal National Park
Crystal Mountains National Park (Parc National des Monts de Cristal) is situated between Equatorial Guinea and the Ogooué River. It consists of two parks: Mbe NP and Mt Sene NP, which were established in 2002. The parks have a high plant biodiversity and are home to many animal species such as elephants and monkeys as well as hundreds of butterfly species, including some very rare ones such as euphaedra brevis and graphium angrier. We have created a budget tour where you’ll join a group to reduce costs.
We will pick you up in the morning and after a beautiful drive through the Gabonese landscape we will show you your accommodation on arrival so you can drop off your stuff and then we can start with the exploration of the area.
We have several activities planned, among which the discovery of the two hydraulic dams Kinguele and Tchimbele which supply the entire province of the estuary with electricity. The local staff will provide you with more information and answer all your questions. You will be able to swim in the Kinguele River and enjoy the landscape to create unforgettable memories. Tonight we will spend the night on the site with the eco-guards in the bungalows of the local staff and have dinner in the forest followed by a cozy evening around the campfire where we can share stories and get to know each other.
Waking up in the morning in the forest is absolutely beautiful with the feeling of the fresh air in your face. We’ll enjoy a good breakfast before continuing the adventure and will go for a hike in the forest, according to the circuit you have chosen, and in the evening the whole team will pack up to return to the gathering point in Libreville. There we will wait for you and take you back to your hotel.
Please make sure to bring some water for on the bus, swimming clothes, towels, DEET, a torch, sun screen, hiking boots, sunglasses and a hat and some back up sheets to sleep.
Includes:
– Visit of the park and activities
– Visit of the waterfalls
– Full board accommodation
Transport
Except for Pongara National Park and Wonga Wongue, we’ll need to use a coach. They have a capacity of 35 people sitting and up to 55 with standing places included.
We can provide these at just 699 euro per bus including driver and gas per cruise ship activity near Libreville for pickup and drop off . Note that this is a discounted price only if combined with a tour around Libreville and if you want to hire a bus in Libreville on a daily basis, this will increase if you don’t combine this with one of our packages.
