Lopé – Moukalaba-Doudou with gorilla tracking (Gabon budget tour)

This is a budget version using basic accommodation at Moukalaba-Doudou. We can upgrade this using high-end lodges.

This eight-day rainforest safari in Gabon is a great budget alternative to Loango National park and offers a lot of wildlife encounters and introduces you to various landscapes with each its own typical fauna and flora. Our tour starts in Libreville from where we’ll take the train to Lopé National park. We’ll explore Lopé on foot looking for primates such as chimpanzees and mandrills, but also animals such as forest elephants, forest buffaloes, duikers, and more. 

Our tour then continues to Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, which borders Lango National park. We will go on gorilla tracking and will be equally on the lookout for other animals such as chimpanzees, bongos, red river hogs and more. We have a dedicated team in each park which will help you to track Gabon’s most iconic animals. It’s also possible to add a day of mandrill tracking in Lopé National in which we follow radio-collared mandrills together with the local guide experts.

A little more on Gabon’s national parks Lopé and Moukalaba-Doudou.

Lopé National Park

Lopé National Park is located in central Gabon and bordered by the Ogooué River to the north. The park spans 4,912 square kilometers and was established in 2002 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 for its exceptional biodiversity and cultural landscape. The park features dense tropical rainforests and ancient savannas with over 1,550 plant species and abundant wildlife including leopards, forest elephants, sun-tailed monkeys, forest buffaloes, and over 400 bird species, earning it status as an Important Bird Area. As of 2025, conservation efforts include annual controlled burns to counteract forest encroachment into savannas driven by climate change, preserving habitat diversity.

Moukalaba-Doudou National Park

Moukalaba-Doudou National Park is located in the south-west of Gabon and is close to Loango National Park. This parks which is  700 km south of Libreville, covers around 4,500 square kilometers and was established in 2002, featuring a diverse mix of humid rainforests, savannah grasslands, shrubby savannas, and mountainous terrain. The park is renowned for its high biodiversity and serves as a critical habitat for threatened species such as western lowland gorillas, central chimpanzees, forest elephants, various primates and numerous bird species. It has gotten support by WWF development programs since 1996 and is managed by Gabon's National Agency for National Parks. As of 2025, ongoing research, such as studies on elephant trails, highlights its role in conservation amid remote and rugged landscapes that promote ecotourism and wildlife spotting.

Itinerary

Day 1: Train to Lopé National Park 

Take the train to Lopé National Park, where you’ll stay at a local hotel for the night. 

Day 2 - 3: Camping at Lopé National Park 

Two days of camping at Lopé National Park looking for wildlife such as mandrills, gorillas, chimpanzees and other animals with our guide. 

Day 4: 4x4 safari - Lambaréné

Morning jeep safari on the savanna of Lopé to look for animals such as elephants, buffaloes and more and then continue the drive to Lambaréné, which is in the middle of Lopé and Tchibanga. 

Day 5: Lambaréné to Tchibanga 

Depending on road conditions we either stay at a local hotel in Tchibanga or continue to the base camp for Moukala-Doudou safari. 

Day 6: Safari at Moukalaba-Doudou National Park  

We will go with local guides to look for various wildlife such as chimpanzees or red river hogs in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park. 

Day 7: Gorilla tracking at Moukalaba-Doudou National Park 

Today is dedicated to tracking western lowland gorillas in Moukalaba-Doudou, one of Gabon’s best parks to track gorillas. Overnight at Tchibanga. 

Day 8: Drive from Tchibanga  to Libreville and drop off at your hotel. End of tour 

Since road conditions are unpredictable, it is highly recommended to have an extra buffer day in Libreville before flying back in case of any delay. We are not responsible for any missed flights due to force majeure such as heavy rainfall. Hotel in Libreville not included!

Includes:
- Meals at Wonga Wongue, Lopé NP 

- Doesn't include meals outside the parks

- Accommodation / camping 

- Transport by train 

- Activities 

- Guiding 

Doesn't include:
- Meals outside the parks 

- Drinks 

- Visa and visa assistance

- Tips 

- Flights

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) 

- Camping in Lopé NP is in mobile tent camps with no ground facilities. Your stay is full-board. 

- The budget option for Moukalaba NP has correct, but very basic accommodation, limited electricity, running water and no A/C, same for Lambaréné. 

- The budget and midrange hotels in Libreville and Port Gentil are ok and correct, but do not offer the same comfort as western hotels. The Radisson is the only hotel with good infrastructure if you want an upgrade. 

- Pongara, Moukalaba-Doudou and Loango all have high-end lodges, charters by helicopter and private plane can all be arranged to get a true luxury glamping experience. 

- Always be aware that trains and flights can get cancelled and delayed and road transfers can be affected by heavy rainfall, it's good to have buffer days. This programme should have a buffer day before going home. 

- Specialised mandrill tracking can be added to the programme. The best season for big groups is July to September. During the rest of the year, groups are smaller. 

- Leatherback turtles can be seen during a nocturnal visit at the high-end lodge Pongara NP or the high-end lodge of Moukalaba-Doudou. 

- 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 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. 

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

- 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.