Where to Go in Gabon

Gabon's National Parks are renowned for their huge diversity in flora and fauna species, ranking amongst the richest in Africa. Wildlife in particular is rich in species represented as threatened at continental or regional levels - nowhere else can you watch elephants on the beach and hope to see a breaching humpback whale at the same spot. Gabon has 13 national parks in total and several nature reserves distributed throughout the country. These national parks cover up to 3 million hectares, roughly 11% of the land area with 25% marine territory complete with 11 aquatic reserves. National Parks here play an important role in curbing any threats to the country's luscious rainforests and spectacular animal species. Since the protection of this land, the National Agency for National Parks has worked hard to conserve some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, ensuring Gabon's natural heritage is passed down to future generations.

A surreal experience plummeting you into a lost world of idyllic wilderness. Gabon is, without a doubt, a must-see destination for everyone with a spirited interest in the natural world.

Loango National Park

Loango National Park is one of the most famous national parks for tourists in the entire Gabon. Located in Western Gabon, Loango National Park consists of one of the most remarkable ranges of biodiversity in Equatorial Africa; a paradise for nature lovers and intrepid travellers alike. The jewel of Africa's west coast, the park occupies 1,550 km² of savanna, pristine beach, forest, and mangrove swamps. Loango National Park is one of the best wildlife-watching destinations on the planet. Known as 'Africa's Last Eden', thick steamy rainforests, salty savannahs, white-sand beaches and warm mangrove swamps provide an endless habitat for a magnitude of natural life. The endless stretches of rich habitats provide a sanctuary for the magnitude of wildlife including western lowland gorillas, leopards, forest elephants, buffalos, hippos, primates, and over 420 species of bird, making it a bird-watchers paradise. Loango is known to have the second-highest concentration of dolphins, found just off of the National Park's coastline. Killer whales and humpback whales are also found in high numbers and are somewhat easy to observe here.

Pongara National Park

Pongara National Park is easily distinguishable with a remarkable diversity of primates, birds, and plants residing on the shimmering shorelines veined with branching estuaries and flooded forests. An unspoiled sanctuary, Pongara’s marine reserve is undoubtedly one of the key areas of attraction to the National Park, following the arrival of humpback whales and dolphins mid-year, Pongara’s tawny beaches become even more wild and wonderful when thousands of nesting sea turtles cover the shorelines to lay eggs. Recognised by IUCN as a critical site for conservation, Pongara is a home and refuge for many species. Despite being in close proximity to Libreville, the region is still rich with a plethora of large mammals including forest elephants, buffalo, chimpanzee, gorillas, monkeys, duikers, and red river hogs whilst mirrored estuaries shelter crocodiles, fish, and hippos. A trip to Pongara wouldn’t be complete without visiting the marine reserves, where the largest migration of nesting sea turtles can be witnessed alongside humpback whales, dolphins, and killer whales.