Northeast of the capital Libreville, the park encompasses Mondah Bay’s coastal wetlands, beaches and mangroves, as well as a small section of forest where an abundance of orchids bloom from October to January. It hosts one of the largest populations of migratory birds in Africa, making the site a favourite for birdwatchers. Around 25% of Africa’s protected mangroves are located within Gabon, providing breeding grounds for numerous species including whales, turtles, manatees, humpback dolphins and a wide variety of waterbirds including pelicans.
Discover moreNortheast of the capital Libreville, the park encompasses Mondah Bay’s coastal wetlands, beaches and mangroves, as well as a small section of forest where an abundance of orchids bloom from October to January. It hosts one of the largest populations of migratory birds in Africa, making the site a favourite for birdwatchers. Around 25% of Africa’s protected mangroves are located within Gabon, providing breeding grounds for numerous species including whales, turtles, manatees, humpback dolphins and a wide variety of waterbirds including pelicans.
Discover moreAlso known as Mwangné to some local communities, Mwagna National Park covers an area of 1,160 km² bordering the Republic of Congo in the far east of Gabon. Its inaccessibility is its blessing: an undisturbed haven for forest elephants, hogs, western lowland gorillas, bongo antelope, reptiles, and rare endemic bird and plant species. Declared a World Heritage-listed site, Mwagna’s rich mineral soils attract collaborative communities of multiple species to centuries-old forest openings known as baïs, where swampy ground is churned up by elephants, picked over by primates and grazed by antelope, a true Eden sacred to the forest pygmies.
Also known as Mwangné to some local communities, Mwagna National Park covers an area of 1,160 km² bordering the Republic of Congo in the far east of Gabon. Its inaccessibility is its blessing: an undisturbed haven for forest elephants, hogs, western lowland gorillas, bongo antelope, reptiles, and rare endemic bird and plant species. Declared a World Heritage-listed site, Mwagna’s rich mineral soils attract collaborative communities of multiple species to centuries-old forest openings known as baïs, where swampy ground is churned up by elephants, picked over by primates and grazed by antelope, a true Eden sacred to the forest pygmies.
In places the land appears almost arid, with erosion carving spectacular canyons, known locally as cirques. This park is home to elephants, western lowland gorillas, forest buffalo, giant antelopes and duikers and also several species of birds that exist nowhere else in the world, such as the Congo Moor Chat. Located in the extreme south-east of Gabon, it is being considered for World Heritage Site status.
In places the land appears almost arid, with erosion carving spectacular canyons, known locally as cirques. This park is home to elephants, western lowland gorillas, forest buffalo, giant antelopes and duikers and also several species of birds that exist nowhere else in the world, such as the Congo Moor Chat. Located in the extreme south-east of Gabon, it is being considered for World Heritage Site status.
Reachable by boat from Libreville in just 45 minutes Pongara’s stunning beaches and extraordinary animals make it the perfect escape from the capital. Visitors at lodges can watch leatherback turtles lay their eggs from November to March, observe elephant, buffalo, red river hogs, duikers and monkeys all year round and from July to October go whale-watching for humpbacks. Its mangroves are among the largest protected examples in the world.
Discover moreReachable by boat from Libreville in just 45 minutes Pongara’s stunning beaches and extraordinary animals make it the perfect escape from the capital. Visitors at lodges can watch leatherback turtles lay their eggs from November to March, observe elephant, buffalo, red river hogs, duikers and monkeys all year round and from July to October go whale-watching for humpbacks. Its mangroves are among the largest protected examples in the world.
Discover moreLocated in the centre of the country Waka protects over 1,000 km² of rainforest on the high Chaillu Massif. While the forest is rich in wildlife most visitors come to experience the fissured landscape including the Ikobe-Ikoi-Onoi rift, a canyon cut deep into the plateau.
Discover moreLocated in the centre of the country Waka protects over 1,000 km² of rainforest on the high Chaillu Massif. While the forest is rich in wildlife most visitors come to experience the fissured landscape including the Ikobe-Ikoi-Onoi rift, a canyon cut deep into the plateau.
Discover moreAlso known as the Monts Birougou Wetlands, Birougou lies in central Gabon, an area of extremely dense rainforest that includes the Chaillu Mountains. It is home to endemic sun-tailed guenon, a monkey only described for the first time in 1988. Named after Mount Birougou, which at 975m is one of Gabon’s highest peaks, the park is also categorised as a wetland, a feature so unique it is under consideration as a potential World Heritage Site.
Also known as the Monts Birougou Wetlands, Birougou lies in central Gabon, an area of extremely dense rainforest that includes the Chaillu Mountains. It is home to endemic sun-tailed guenon, a monkey only described for the first time in 1988. Named after Mount Birougou, which at 975m is one of Gabon’s highest peaks, the park is also categorised as a wetland, a feature so unique it is under consideration as a potential World Heritage Site.
This 3,000 km² park, dubbed the ''future star of Gabon'' because of its pristine character, provides the rare opportunity to view forest animals undisturbed in their own environment. It is famed for the Langoué Baï, a large, marshy clearing in the forest where mineral-rich soils attract forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, sitatungas, buffaloes, monkeys and rare bird species. Impressive waterfalls can be seen at Kongou and Mingouli, along with other baïs or openings dotted through otherwise high-canopy rainforest.
Discover moreThis 3,000 km² park, dubbed the ''future star of Gabon'' because of its pristine character, provides the rare opportunity to view forest animals undisturbed in their own environment. It is famed for the Langoué Baï, a large, marshy clearing in the forest where mineral-rich soils attract forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, sitatungas, buffaloes, monkeys and rare bird species. Impressive waterfalls can be seen at Kongou and Mingouli, along with other baïs or openings dotted through otherwise high-canopy rainforest.
Discover moreLocated on the Atlantic, Loango is one of Gabon’s most iconic national parks where the beach undergoes an extraordinary transformation depending on the time of year. From January to April it is common to see forest elephants leave the tree cover to explore the shoreline, where crocodiles nest in the sand around November and, occasionally, hippos leave their freshwater habitat to surf the waves. Accessible from the nearby city of Port-Gentil, Loango coves an area of 1,550 km² including the Iguéla lagoon, where visitors can enjoy big-game fishing and treks to see groups of Western lowland gorillas.
Discover moreLocated on the Atlantic, Loango is one of Gabon’s most iconic national parks where the beach undergoes an extraordinary transformation depending on the time of year. From January to April it is common to see forest elephants leave the tree cover to explore the shoreline, where crocodiles nest in the sand around November and, occasionally, hippos leave their freshwater habitat to surf the waves. Accessible from the nearby city of Port-Gentil, Loango coves an area of 1,550 km² including the Iguéla lagoon, where visitors can enjoy big-game fishing and treks to see groups of Western lowland gorillas.
Discover moreOne of the most accessible of Gabon's national parks, Lopé lies north of Libreville with rainforest and savannah rich with apes, elephants and birds. Covering 4,970 km², it is mostly rainforest with ancient savannah in the north, the best place in Africa to see mandrills, the iconic primate with bright red and blue faces. Its elephant population is extraordinarily high with three per square kilometre, perhaps the highest in Africa. Rock engravings and other signs of human occupation date back more than 400,000 years making Lopé one of humankind’s earliest crucibles.
Discover moreOne of the most accessible of Gabon's national parks, Lopé lies north of Libreville with rainforest and savannah rich with apes, elephants and birds. Covering 4,970 km², it is mostly rainforest with ancient savannah in the north, the best place in Africa to see mandrills, the iconic primate with bright red and blue faces. Its elephant population is extraordinarily high with three per square kilometre, perhaps the highest in Africa. Rock engravings and other signs of human occupation date back more than 400,000 years making Lopé one of humankind’s earliest crucibles.
Discover moreMayumba is a coastal park of beach and sanddunes next to Gabon’s southern frontier with the Republic of Congo. Every year thousand of leatherback turtles return to the beach to breed while the park’s offshore protected area provides a safe habitat for barnacled whales, dolphins, sharks and manta rays. Buffalo, elephants and other forest animals are frequently seen among the dense dune vegetation along the coast while mandrills, gorillas and chimpanzees inhabit the forest inland.
Discover moreMayumba is a coastal park of beach and sanddunes next to Gabon’s southern frontier with the Republic of Congo. Every year thousand of leatherback turtles return to the beach to breed while the park’s offshore protected area provides a safe habitat for barnacled whales, dolphins, sharks and manta rays. Buffalo, elephants and other forest animals are frequently seen among the dense dune vegetation along the coast while mandrills, gorillas and chimpanzees inhabit the forest inland.
Discover moreLocated in the remote northeast of Gabon, it is one of the country’s oldest conservation areas first marked for protection in 1989. Its remoteness and lack of human population make it a rare example of virginal equatorial rainforest. Visitor numbers remain low, adding to the park’s mystique as a window to primordial Africa. World Heritage Site status is being sought which will add another layer of protection.
Discover moreLocated in the remote northeast of Gabon, it is one of the country’s oldest conservation areas first marked for protection in 1989. Its remoteness and lack of human population make it a rare example of virginal equatorial rainforest. Visitor numbers remain low, adding to the park’s mystique as a window to primordial Africa. World Heritage Site status is being sought which will add another layer of protection.
Discover moreAccessible by car only four hours drive northwest from Libreville, the Monts de Crystal National Park is renowned for its floral biodiversity. The mountainous terrain, rich soils and high rainfall create a unique ecosystem that boasts the highest concentration of rare plants in Africa, more than 3,000 species in total, including 100 endemic to Gabon. Along with large animals including primates and elephant, the park also has a spectacular range of richly-coloured butterflies.
Discover moreAccessible by car only four hours drive northwest from Libreville, the Monts de Crystal National Park is renowned for its floral biodiversity. The mountainous terrain, rich soils and high rainfall create a unique ecosystem that boasts the highest concentration of rare plants in Africa, more than 3,000 species in total, including 100 endemic to Gabon. Along with large animals including primates and elephant, the park also has a spectacular range of richly-coloured butterflies.
Discover moreMoukalaba–Doudou is one of the most varied national parks in Gabon, covering an area of 4,500 km² that includes diverse habitats ranging from tropical rainforest to grassy savannahs, papyrus swamps to coastal reaches. The Moukalaba river and the Ndogo Lagoon offer a rich aquatic habitat while the park also includes some of Gabon’s highest mountains.
Discover moreMoukalaba–Doudou is one of the most varied national parks in Gabon, covering an area of 4,500 km² that includes diverse habitats ranging from tropical rainforest to grassy savannahs, papyrus swamps to coastal reaches. The Moukalaba river and the Ndogo Lagoon offer a rich aquatic habitat while the park also includes some of Gabon’s highest mountains.
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41000
Leatherback sea turtles
18000
Gorillas
204
Mammal species