Info on Gabon
Apr 3rd, 2007, 01:07 AM
#6
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I don't know ExploreAfrica but you can book directly with Operation Loango who are the main operator out there.
They offer a number of sample tours or will do tailormade.
www.operation-loango.com
They offer a number of sample tours or will do tailormade.
www.operation-loango.com
Apr 3rd, 2007, 05:53 AM
#8
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Sundowner Wildlife Holidays (www.sundowner.nl) is a Dutch touroperator specialised in wildlife holidays worldwide. Gabon and the Islands Sao Tome e Pricnipe are some of of our destinations.
We offer taylor made trips to Loango, Lope and Ivindo National Park. The latter is the park where Michael Fay discovered the "Langoue Bai" in 1994 during his Megatransect (look at www.nationalgeographic.com). A bay is a clearing in the rainforest and in the right season (june - august) one has about 85% chance on a three day visit to see the western lowland gorilla.
Elephants, buffaloes and hippos on the beach is in the wet season form october - march.
We use Operation Loango but as a touroperator we can offer clients more favorable rates than booking directly.
Our website is in Dutch but you can ask all questions about Gabon and book all trips through us.
Do sent us an email at [email protected]
We offer taylor made trips to Loango, Lope and Ivindo National Park. The latter is the park where Michael Fay discovered the "Langoue Bai" in 1994 during his Megatransect (look at www.nationalgeographic.com). A bay is a clearing in the rainforest and in the right season (june - august) one has about 85% chance on a three day visit to see the western lowland gorilla.
Elephants, buffaloes and hippos on the beach is in the wet season form october - march.
We use Operation Loango but as a touroperator we can offer clients more favorable rates than booking directly.
Our website is in Dutch but you can ask all questions about Gabon and book all trips through us.
Do sent us an email at [email protected]
Apr 3rd, 2007, 07:42 AM
#9
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Loriaux,
Don't know how the last response works with the advertising policy. But a first hand source of information is helpful and we can evaluate that source knowing it is an agent. Maybe just toning down the pitch would make such a post ok.
Loriaux, I am assuming you work for the company and are not just posting information you found from its website. Correct me if I am wrong.
So, if 3 nights results in an 85% chance of seeing lowland gorillas, then 5 nights would greatly increase the odds. Is there any reason not to stay 5 nights or even 6? There must be other cool stuff to see in addition to the lowland gorillas. Maybe cost is the answer.
Also wouldn't it make a difference when you went as to whether the odds were 85% in 3 days?
Could you place some typical 14-day and 18-day itineraries here on the board for us to see?
Thank you.
Don't know how the last response works with the advertising policy. But a first hand source of information is helpful and we can evaluate that source knowing it is an agent. Maybe just toning down the pitch would make such a post ok.
Loriaux, I am assuming you work for the company and are not just posting information you found from its website. Correct me if I am wrong.
So, if 3 nights results in an 85% chance of seeing lowland gorillas, then 5 nights would greatly increase the odds. Is there any reason not to stay 5 nights or even 6? There must be other cool stuff to see in addition to the lowland gorillas. Maybe cost is the answer.
Also wouldn't it make a difference when you went as to whether the odds were 85% in 3 days?
Could you place some typical 14-day and 18-day itineraries here on the board for us to see?
Thank you.
Apr 18th, 2007, 10:07 AM
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I went to Gabon last summer. I loved it but it certainly had its challenges. I used IExplore but ultimately Mistral Voyages was the Gabonese agency. They did what they said and were efficient, however, tourism is undeveloped and if you want to stray from the itinerary, it is "Can't Do." In my case I wanted to extend my trip a few days and it was just one "not possible" after another. I would try Operation Loango. The folks I met that used them were pleased and felt they were very much trying to please their clients and if it were at all possible, they would give it a go. They have their own transport (light aircraft,etc)...so they can arrange outside of Loango to Ivindo and Lope as well.
I was "unlucky" at Langouie Bai because I saw no gorillas in a three night stay, even once spending the night in the hide, however, "unlucky" is a relative term. The Forest is an Eden. Very remote. Quite magical. We saw many long tusked forest elephants, monkeys, etc...It is an incredible place. I had to be content that it was truly nature at its best...a fruiting tree may have diverted a gorilla group for a day or two. Much to my chagrin, a spanish couple I met saw 35 gorillas in their stay, the week prior including a family group that crossed the road on the trip back to Ivindo Station. Must be in good enough shape to hike a few hours as to get to the bai, there is quite a walk. Porters can be hired for your luggage though. Accomodations are celan and neat. Nothing special---very much more a research camp than a luxury safari camp. I highly recommend it, gorillas or not. Another interesting point is that many of the gorillas have some sort of skin desease that can disfigure their face. They are very susceptible to these kind of deseases.
I was able to visit Kongo Falls as well. That was a great adventre but required quite an unusual travel schedule. It is in the same park (Ivindo) bu it is not connected with Langouie Bai. I had to travel by train back to Libreville and fly out to Makoukou. A three hour pirougue trip through the rapids was incredible. The extensive complex of falls was mine alone for three nights! There were three guides along as well. We explored the falls and took hikes in the forest. Although I could not find much info about them (initially I was told the camp was not complete...in fact, an italian now working in Lope had finished the camp for several years---so communication is definitely not consistent or complete)Kongou Falls is another spot where you may find troops of Mandrills...we just missed them but could hear their calls and movements in the forest. My thought is that "maybe" you can see them in Lope better but even there, your chances are not real high...this setting is absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend Kongou...a GREAT experience and certainly a highlight....Langouei Bai though is also great. Accomodations here are more basic than Langouie but they are chalet-like---just a bit damp, like the forest. One night I was able to sleep on the crude platform right next to the roaring falls...moonlit, the stars and then sunrise...is unfotrgettable. Also stalked forest elephants near the falls on foot...the guides were VERY skittish of these animals but it was thrilling.
Stayed a few nights at a beach camp near Libreville which was pleasant and relaxing...but I missed out on Loango. I would like to go back to catch that park. Do not expect to see hippos cavorting in the ocean as I think that is common a certain time of year and even then rare. Same with elephants on the beach...possible but not real likely. What I heard from the spanish couple that had been in Loango was INCREDIBLE whale watching opportunities. They wre treated toi hours of males leaping about, breaching to impress the females...very close and the pics were spectacular...involves many attempts to leave the lagoon on the zodiak as there is a difficult area to get through with the waves coming in...sometimes the weather prevents the crew from being able to go out to sea for the whale viewing. Also, good photo opportunities at the gorilla rehab on some island in Loango. They enjoyed that very much. Great fishing too with enormous Tarpon in the south of the park...I would certainly go back and I hope to go back and visit Loango since I missed it the first time. hope this helps everyone.
I was "unlucky" at Langouie Bai because I saw no gorillas in a three night stay, even once spending the night in the hide, however, "unlucky" is a relative term. The Forest is an Eden. Very remote. Quite magical. We saw many long tusked forest elephants, monkeys, etc...It is an incredible place. I had to be content that it was truly nature at its best...a fruiting tree may have diverted a gorilla group for a day or two. Much to my chagrin, a spanish couple I met saw 35 gorillas in their stay, the week prior including a family group that crossed the road on the trip back to Ivindo Station. Must be in good enough shape to hike a few hours as to get to the bai, there is quite a walk. Porters can be hired for your luggage though. Accomodations are celan and neat. Nothing special---very much more a research camp than a luxury safari camp. I highly recommend it, gorillas or not. Another interesting point is that many of the gorillas have some sort of skin desease that can disfigure their face. They are very susceptible to these kind of deseases.
I was able to visit Kongo Falls as well. That was a great adventre but required quite an unusual travel schedule. It is in the same park (Ivindo) bu it is not connected with Langouie Bai. I had to travel by train back to Libreville and fly out to Makoukou. A three hour pirougue trip through the rapids was incredible. The extensive complex of falls was mine alone for three nights! There were three guides along as well. We explored the falls and took hikes in the forest. Although I could not find much info about them (initially I was told the camp was not complete...in fact, an italian now working in Lope had finished the camp for several years---so communication is definitely not consistent or complete)Kongou Falls is another spot where you may find troops of Mandrills...we just missed them but could hear their calls and movements in the forest. My thought is that "maybe" you can see them in Lope better but even there, your chances are not real high...this setting is absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend Kongou...a GREAT experience and certainly a highlight....Langouei Bai though is also great. Accomodations here are more basic than Langouie but they are chalet-like---just a bit damp, like the forest. One night I was able to sleep on the crude platform right next to the roaring falls...moonlit, the stars and then sunrise...is unfotrgettable. Also stalked forest elephants near the falls on foot...the guides were VERY skittish of these animals but it was thrilling.
Stayed a few nights at a beach camp near Libreville which was pleasant and relaxing...but I missed out on Loango. I would like to go back to catch that park. Do not expect to see hippos cavorting in the ocean as I think that is common a certain time of year and even then rare. Same with elephants on the beach...possible but not real likely. What I heard from the spanish couple that had been in Loango was INCREDIBLE whale watching opportunities. They wre treated toi hours of males leaping about, breaching to impress the females...very close and the pics were spectacular...involves many attempts to leave the lagoon on the zodiak as there is a difficult area to get through with the waves coming in...sometimes the weather prevents the crew from being able to go out to sea for the whale viewing. Also, good photo opportunities at the gorilla rehab on some island in Loango. They enjoyed that very much. Great fishing too with enormous Tarpon in the south of the park...I would certainly go back and I hope to go back and visit Loango since I missed it the first time. hope this helps everyone.
Apr 18th, 2007, 12:07 PM
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I'll e-mail you a link to some photo high-lights. I'd be glad to e-mail the link to others.
i could post it but don't know how to link to kodakgallery albums without sending it to an e-mail address. Be glad to offer my opinion and some "lessons learned"...I did love it and would go back. It wouldn't be everyone's trip and prob not for first time to Africa visitors but folks should go knowing a few things in advance to adjust their expectations.
i could post it but don't know how to link to kodakgallery albums without sending it to an e-mail address. Be glad to offer my opinion and some "lessons learned"...I did love it and would go back. It wouldn't be everyone's trip and prob not for first time to Africa visitors but folks should go knowing a few things in advance to adjust their expectations.
Apr 18th, 2007, 06:05 PM
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I think I figured out how to do this:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...ghuos&Ux=0
If that doesn't work---I'd be glad to e-mail the link...my pictures will give you a good feel...gosh, I wish I could send some of the pics others took. One Swedish guy stayed longer at Langouie Bai and his patience paid off when he got pics of a gorilla and a forest elephant. Eventually the elephant chased the gorilla off. But such as mine are...see the above link.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...ghuos&Ux=0
If that doesn't work---I'd be glad to e-mail the link...my pictures will give you a good feel...gosh, I wish I could send some of the pics others took. One Swedish guy stayed longer at Langouie Bai and his patience paid off when he got pics of a gorilla and a forest elephant. Eventually the elephant chased the gorilla off. But such as mine are...see the above link.
Apr 18th, 2007, 06:54 PM
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Not to hog this thread, but to answer a question above...If I had to do it over again I would try to stay four nights in Langouie Bai rather than three...your first night you don't go to the bai as it's a good hike from the research station. it goes something like this...you take the TransGabonese train through the night and are deposited at the Wildlife office in Ivindo Station very early in the morning. After a bit of breakfast you pack up and take a couple hour drive over largely dirt/mud roads til the end of the line...then you hike a couple/few hours to the research station where you stay. You don't arrive until early afternoon and the group that is already at camp has left for the bai that morning. It takes another hour and a half to get to the bai on foot. So you take a short hike to some nearby falls. That's a long way of saying you lose your first day. But then you have two full days at the Bai with the option on spending the night in the Hide...great experience. I wish I had one more night but the Bai is the main attraction and you can't wander much. You'd really have to be a "true believer" to stay much more because you will mostly stay in the blind the great majority of the time although there is another blind closer to a favorite forest elephant spot to try. I missed out on the gorillas but as I said, the week before, one couple saw 35 in their three day stay---needless to say I was jealous as heck! the Swede stayed five days and saw only one but got some great gorilla/elephant shots in the same frame.
Apr 18th, 2007, 07:12 PM
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looks like an incredibly beautiful place! the people too. sorry you didn't see the gorillas but what an adventure you had. definitely moving Gabon up on my list. Thanks for the photos and report!
