“The last African Eden” is how an institution as prestigious as National Geographic describes Gabon.
On this itinerary we will take you to discover the parks that deserve to be called “Eden”, exploring them in the best possible way: on jungle walks and boat trips through their lake systems. Encounters and ceremonies with the Babongo Pygmies, a traditional bwiti ceremony and the Punu’s Mukudji mask ritual will add a cultural dimension to the trip.
Gabon, the Last African Eden
Gabon, officially called Gabon is located in West Central Africa. It borders Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo and its coast forms part of the Gulf of Guinea. Gabon’s tropical rainforest is considered the densest and most virgin of all Africa. That is significant, considering 85% of its territory is covered by jungle.
Climate in Gabon
The climate in Gabon is warm and humid year-round, with little temperature variation. The dry season runs from June to September, the rainy season from October to May. Its 13 national parks cover 11% of the country, rich in wildlife. It has the world’s largest populations of elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and mandrills, while leatherback turtles and humpback whales visit its shores.
Ethnic groups in Gabon
Politically stable for more than 40 years, the country is home to as many as 40 ethnic groups, speaking French, Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira or Bandjabi. Catholicism is the main religion, at 56%, followed by Protestantism at 17.7% and various other religions.
Our trip to Gabon
This Gabon trip visits the parks that justify its “Eden” nickname, exploring on jungle walks and boat journeys. Time with the Babongo people and a traditional bwiti ceremony bring a cultural dimension to the route.
Highlights of the trip
Moukalaba-Doudou National Park
Gabon has an estimated 25,000 gorillas, and Moukalaba Park has Africa’s highest density of great apes.
Akaka
In Loango, the Akaka area's ‘bais’ — clearings within the forest — attract large herbivores, apes, reptiles and birds: ‘the last African Eden’.
Masks and ceremonies
The spiritual tradition of Bantu and Pygmy ethnic groups in Gabon is expressed in rituals of ancestral masks and ceremonies.
Visits to parks
Gorilla encounters and other park visits involving wildlife require the utmost respect. Park guides and rangers explain how to proceed without disturbing animals. We usually walk quietly and keep a low profile. The golden rule is to listen to the rangers, the true experts. The minimum age for gorilla visits is 14.
Your accompanying guide
Antonio Anoro He's been exploring this wonderful country for over a decade.
Founder of Gabon Untouched expeditions in 2015, he created itineraries linking Waka, Moukalaba-Doudou and Loango National Parks.
He has accompanied the editor of the latest Bradt Gabon guide around the country and organised documentary expeditions for renowned explorer Steve Backshall (BBC/Nat Geo) and Arte TV.
Writes for magazines including Viajar and National Geographic Viajes, and contributes to Forbes Africa and Wildlife Photographic.
In 2017, he founded Gabon Untouched to support conservation and community development in villages bordering Gabon's national parks. GU has a strategic agreement with IRET for lowland gorilla conservation and has built a clinic and school in Doussala, among other projects.
Gabon Untouched actively collaborates with ANPN (National Parks of Gabon) Gabon Untouched NGO is an association registered with the Spanish Associations Registry.
Antonio has trained young Gabonese guides to accompany visitors through the country’s parks and towns. Our travellers have endorsed his work after journeys accompanied by guides such as Yannick, closely involved in protecting their country’s nature and introducing visitors to its natural heritage, ethnic diversity, customs and cultures.
Gabon, the last jewel in Africa
A few years ago, we held a talk about a fantastic country: Gabon. With the title of Gabon, the last Eden, our friends at Gabon Untouched offered us a complete view of the country, its jungles, ecosystems and wildlife.
At the talk, we were fortunate to be joined by Gishlain Bouassa, ground operations manager of the NGO Program dedicated to the conservation of the natural heritage of Moukalaba Doudou National Park and local communities’ involvement through the western gorilla habituation project. Gishlain also works as an eco-guard in the Loango National Park.
Moreover, it was also a luxury to have Antonio Anoro, project promoter Gabon Untouched for the conservation of the natural heritage of Gabon and amateur “specialist” in conservation projects of Great Apes (Borneo, Uganda, Tanzania, Gabon).
Thanks to them we had the opportunity to discover Gabon.