Loango National Park

Loango National Park is in the Coastal Plain region of Gabon.

Understand
Loango National Park is a coastline park that encompasses some 1,550 km² of land and is famous for its variety of unspoiled landscapes. Africa’s Last Eden – that is how the ecologist and conservationist Mike Fay referred to Loango National Park in 1997 when he walked 3000 km along the forest corridor between Congo and Gabon to shine a global spotlight on Africa’s most pristine rainforests and the need to protect them.

History
Loango National Park is one of the 13 national parks created in 2001 by Gabon’s President Omar Bongo Ondimba.

Landscape
The habitat types in Loango National Park vary from marine, seashore, coastal lagoons, mangroves, salt marsh, coastal forest, swamp forest, rain forest, savannah, rivers until papyrus swamp

Flora and fauna
Gabon is home to western lowland gorillas and nearly 200 other mammal species and 600 species of birds. In Loango National Park, you have a chance to see amongst others: the smaller forest elephant, red forest buffalo, red river hogs with furry ears, the slender snouted crocodiles, sitatunga, duikers, a variety of monkeys, a huge array of birds, whales (in season), hippos, western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees.

Climate
Temperatures vary from 28 to 31 °C. The rains fall between October and April, with a short dry season in December and January.

Get in
You can arrive from Omboué Evengué Island by boat up the Mpivié River or fly directly to Iguela, close to Loango National Park.

Africa’s Connection (sister company of Africa’s Eden) provides scheduled and charter flights between Iguela and the major cities in the region such as Libreville and Port Gentil (Gabon).

Fees and permits
You have to pay a daily park fee when visiting the national park.

Get around
In Loango National Park, the operator has created a circuit that allows you to see and experience all the park’s highlights and ecosystems. The starting point for most visitors is Evengué Island, just outside the park. From there, you can travel to Loango Lodge and their eco-camps in the jungle, the savannah, and on the beach.

See

 * forest elephants and buffalos on the beach
 * gorilla sanctuary
 * church built by Gustav Eiffel
 * pristine nature
 * jungle, savanna, wild beaches, lagoons, mangroves

Do

 * Safaris in Loango National Park
 * Cultural excursions
 * Walking safaris
 * Whale-watching
 * Birding expeditions
 * Fishing
 * Kayaking

Expeditions to:
 * Akaka Bush Camp
 * Evengué Lodge & Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project
 * Tassi Savannah Camp
 * Pte. Ste. Cathérine Beach Camp

Buy
Loango Lodge sells souvenirs produced by locals.

Eat
Loango Lodge serves international cuisine, and supplies Evengué Lodge and the eco-camps with the same high-standard cuisine.

Camping
Camping is not allowed inside the national park, unless you are visiting the park with an official operator in the park.