Loango National park

Loango National park- Gorilla Trekking Gabon

Loango National Park

Situated between the Nkomi and Ndogo Lagoons, Loango National Park covers a total area of 1550 square kilometers. Most of its parts are covered by forests and mangroves, pristine beaches and Savannah.

Its lush habitats shelter a diverse range of Wildlife species including animals like buffaloes, hippos, leopards, gorillas, elephants and more.

Another interesting thing in the park is the whales and dolphin observations center. This World Heritage site has the second highest concentration of mammals after South Africa.

Adding to the killer and humpback whales, this area is known for the huge tarpons and many more large saltwater fish.

Apart from that, Loango National Park was first declared as a faunal reserve in 1956. Later in 2002 the responsible authorities upgraded it into a fully protected National Park for conservation. It was amongst the 13 national parks declared by President Omar Bongo.

Right now different conservation organizations like World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Conservation society and more are carrying out research, education and management projects in the Park.

Loango is surrounded by various villages and facing development threat from the Chinese mining companies. Tourists explore the park on foot, boat or vehicles.

The best time to visit this park is December/January when there is blue skies and very low rainfall.

The long wet season with heavy downpours is from February to April before another dry season from May to September.

The October to April is the best period for viewing animals although this period is characterized with too much mosquitoes and tsetse flies.

Activities in the Park

Walking Safaris

Adventuring on foot is one of the best ways to learn more about the diversity of the Park.

You venture into the forest with one of the best eco guides. You encounter wildlife like elephants, buffalo, inconspicuous forest animals and numerous birds.

Game Drives

A game drive in a 4×4 jeep is the easy way to view wildlife in the park. You see various animals such as buffalo, elephant, red river hogs and sitatunga. In the rainy season from November to April, large mammals roam freely on the beach.

Fishing

The point where the lagoon empties into the ocean contains some of the largest fish species in the world. This makes it an ideal spot for fishing. The place is only 10 minutes by boat from Loango lodge.

Whale Watching

If you love whales, Loango National Park is for you. From mid-July to mid-September, humpback whales visit the coastline of the Park. You can go out on a boat with a skipper to look for these impressive, and playful mammals.