On this budget trip, you’ll get to discover both  Port-Gentil and Omboué. Port Gentil is a small town compared to Libreville with only 140.000 inhabitants, but the most important seaport of Gabon. Near Cap Lopez, the peninsula of Port Gentil is also the most western point in Gabon! It’s pretty quiet compared to the capital, but it’s still an important place for the petrol-industry, meaning the city attracts money and for its small size it has therefore a few spots where one can relax on unspoilt sandy beaches near the Atlantic Ocean watching the boats go by. The forest is never too far off and with a 4×4 or a boat you don’t have to go far to be in the rainforest abundant with wildlife. During the whale season you can spot whales not too far off the beach as well. 

In 1473 the Portuguese navigator Lopo Gonçalves already sailed near Cape Lopez and the first settlements were built on Mandji Island in the delta of the Ogooué River by the French in 1873, used a base for the expeditions of de Brazza who went into the interior of Gabon and Congo from there out. By the end of the 1890’s it became a trading center for products such as rubber, ivory and wood. After World War I it became a port for timber and not longer after that oil was discovered with its first oil refinery established in the sixties by Sogara and later the addition of natural gas.

Many people from Libreville, both Gabonese and expats come here for a few days, especially on long weekends or for easter, to relax, fish and explore. Port Gentil is also a good base to go to Omboué and Loango National Park to see wildlife such as elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, hippos and even gorillas in Loango. 

We’ll go to Port Gentil the local way, by ferry, as it’s a nice 3 to 4 hour journey along the coastline, treating us with beautiful views of the Gabonese coast. It’s also a way to escape the extremely expensive air tickets! In Port-Gentil you’ll get an introduction to the city and we’ll visit beaches such as Sogara Beach and explore Cap Lopez, which is about half an hour from downtown and at the tip of Mandji Island, it was also the place where slave ships set off for Europe in darker times with the rusty lighthouse as its last witness. Cap Lopez has become the oil terminal of Total, which you will see while exploring the area. Don’t be scared, even though there is oil industry, the peninsula offers beautiful paradisiacal beaches with coconut trees, which are full of life during weekends. Tonight we’ll sleep at a local hotel on the mainland.

The next day we’ll take a boat to go to a charming little lodge, nestled in between palm trees on a small island not too far from the coast. Only known by locals, you won’t find this place on booking or tripadvisor! Here, your only duty is to relax and enjoy the island. You will fall in love with the meals being prepared and also try out the cocktails!

The morning after we’ll leave early to catch the boat towards Omboué who leaves quite early. It’s a beautiful 3 to 4 hour journey where you can watch both the sea and the connecting river system all dotted in green and wildlife such as birds, crocodiles and hippos are never far away. 

Omboué is a small town of roughly 2.000 inhabitants. In the afternoon you will have a stroll with your guide to explore the charm of this little settlement and to get to know more about Gabonese village life. Tonight we’ll spend the night at a hotel in Omboué.

The next morning we’ll enter a boat to visit a few interesting sites such as the Sainte-Anne Mission with the highlight being the church built by Gustave Eiffel in Paris and transported in pieces to St. Anne, where it was built in 1889. It’s nestled in between an oasis of green and provides an excellent photo opportunity. If open during that period, we’ll also have a walk on Gorilla Island, which is a sanctuary for gorillas designed to reintegrate gorillas back into the wild. During our tour we’ll have the opportunity to watch the rainforest surrounding the river with its large variety of colorful birds and it’s not uncommon to see crocodiles or hippos on the way!

After a satisfying day we’ll head back to the hotel, where you can relax and enjoy one of the excellent meals from the menu, accompanied by a nice, cold drink.

The following morning, we’ll head back to Port-Gentil by boat, where we can take a plane back to Libreville.

INCLUDED:
– Accommodation in Port-Gentil and Omboué.
– Ferry from Libreville to Port-Gentil (if available, if not, we need to use plane, which will alter the price drasticallyà
– Personal guide during the whole trip
– City tour in Port-Gentil.
– Tour in and around Omboué.
– Boats in between Port-Gentil and Omboué. (based on public boat availability)

NOT INCLUDED: 
– Plane, if the ferry is cancelled.
– Meals and drinks
– Tips

We are not responsible in case the ferry is cancelled. Any extra night in Port-Gentil will have to be covered by the client.