Duration: 11 days.
With a large part of its territory covered by jungle and with such incredible ethnic groups as the Pygmies, Gabon is a little-known jewel in the heart of Africa. It is an ideal destination for lovers of nature, contact with traditional cultures and safe travel in places that have not yet been overcrowded by tourism.
We will arrive in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, after an international flight with a stopover. Upon arrival, we will be met and transferred to the hotel to rest after the journey.
Today we will spend the day getting to know Libreville, a city that blends modern skyscrapers with colonial architecture. We will visit its seafront promenade, a popular spot among locals and visitors alike.
Next, we will delve into the bustling Mont-Bouët market, the largest in the city, and approach the Presidential Palace, one of the most representative and important buildings in Libreville. We will also visit the National Museum of Arts and Culture, which houses an impressive collection of masks and wooden sculptures — an ideal introduction to the country’s traditions.
After breakfast, we will take a flight to Port-Gentil and from there travel to Loango National Park — one of the country’s natural wonders, known for both its incredible variety of wildlife and its stunning beaches.
Over the next two days, we will go on land safaris and also enjoy canoe excursions to observe animals in their natural habitat.
After two nights in the park, we will take a return flight to Libreville to begin a new stage of the journey: one of the most moving experiences of the trip — entering the forest to live alongside the pygmies and immerse ourselves in the unique biodiversity of this region. We will make an overnight stop along the way or arrive directly at night to the Lopé area, home to Lopé-Okanda National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
On the second or third day, we will travel to Massenguelani, the starting point of a unique experience in the pygmy village, home to the Simba-Babongo ethnic group. These nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples, who have inhabited this corner of Africa for over 10,000 years, preserve an ancestral way of life based on hunting, gathering, and fishing. They are also musicians and dancers, and their vocal polyphonies are among the most extraordinary treasures preserved by humanity.
During our stay, we will share daily life with these families, learning from their knowledge, customs, and way of life. At night, we will attend the traditional Bwiti ceremony — of great importance to them and connected to the ritual use of sacred plants during spiritual initiation.
Although we will be welcomed as observers, in Africa this often means being active participants, especially through dance. It will be one of the most special moments of the journey — a time when they will open the doors to their world and invite us to share it with them.
We will sleep one or two nights in the camp.
After breakfast, we will head towards Lambaréné, a city of great importance in Gabon’s history, as it was here that the Alsatian doctor, theologian, philosopher and musician Albert Schweitzer founded his mission. During the day, we will explore the city and learn more about its historical relevance.
We will spend the night in Lambaréné.
We will spend these last two days exploring Lambaréné before taking the return flight to Libreville.
