1. Libreville
Nearly one-third of Gabon’s people live in Libreville. It serves as the country’s capital and the only real city.
Thanks to an influx of oil money, you’ll find paved roads, pristine streets, amazing restaurants, astonishingly decent French wine, casinos, and gated communities.
Not quite like the Africa of the nearby nations
However, the heart of Libreville is firmly anchored in Africa, complete with crowded, chaotic, and oh-so-fun marketplaces, close-knit communities, and breathtaking coastlines.
Liberville, which translates as “Freetown” in French, was founded by freed slaves in the middle of the 19th century. The city progressively grew and attracted a wide variety of inhabitants, creating the eclectic community it is today.
Keep in mind to visit the National Museum, the Presidential Palace, L’Eglise St-Michel (St. Michael Cathedral), and the markets in addition to the markets.
2. Loango National Park
The crowning achievement of the 13 national parks is without a doubt Loango.
One of the best safari excursions in all of Africa is about to begin for you.
The park has beautiful landscape and fantastic biodiversity.
With nearly 200 kilometers of unspoilt shoreline, Loango is one of the few really wild coastal areas.
There are woods, savannahs, lagoons, and marshes throughout the park.
In addition to the well-known surfing hippos captured by a National Geographic crew in 2004, you’ll see gorillas, elephants strolling down the beach, whales, dolphins, buffalo, and more.
Sport fishermen have captured and released fish in the region, and they have even been known to hook sharks, barracudas, and rouge. These predators can reach the sea in one of the few surviving areas on Earth.
3. Pongara
Due to its diversified geography, the almost 900 square kilometer Pongara National Park was chosen. Mangrove flats, a beach, a savannah, and a forest.
Several bird species, including the critically endangered Damara terns, reside there, and it’s still pretty accessible (for Gabon!).
The forests are home to chimps, duiker, buffalo, elephants, and monkeys.
An area of the park’s beachfront called Pongara Point is home to endangered leatherback turtles.
They sneak up on the shore and come here to lay their eggs.
4. Fernan Vaz Lagoon
The Fernan Vaz Lagoon serves as the Ogooué marine area’s focal point.
Several conservation efforts are centered on the area, which has the name of the Portuguese explorer who found it in the 15th century.
On Gorilla Island, a refuge and reintroduction facility are kept up by the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project (PGFA).
There are presently two gorillas living there, helping to inform visitors about the plight of these magnificent animals.
Eight other orphaned gorillas are also kept apart from people with the goal of releasing them back into the wild.
5. Ivindo National Park
The Fernan Vaz Lagoon serves as the Ogooué marine area’s focal point.
Several conservation efforts are centered on the area, which has the name of the Portuguese explorer who found it in the 15th century.
On Gorilla Island, a refuge and reintroduction facility are kept up by the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project (PGFA).
There are presently two gorillas living there, helping to inform visitors about the plight of these magnificent animals.
Eight other orphaned gorillas are also kept apart from people with the goal of releasing them back into the wild.
6. Makokou & Kongou Falls
The entrance to the Kongou waterfalls, Gabon’s counterpart of Niagara Falls, is situated in Makokou, the regional seat of Ogooué-Ivindo.
Ivindo National Park’s Kongou, which has a 60-meter drop and a huge spiritual significance to the people, is undoubtedly a must-see.
The Makokou village has access to the air, rail, and water despite its relative remoteness.
You’ll have multiple opportunities to interact with the Pygmies that live in the neighboring forest if you choose the hamlet as your base camp.
7. Franceville
The entrance to the Kongou waterfalls, Gabon’s counterpart of Niagara Falls, is situated in Makokou, the regional seat of Ogooué-Ivindo.
Ivindo National Park’s Kongou, which has a 60-meter drop and a huge spiritual significance to the people, is undoubtedly a must-see.
The Makokou village has access to the air, rail, and water despite its relative remoteness.
You’ll have multiple opportunities to interact with the Pygmies that live in the neighboring forest if you choose the hamlet as your base camp.
8. Port-Gentil
After Libreville, Port-Gentil is the second-largest city (or Mandji as some of the locals call it). This seaside city serves as the hub of the country’s timber and petroleum industries.
And given that the town’s history includes serving as a customs post and a staging area for colonial expeditions into the country, it is easy to see how the town has grown into its current commercial significance.
There is no road leading to the mainland from its location on Mandji Island.
Along with its industry, Port-Gentil is widely renowned for its nightlife and casino.
9. Point Denis
Point Denis is well-liked since it hasn’t yet experienced a rise in tourists.
It appears like an other planet even though Libreville is only a short boat ride away.
The beach stretches for a number of kilometers before ending at Pongara National Park’s entrance.
The laid-back village has wonderful water activities, inviting restaurants, and little boutique hotels.
On the western half of the island, there are no resources other than people and a more untamed coastline.
You can immediately tell that you are in the vicinity of a tropical rainforest here.
If you want solitude and long, contemplative treks with breathtaking scenery, Point Denis is the place to go.
10. Réserve de la Lopé
Point Denis is well-liked since it hasn’t yet experienced a rise in tourists.
It appears like an other planet even though Libreville is only a short boat ride away.
The beach stretches for a number of kilometers before ending at Pongara National Park’s entrance.
The laid-back village has wonderful water activities, inviting restaurants, and little boutique hotels.
On the western half of the island, there are no resources other than people and a more untamed coastline.
You can immediately tell that you are in the vicinity of a tropical rainforest here.
If you want solitude and long, contemplative treks with breathtaking scenery, Point Denis is the place to go.
Point Denis is well-liked since it hasn’t yet experienced a rise in tourists.
It appears like an other planet even though Libreville is only a short boat ride away.
The beach stretches for a number of kilometers before ending at Pongara National Park’s entrance.
The laid-back village has wonderful water activities, inviting restaurants, and little boutique hotels.
On the western half of the island, there are no resources other than people and a more untamed coastline.
You can immediately tell that you are in the vicinity of a tropical rainforest here.
If you want solitude and long, contemplative treks with breathtaking scenery, Point Denis is the place to go.
11. Lastoursville
Lastoursville, often known as Lozo by the locals, is a peaceful little town on the banks of the Ogooué River.
The attractions are located outside of the town itself, which is scarcely significant.
Boundji Waterfalls may be reached by taking a tranquil and gorgeous nature stroll.
The greatest attraction of Lastoursville is without a doubt the caves, which are within a one-hour hike from the town center.
They were given the UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005. Recent expeditions have explored an underground cave that extends over three kilometers.
12. Lambaréné
About 75 kilometers from the equator, in the Central African Rainforest, lies a town named Lambaréné.
The Bantu ethnic groups still reside in the place where Albert Schweitzer built his hospital in 1913.
It’s a great place to relax and see Gabonese traditional life because it’s mostly a fishing community.
You may visit the hospital for a tour to see the incredible work being done there.
13. Minkébé National Park
Although getting to Minkébé may be difficult, the effort is unquestionably worthwhile.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is active in the area, helping to fund conservation initiatives in one more of the parks that are the hardest to access.
WWF focuses on alternative economic options for the locals, especially artistic pursuits. Gorillas, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, and remote indigenous ethnic populations may all be found in this area.
The WWF estimates that in all of Africa, this region is home to the greatest concentration of elephants.
Numerous species found in the park are listed on the Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
When you visit the park, you could learn more about the Kota and Kwèl ethnic groups.
Learn about the Baka Edzengui, the Kota mask, the forest spirit, and the Kwèl Deke dance.
14. Mayumba National Park
The only park with a predominance of marine life is this one, which is close to the border with the Republic of Congo.
There is a savanna, beach, dunes, and rainforest on this little stretch of land.
About 60 kilometers of this length are designated as a protected leatherback turtle nesting beach.
There is a good chance that you may encounter barnacled whales, dolphins, sea turtles, leopards, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, monkeys, and, of course, elephants.
According to the residents, ancestral spirits watch over the location.
15. Akanda National Park
One of the largest populations of migratory birds on Earth breed at Akanda National Park, which accounts up about 25% of the protected mangrove in all of Africa.
The Bantu tribe reveres the Mondah forest, which is situated within the park, as the origin of many of their myths and customs.
Additionally, this is the ideal spot for whale and dolphin sightings, water activities, and fishing.
Visit Leatherback Trove to learn more about how the Ministry of Water and Forest and the Gabon Sea Turtle Partnership are working together to train teams to report illegal fishing close to the beach in order to protect leatherback turtles, the population of which has decreased by 90%.
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