Ecotourism in Gamba – The place for an unforgettable adventure

The Gamba Complex and especially the Loango National Park are known for some of Gabon’s finest fishing (when in season), and offer one of the most remote adventures.

Tourism in the Moukalaba Doudou National Park is under development at the moment and initiated by the local NGO PROGRAM

By air and water

Travel by air and water is necessary to reach the Loango National Park. The village of Sette Cama at the southern end of the park houses three tourist operators (see box below).

It used to be the first trading post in the 16th century for European and African traders of padouk timber and ivory.

Today, you can exchange your money against crafts made locally by nearby villagers.

Travelers on this trek will stay in rustic cabanas offering incredible views of both the river estuary and the ocean.

In the nortern end of the Park there are two tourist operators, Africa’s Eden and Gavilo Lodge

Hippos splashing in the ocean

The region boasts some of Gabon’s best opportunities for wildlife watching – large and small animals – even hippos splashing in the ocean.

This will be your first visit to pristine shores where animals and trees are the beach’s only inhabitants. Here, sandy stretches go on for miles without any sign of development or people.

Welcomed by Ibonga

In Loanga National Park, WWF has catalysed a Visitors Centre which park authorities have outsourced to the local NGO, Ibonga.

A local guiding service for the park has also been developed, with initial funding from the EU-sponsored PSVAP and WWF. It can be contacted through the Visitors Centre, serving as the entry point into South Loango National Park.

Canoe trips, forest hikes and a tree house

Visitors are informed about different options for wildlife observations, canoe trips, forest hikes and even climbing to a tree house

This way they get a chance to explore the local culture, including handicraft demonstrations, and support the local NGO\’s guiding staff, through guiding fees and donations.

Sustainable funding of the Park

As a solution, this service, which allows Ibonga to manage its highly trained eco-guides and the Visitor\’s Centre, will not only contribute to sustainable funding for the park, but also to the future of a growing local NGO and its staff.

WWF contributes to the development of community based tourism through financial and technical support to the community-based operator GIC-Tourisme.

Getting there: contacts

Flights from Gabon\’s capital Libreville to Gamba can be booked through Allegiance

Tourist operators in Loango National Park:
Sette Cama Safaris
[email protected]
tel +241 784 15 26
GIC Tourisme
[email protected]
tel +241 768 48 28
Missala Lodge
Africa’s Eden
Gavilo Lodge

Visitors Centre:
Ibonga

For more information on tourism in Gabon:
http://www.legabon.org/
http://ecotourisme-gabon.com/mistral/