If you want a short break away from Libreville and discover the interior of the country and learn a little bit about local history and culture, this tour is ideal.
We’ll head to Lambaréné, a small town 3h – 4h drive from Libreville, beautifully located next to the Ogooué River, which is famous for its hospital which was founded by Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer. The hospital, founded in 1913, where he used to work is still an important tourist attraction and is still run by an NGO. We’ll visit the museum to get to know more about Lambarene’s most famous resident, Albert Schweitzer who went to work as a physician in Lambarene in the beginning of the 20th century. Dr Schweitzer wanted to spread the word of God by the example of his Christian labour of healing, rather than the verbal process of preaching. He completed his studies in 1911 and one year later he would work at his own expense in a French mission in Lambaréné with the help of funding and in 1913 he and his wife started to establish the now famous hospital, where he treated patients who sometimes had to travel hundreds of kilometers. In addition to injuries, he was often treating tropical diseases, poisoning, heart diseases and many other maladies. Throughout the years he was joined by other doctors and nurses. Many new buildings were constructed and the hospital started to look like a small village. In 1952 he received the Nobel Prize and became famous for his speech and worked until the day of his death in 1965.
In the evening we’ll go to a Bwiti ceremony to learn more about this secret culture which has most of its followers in Gabon. Bwiti is a spiritual discipline in which sometimes the roots of the iboga-plant are used as a psychedelic of which its effects can last up to three days. Modern Bwiti incorporates animism, ancestral worship and Christian elements. Ceremonies consist of singing, drumming and people dress in specific colors and animal skins.
Tonight we’ll sleep in a basic room either at the mission or at the guesthouse from the nuns as there aren’t many good hotels around.
The next morning we’ll embark a traditional canoe and explore the Ogooué-river where we can see a variety of birds and even hippos and crocodiles if we’re lucky! After lunch, we’ll head back to Libreville and should arrive in the late afternoon/early evening.
INCLUDES:
– Transport with driver and fuel.
– Personal guide.
– Basic, but clean and secure accommodation in Lambarene.
– Guided tour in Lambarene and the Albert Schweitzer Mission.
– Tour on the Ombooué River
– Bwiti Ceremony (if available, if not we’ll provide another cultural activity)
EXCLUDES:
– Meals and drinks
– Tips
Please, allow yourself 1 or 2 buffer days in Libreville in case of any problems we might encounter on the road such as heavy rain and massive potholes.
Bring adequate clothing, good walking shoes, enough socks, swimming clothes, light rain jacket, backpack, sun cream, mosquito repellent, torch, plenty of water and medication. Be sure that you have good insurance as we’re not responsible for any accidents.
