Wonga Wongue Reserve – Lopé National Park – Ogoué River Delta – Loango gorilla tracking

This two week travel package in Gabon is a journey into the heart of the country’s unparalleled biodiversity and deep green untouched landscapes. This is one of our travel agency’s best travel itineraries to fully explore the ecosystems of Gabon: from coastal havens to lush rainforests, deep river deltas and endless mangroves.

We start our tour at Libreville, from where we’ll take the boat to the Wonga Wongué Reserve, a breathtaking coastal sanctuary near Libreville, Gabon’s lively capital. In this 5,000 square kilometers reserve we can find savanna, forest and beaches, creating a paradise for wildlife. You’ll stay at a beachside camp and embark on a daily safari (on foot or by jeep) to spot elephants, buffaloes, and hippos roaming the shoreline or wading in the Atlantic. On your safari you will be guided by local wildlife experts.

Next, our tour brings us to Lopé National Park, one of Gabon’s most famous parks and  renowned for its savanna-rainforest mosaic and dense primate populations with the mandrill being the most famous, since it has the largest mandrill gatherings in the world. We will be camping in the heart of the rainforest of Lopé and go on a daily walking safari with skilled local guides who will focus on tracking western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, monkeys, mandrills, duikers and more. It is also possible to add a dedicated mandrill tracking day to observe these elusive primates up close.

The tour then proceeds to Lambaréné, a historic town on the Ogooué River, known for Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s humanitarian legacy. A visit to the Schweitzer Hospital Museum offers a glimpse into Gabon’s colonial and post-colonial history.

Finally, we explore the Ogooué River Delta, a vast wetland brimming with life. Staying on sustainable tented platforms in the forest, we’ll navigate the delta’s waterways by pirogue for a thrilling jungle safari. Local guides will lead us in search of manatees, crocodiles, and rare birds like the African fish eagle and Pel’s fishing owl, immersing you in one of Gabon’s most biodiverse regions.

From the River Delta we’ll go on a long, beautiful river journey by boat all the way of to the town of Omboué, where we’ll be staying at a local hotel beautifully located next to the Nkomi Lagoon (Fernand Vaz Lagoon), a fantastic area with rich fauna and flora. From here, we’ll jump on a 4x4 to go to the Loango National Park, the most famous park in Gabon. You will be staying full-board and can enjoy safari activities and gorilla tracking, before we take the plane from Port Gentil back to Libreville.

Itinerary 

Day 1: Libreville to Wonga Wongue

Meet up at the Michel Marina at 8.30 am and then transfer to the Wonga Wongue Reserve by boat and 4x4, full-board stay at local chalet with daily safari activity (walking and jeep). 

Day 2: Wonga Wongue reserve

Morning and afternoon safari at Wonga Wongué looking for animals. 

Day 3: Wonga Wongue to Libreville 

Back to Libreville by the end of the afternoon. Overnight at local hotel (Namaste or similar) 

Day 4: Train to Lopé NP, arrival at night, local hotel 

Take the jungle train to Lopé National Park and stay at a local hotel for the night. 

Day 5 - 6: Lopé National Park 

Two days of camping looking for wildlife such as mandrills, chimpanzees and gorillas on daily walking safari inside Lopé National Park. 

Day 7: 4x4 safari and Mont Lopé

If the train schedule allows we will look for elephants, buffaloes and more on a jeep safari at the savanna of Lopé and will then go on a hike on Mont Lopé. We will take the train back in the late evening to Libreville where we’ll stay at a local hotel (Namasté Hotel or similar)

Day 8: Lopé to Lambaréné

Transfer by car to Lambarene, visit to the Albert Schweitzer Hospital and overnight stay at a local hotel. 

Day 9: Lambaréné into the Ogooué River Delta 

Boat trip on the Ogooué River to a tented platform in the forest with great views over the lake. Exploration of the forest looking for animals. 

Day 10: Rainforest Safari in the Ogooué River Delta

Exploration of the forest through walking and pirogue. 

Day 11: Boat to Omboué - Nkomi Lagoon 

Beautiful day on the boat on the Ogooué all the way to Omboué and overnight at local hotel near the Nkomi Lagoon. 

Day 12: Omboué - Loango National Park 

Transfer to Loango National Park in the morning and afternoon safari-activities. (full-board) 

Day 13: Gorilla tracking at Loango National Park 

Gorilla tracking at Loango National Park. 

Day 14: Port Gentil - Libreville 

Overland transfer to Port Gentil and flight to Libreville. Transfer to your hotel. End of tour. 

Itinerary has to be adjusted to the train schedule, if not, it will cost 700 euro per way by car. 

Includes: 

- Meals at Wonga Wongue, Lopé NP and Loango 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.
- Camping at Lake Ogooué is in tents on wooden platforms with basic, correct facilities and limited solar power. Your stay is full-board.
- The bungalows in Wonga Wongue are basic, but correct, there is electricity and water. Your stay is full-board.
- The hotel in Omboué is beautifully located, has good, correct clean rooms and electricity and water, same for the hotel in Lopé, and 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.
- Loango has 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, it's good to have buffer days.  We are not responsible for missed flights and connections or alterations in the programme due to train delays and other forces majeure. - 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.
- 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.

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