Loango National Park –Gabon (Central Africa)

Loango National Park is formidably nestled on the Atlantic Coast, in the Ogooue Maritime Province in Western Gabon. Established in 2002, this outstanding wildlife sanctuary is situated between the Nkomi and Ndogo Lagoons. The park covers an area of 1,550 km²(599ml²), irresistibly graced by spectacular rainforest, coastal forest, swampy forest, sweeping open savannah, papyrus swamp, mangroves, coastal lagoons, salt marshes, pristine beaches and an extensive unblemished coastline. The park protects a 220 km² Iguéla Lagoon, which is considered a classical example of a typical Western Africa Lagoon System. While the wonders of Loango National Park stem from the extensive diversity of its ecological wealth, the most distinctive features about the park are its extensive stretches of untouched beaches. It’s the only place left in Africa, where one can still sight large animals roaming the beach. This is most evident during the rainy season from November to April, when forest elephants and buffalos can be viewed grazing on the foreshore; while lowland gorillas often surface, to forage along the forest edges; not to mention vast numbers of hippopotamus, whose presence is more invariable.

Loango National Park offers spectacular panoramas and unique opportunities to sight a vast array of wildlife species. Animals to be viewed in the park include, buffalo, elephant, hippopotamus, leopard, gorilla, West African manatee, sitatunga, red river hog, chimpanzee, putty-nosed monkey, moustached monkey, crowned monkey and red-capped mangabey (also called white-collared). Also prevalent on Loango’s coasts are various species of whales; markedly, humpbacks; likewise dolphins. The park is an excellent place for birds, hosting over 300 species, from common birds like African grey parrots, African pied hornbills and palmnut vultures, to rarer species like Hartlaub's duck, white-crested tiger heron, vermiculated fishing owl, Forbes's plover, African river martin and Loango weaver. Reptiles include all 3 species of African crocodiles, comprising; Nile, slender-snouted and dwarf crocodiles; and 2 species of marine turtles, leatherbacks and olive Ridleys that come ashore to nest. 

In terms of the concentration of whales and dolphins in the planet, Loango is second only to South Africa. This is especially so in the area just off the coast of Loango; which is a 100 km uninhabited and pristine coastline, where humpback and killer whales can readily be sighted. For its breathtaking splendour of wildlife and vegetation, Loango National Park has been declared Faunal Reserve and Protected Area for Conservation, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN); an international organisation dedicated to natural resource conservation.

A majority of visitors to the park reside in Loango Lodge, located in the north of the park, on the banks of the breathtaking Iguéla Lagoon. It’s an affluent lodge with relaxed air-conditioned chalets. From there, visitors can participate in boat trips in the lagoon and also up the Rembo Ngowe River. Other interesting activities include: game drives on the savannah, walks along the beach, walks in the forest, whale watching (mostly July-October) etc.

Akaka Lodge is located in the rainforest, overlooking the Rembo Ngowe River, from where one can engage in a breathtaking boat trip across the Iguéla Lagoon, sighting beautiful water birds and also the rare red-capped mangabey; a monkey species endemic to the coast.

Other lodges in the park include Tassi, which is not far from a chimpanzee and gorilla research camp.

To reach Loango Lodge, one can fly directly from the coastal city of Port Gentil into Loango National Park or to Ombooue; and then board a transfer boat across the Fernan Vaz Lagoon.