Gabon Mammal Tour

Central Africa is a major destination for everyone who is serious about mammals and Gabon is heaven for anyone who’s interested in mammals as well as wildlife photographers since there are many iconic species which can be found in various parks such as Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park, Loango National Park, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Pongara National Park, Akanda National Park, Mikongo Forest and more. Some of the country’s most famous mammals are of course the lowland gorilla, the chimpanzee and the mandrill. Bongos are more difficult than in Dzanga Sangha for instance, but you have a good chance to see red river hogs and situtunga  as well as yellow back duiker, water chevrotain, moustache monkey, crowned monkey and the famous hippos on the beach! Gabon is also famous for its humpback whales of course as well as several nestling turtle species such as the leatherback turtle which you can see at Pongara and Moukalaba-Doudou. Another curiosity are the orange crocodiles at the caves near the Nkomi Lagoon, an activity which our agency can also organise for you.

There are of course several itineraries and programmes for a mammal tour in Gabon you can make. Our agency made an itinerary focusing on the main national parks looking for iconic mammals such as the mandrill, chimpanzee, gorilla, yellow backed duiker, mangabey, moustache monkey, debrazza monkey, water chevrotain, sitatunga, red river hog and more to see during your safari starting from Libreville. 

Gabon Mammal Tour Itinerary 

Day 1: Arrival  in Libreville 

Arrival in Libreville and transfer to your hotel. 

Day 2: Libreville to Boué by train 

Train to Boué, which is at the edge of Ivindo National Park. Note, that the itinerary will have to be adjusted to the train programme. We will stay at a very basic hotel tonight, so please adjust your expectations. 

Day 3: Booué - Ivindo (Langoué Bai) safari

Morning transfer to the viewing platform of Langoué Bai and installation at the tented camp. Afternoon observation from the platform to look for animals such as lowland gorilla, sitatunga, forest elephant, forest buffalo, red river hog as well as other animals around the camp such as African golden cat, African civet, Peter’s duiker, Congo clawless otter, blue duiker, guereza colobus, moustached monkey, putty-nosed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey and more. 

Day 4:  Ivindo  (Langoué Bai) safari

Full day at the platform of Langoué Bai at Ivindo National Park. 

Day 5: Ivindo - Booué 

The way back from Booué. 

Day 6: Booué - Mikongo 

Train from Booué to Lopé and then transfer to Mikongo Forest where you’ll be staying in portable tents with sleeping bags. No toilet facilities, real camping experience. 

Day 7 - 8: Mikongo Forest safari 

Two days of camping in the forest while looking for animals. Look for mammals such as sun-tailed guenon, chimpanzee, gorilla, black colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey red-legged sun squirrel, forest giant squirrel, western palm squirrel, rope squirrel, green bush squirrel, Walter Verheyen’s woodmouse, dwarf anomalure, long-eared flying mouse, brush-tailed porcupine, African palm civet, Milne-Edward’s potto, greater spot-nosed monkey, crowned monkey, bay duiker, blue duiker, Ogilby’s duiker, 

Day 8: Lopé: mandrill tracking safari 

Tracking of radio-tracked mandrills today. Overnight at the local hotel. 

Day 9 - 10: Lopé safari  

Besides chimpanzees, mandrills, elephants and gorillas, we’ll be looking for other mammals such as Beecroft’s anamolure, Lorrain dormouse, red-legged sun squirrel, western palm squirrel, cameroon scaly tail, greater cane rat, pangolin, African palm civet, rusty-spotted genet, leopard, marsh mongoose, hammer-headed fruit bat, makandé squirrel galago, black colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, greater spot-nosed monkey, crowned monkey, sun-tailed monkey, northern talapoin, water chevrotain, buffalo, western bushbuck, bay duiker, blue duiker, Ogilby’s duiker and more. Overnight in mobile tent camp, shower in stream. 

Day 11: Lopé - Fougamou Falls  

Drive from Lopé National Park to Fougama Falls, overnight. 

Day 12: Fougama Falls - Moukalaba-Doudou

Drive from Fougama Falls and check in at Nyanga River Lodge. 

Day 13 - 14: Moukalaba-Doudou safari 

Two days of safari activities on foot, by boat and by car at Moukalaba-Doudou National Park. If you’re coming between November and March we can visit a nest of leatherback turtles. Overnight at the glamping camp of Nyanga Lodge. 

Day 15: Moukalaba-Doudou to Loango 16 km hike 

Morning transfer by car, followed by a 16km long hike to Loango National Park, which takes around 6 hours to complete. Possibility to see wild gorillas and other mammals. Overnight at Savanna Tented Camp at Loango National Park. 

Day 16 - 17 - 18: Safari at Loango National Park  

We’ll be looking for mammals such as chimpanzee, forest elephant, forest buffalo, hippo, sitatunga, red-capped mangabey, grey-cheeked mangaby, Walbert's epauletted fruit bat, Lord Derby's anomalure, water chevrotain, yellow-backed duiker, moustached-monkey and many more. We’ll be staying at a luxury glamping camp at savanna tented camp at Loango. 

Day 19: Loango - Libreville by flight 

Morning overland transfer to Port-Gentil and afternoon flight to Libreville. It is highly recommended to take a buffer day just in case, so you don’t miss your light. Transfer to your hotel and end of tour.

Gabon Mammals 

An incomplete list of several mammals that you can spot in Gabon. 

Primates

• Western Lowland Gorilla, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park

• Common Chimpanzee, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park, Ivindo National Park, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park

• Mandrill, Lopé National Park, Parc de la Lekedi, Mikongo (within Lopé)

• White-Collared Mangabey, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park

• Grey-Cheeked Mangabey, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Red-Capped Mangabey, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park

• Northern Talapoin, Ivindo National Park, Loango National Park (near rivers and lagoons)

• Black Colobus, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Sun-Tailed Monkey, Lopé National Park (endemic and primarily here)

• De Brazza's Monkey, Loango National Park, Pongara National Park (near water)

• Agile Mangabey, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Golden Angwantibo, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park (nocturnal in forests)

Elephants & Relatives:

• African Forest Elephant, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Nyonié

Ungulates (Hoofed Mammals):

• Forest Buffalo, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Bongo, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Red River Hog, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Common Hippopotamus, Loango National Park, Pongara National Park, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park

• Sitatunga, Loango National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Blue Duiker, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park

• Yellow-Backed Duiker, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Red-Fronted Duiker, Lopé National Park

• Bates's Pygmy Antelope, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Water Chevrotain, Loango National Park, Ivindo National Park

Carnivores:

• Leopard, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• African Golden Cat, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park

• Spotted Hyena, Lopé National Park

• Honey Badger, Loango National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Congo Clawless Otter, Ivindo National Park, Loango National Park

• Black-Legged Mongoose, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• White-Collared Mongoose, Loango National Park

• Servaline Genet, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park

• Various Civets, Genets, Mongooses, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

Pangolins & Relatives:

• Long-Tailed Pangolin, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park

• Giant Pangolin, Lopé National Park (Mikongo), Loango National Park

Sirenians:

• African Manatee, Loango National Park, Pongara National Park (coastal lagoons)

Cetaceans (Marine Mammals):

• Humpback Whale, Loango National Park (coastal waters, seasonal)

• Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, Loango National Park (offshore waters)

Bats & Rodents :

• Hammer-Headed Fruit Bat, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

• Cyclops Roundleaf Bat, Loango National Park, Lopé National Park

• Western Palm Squirrel, Lopé National Park, Loango National Park

• Cameroon Scaly-Tail, Ivindo National Park

• Large-Eared Flying Mouse, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park

Important! Gabon's infrastructure is not as developed as in other countries and we still suffer from blackouts and sometimes water can get cut. Please, have realistic experiences, especially when going into the wild. Please, bring the necessary means to bring camping and traveling as comfortable as possible (torches, power banks, DEET, an extra towel and sheet, baby wipes, water, snacks, etc)

• The Radisson Hotel and Hotel La Sablière are excellent hotels, though still not at the same level of a hotel in Europe/US. 

•  The luxury camps of Nyanga and Loango Savannah Camp are designed to have a comfortable glamping experience in the wild with comfortable beds, solar energy and more. Please, be aware that you are in the wild, so there will always be insects and small critters. The camps do their best to have the tents spotless and mosquito-free, but take measures. 

• Always be aware that trains and flights can get cancelled and delayed, it's good to have buffer days, especially in the end. 

• Leatherback turtles can be seen during a nocturnal visit from November until late February at the Nyanga Camp in Moukalaba-Doudou and can also be seen at Pongara National Park if you would like to add this to your booking. 

• Humpback whale watching is possible from June until September. 

• Consult your doctor for malaria meds and other diseases. Make sure to protect yourself against mosquitoes (long pants, closed shoes with socks, DEET, etc). 

• Make sure to have your yellow fever vaccination card on you on arrival, as well as your visa, invitation letter, hotel bookings and flight tickets.

• The Gabon e-visa system has not been working. We offer assistance for this at 120 euro per person to get the e-visa for longer tours. For tours of only two nights or shorter, we charge 230 euro per person. 

• Luggage allowance: if you will be hiking from Loango to Sounga, we do not recommend more than 10 kg/person. If you’re going to Loango / Moukalaba-Doudou by plane, a maximum of 20 kg is permitted per person and subject to payload. 

• Credit card: it is possible to use your credit card in Libreville, but at the parks, everything is handled by cash. 

• Tips: tips are not expected but always welcome. We recommend 15 euro per person per day and 15 euro for all general staff per person per day. 

• Reservation: your booking is confirmed with a 30 percent deposit. For bookings at Loango National Park and Moukalaba-Doudou Nyanga Lodge we require a 50 percent non-refundable deposit and signed waiver and booking terms.  In some cases, third party supplier terms and conditions may require a higher deposit,particularly during peak periods; in this case, we will inform you accordingly.

• The outstanding balance must be paid 60 days before the trip for general tours and for tours to Loango National Park and Nyanga Lodge at Moukalaba-Doudou 90 days before the trip commences. All payments are to be done by bank transfer to our US Bank Account. We do not accept credit cards or WUM. 

• Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory and must be taken out at the time of booking confirmation. Coverage should include trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical and related expenses, lost baggage, liability and travel delays. If you plan to participate in a dangerous or high-risk activity, please inform your insurer as additional coverage may be required. Our company cannot be held responsible for any loss incurred due to cancellation, regardless of the circumstance.

•  Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the return date of your trip and contain at least three blank pages for visas, excluding validation pages.

• Children under the age of 12 years are, regretfully, not allowed.

• Rates shown are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances such as increased government taxes and levies.