Numerous destinations lay claim to being the Garden of Eden. With around 90% of the country cloaked in rainforest, the Central African nation of Gabon arguably comes closest. Our pioneering small-group journey through this little-explored country is timed to coincide with one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife spectacles – the mating ritual of up to 800 endangered mandrills in Lopé National Park – as well as offering superb opportunities to observe western lowland gorillas, beachcombing elephants and a host of other wildlife.
This small-group journey has set departure dates. Places are filling fast - book now to avoid disappointment.
The price is based on a group size of 8 people travelling for 11 nights and includes a dedicated English-speaking tour guide, local guiding, accommodation, transportation and most meals, as well as all permits. The price does not include international flights, but we can arrange these for you on request.
1 night Libreville, 4 nights Lopé National Park, 1 night Lambaréné, 4 nights Loango National Park, 1 night Libreville
What makes your Gabon safari special?
- Explore one of Central Africa’s best-kept secrets — a pristine natural paradise still largely undiscovered by Western travellers.
- Gabon is a nirvana for primate lovers: witness the gathering of up to a 800 mandrill in full mating colours; trek to western lowland gorilla troops in the rainforest; and look for rarities such as the recently discovered sun-tailed guenon and the pretty red-capped mangabey.
- Feel like a 19th-century explorer as you voyage by speedboat down the Ogooué River.
- With luck, encounter rarely observed species such as red river hog and sitatunga.
- Take a marine safari in the Gulf of Guinea to search for migrating humpback whales.
Your exclusive small-group Gabon itinerary
Welcome to Gabon
14-15 July: Libreville
After being met by your guide at Libreville airport, you’ll be transferred in comfort to Hôtel de la Sablière, a beachfront hotel in the peaceful La Sablière district of the capital. Rooms offer garden or sea views while facilities include a restaurant, bar and large outdoor pool surrounded by tropical gardens.
The following morning, enjoy a guided tour of the Gabon capital. Begin at the National Museum of Arts and Traditions, home to a fascinating collection of tribal masks, ceremonial objects and other cultural artefacts, before visiting the striking St Michael’s Church of Nkembo, famous for its hand-carved wooden columns depicting scenes from the Bible. End by exploring Libreville’s lively local market, where colourful stalls offer everything from fresh produce and spices to crafts and everyday goods.
After lunch at a local restaurant, board the Trans-Gabon Railway for the scenic journey to Lopé, transferring on arrival to Lopé Hotel, a welcoming retreat on the edge of Lopé National Park and your home for the next four nights.
The spectacle of mating mandrills
16-18 July: Lopé National Park
Nowhere in Central Africa rivals the ecological and cultural significance of Lopé National Park, whose remarkable mosaic of ancient rainforest, river valleys and open savannahs emerged 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007, the park is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, including western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, forest buffalo, black colobus monkeys, red river hogs and the rare sun-tailed guenon, a long-tailed monkey found only in Gabon.
Most notable of all is the park’s population of more than 1,400 mandrills. Our journey is designed to coincide with one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife spectacles, when for a brief period each July, up to 800 mandrills converge in Lopé to court and mate, the brightly coloured males competing fiercely for the females’ attention. To minimise disturbance, our group will be split into two, with a researcher leading one group to the mandrills in the morning and the other in the afternoon, swapping slots the following day.
On your final day, either maximise your wildlife viewing with both morning and afternoon game drives or combine a morning safari with a relaxing afternoon at the hotel.
Healing waters
19 July: Lambaréné
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive of approximately 6.5 hours to Lambaréné, a charming riverside town surrounded by a network of lakes rich in birdlife. The town is home to the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, founded in 1913 to treat leprosy, elephantiasis and other tropical diseases. Today it leads the way in the fight against malaria and plays a key role in training African doctors and scientists.
Your accommodation for the night is within the grounds of this historic institution, surrounded by lush vegetation overlooking the Ogooué River. A local guide will give you a tour of the facilities, discussing the life and legacy of the hospital’s founder Dr Albert Schweitzer, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952.
Africa's 'Last Eden'
20-23 July: Loango National Park
Travelling by motorboat along the winding Ogooué River, you’ll get a vivid sense of what early explorers must have experienced when venturing into the heart of Central Africa. Your final destination is the jewel in Gabon’s crown, Loango National Park, nearly a thousand square miles of savannah, beaches, jungle and mangroves on Gabon’s Atlantic coast.
While Loango’s fabled ‘surfing hippos’ are a rare sight, the park is home to a vast array of wildlife, including western lowland gorillas, red river hogs, monkeys, sitatunga and myriad bird species. It’s not uncommon to see forest elephants and buffalo strolling along the beach, and if you’re lucky, you may even catch sight of chimpanzees, a leopard or a golden cat.
Your time in the park is split between two camps, Ndola Camp, an intimate tented camp set deep within the rainforest overlooking the tranquil waters of Iguela Lagoon, and Loango Savannah Camp, set between the lagoon and the park’s vast savannahs. As well as spotting land animals, you’ll also head to sea to search for dolphins and humpback whales, though the highlight for many will be the chance to visit a group of habituated gorillas – an unforgettable encounter only made possible through years of dedicated conservation work.
A fond farewell
24-25 July: Libreville
There’s time for one last game drive before transferring to Port-Gentil Airport to catch an early-evening flight back to Libreville, where you’ll be met and transferred to Hôtel de la Sablière. Enjoy a final dinner with the group and the chance to reflect on a remarkable journey through one of Africa’s last great wildernesses. Transfer to the airport the following day in time to catch your flight home.
Where you'll stay on your Gabon safari
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Customise your Gabon safari journey
All of our journeys are fully bespoke and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
With direct flights from Libreville to São Tomé and Príncipe, why not add a few days of relaxation at the gorgeous tropical beach sanctuary of Sundy Praia?
Continue your primate experience in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, where mountain gorillas are just the main stars of over a dozen different primate species.
With good flight connections to Libreville from Casablanca, how about pairing Gabon with Morocco for an unusual and wonderful desert and forest adventure?
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and pioneering safari options available. Get in touch with our Africa specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Africa team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
