In the last six years Jorge has been guiding across central and western Africa, from Gabon to Cameroon and the DRC. A mountain leader and astronomy guide, as well as a published tribal and faunal photographer, Jorge brings many skills and passions to his guiding and is respectful of the community’s traditions and sensibilities.
Bwiti, Mandrills and Gorillas of Gabon
A Steppes exclusive tour led by expert Jorge Fernandez.
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/07/26 | 28/07/26 | 11 days | £8,995 pp | £1,750 | Jorge Fernandez | 8 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
| 01/08/26 | 11/08/26 | 11 days | £8,995 pp | £1,750 | Jorge Fernandez | 8 Max | LIMITED | Reserve place |
Join this Steppes Gabon private group tour encompassing mandrill trekking in Lope National Park, observing habituated gorillas in Loango National Park and experiencing a powerful Bwiti ceremony, a ritual essential to Gabonese culture.
Gabon remains one of Africa’s best-kept secrets, a pristine wilderness largely untouched by mass tourism. At its heart lies Loango National Park, a haven for wildlife where rivers act as natural barriers, protecting its resident forest elephants, red forest buffalo, red river hogs, sitatunga, duikers, and habituated western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees.
Introducing your expert
Jorge Fernandez
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Bwiti Ceremony
Experience a powerful and unstaged Bwiti ritual, a highlight of the itinerary.
Habituated gorillas
Visit the Loango Gorilla Project to observe habituated western lowland gorillas in their natural habitat.
Lambarene
Stay at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital Guestrooms, founded in 1913, on the banks of the Ogooue River.
Mandrills Trek
See troops of endangered mandrill in Lope National Park, the world’s most important mandrill refuge.
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Day 1
Libreville (ONOMO Hotel Libreville)
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Day 2
Libreville-Lope National Park (Lope Hotel)
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Days 3-4
Lope National Park (Lope Hotel)
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Day 5
Lope National Park-Ndjole-Lambarene
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Day 6
Lambarene (Albert Schweitzer Hospital and Museum)
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Day 7
Lambarene-Omboue-Loango National Park (Akaka Camp)
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Day 8
Loango National Park (Akaka Camp)
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Day 9
Loango National Park (Ndola Camp)
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Day 10
Loango-Port Gentil-Libreville (ONOMO Hotel Libreville)
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Day 11
Libreville
Day 1
Libreville (ONOMO Hotel Libreville)
Arrive into Libreville where a guide will meet and drive you to the hotel. Meals on this day aren’t included.
Day 2
Libreville-Lope National Park (Lope Hotel)
A guided city tour of Libreville takes you to the National Museum of Arts, Rites and Traditions, and the Church of St. Michael Nkembo home to over 30 wooden columns adorned with Gabonese motifs carved by a blind artist. After lunch, catch a late afternoon train to Lope National Park, arriving between 11pm and 12am. Breakfast is provided.
Days 3-4
Lope National Park (Lope Hotel)
Spend the next two days exploring the savannas, mangroves and forests of Lope National Park inhabited by buffalo, red river hogs, mangabeys, duikers, forest elephants and chimpanzees. On one of the mornings, head out in search of troops of endangered mandrills. In the evening, experience an authentic Bwiti ceremony, where believers summon the spirits of their ancestors, fuelled by chewing on the bark of the hallucinogenic plant iboga. Breakfast is provided.
Day 5
Lope National Park-Ndjole-Lambarene
After a morning trek in the national park, spend free time back at the hotel enjoying the swimming pool or walking along the Ogooue River. Late that evening, transfer by train to Ndjole, arriving around 4am. From here, continue to the town of Lambarene (approximately two and a half hours drive) where you will spend one night in the Albert Schweitzer Hospital and Museum. Breakfast is included.
Day 6
Lambarene (Albert Schweitzer Hospital and Museum)
Spend the day in Lambarene on the banks of the Ogooue river, famed for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital founded by Dr Albert Schweitzer in 1913. Visit the museum dedicated to his life and work and see his gravestone located within the hospital grounds. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with house drinks are included.
Day 7
Lambarene-Omboue-Loango National Park (Akaka Camp)
After breakfast, travel along the Ogooue river by motor boat (four-five hours) heading to the town of Omboue, keeping an eye out for crocodiles, monkeys and endemic birds. Arrive into Omboue and transfer by car to the Iguela Lagoon in Loango National Park. Later, arrive at a tented camp for the next two nights. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with house drinks are included.
Day 8
Loango National Park (Akaka Camp)
By boat and on foot, explore the mangroves, lagoons, forests, beaches and tropical meadows of Loango National Park teeming with wildlife such as forest elephants, river hogs, buffalo, hippos, slender snouted crocodiles and chimpanzees. Trek to the Loango Gorilla Project to observe habituated Western Lowland gorillas in their natural environment before more wildlife spotting along the Akaka river. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with house drinks are included.
Day 9
Loango National Park (Ndola Camp)
Further exploration of Loango National Park and the Akaka river, as well as a guided night river safari to see the jungle wildlife after dark. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with house drinks are included.
Day 10
Loango-Port Gentil-Libreville (ONOMO Hotel Libreville)
By 4×4, transfer to Port Gentil, Gabon’s second largest city, where you will take a 35-minute flight to Libreville. Breakfast and lunch with house drinks are included.
Day 11
Libreville
In the morning, head out on a humpback whale watching safari. August is a peak time for breeding, so there’s a good chance of seeing the males courting by breaching and lifting their tails to show off their patterned tails. The rest of the afternoon is free time to explore Libreville before onward travel home that evening. Breakfast is provided.
Gabon Wildlife
Mandrills and Gorillas
Visit the Loango Gorilla Project to observe habituated western lowland gorillas in their natural habitat and learn about the vital research being done to better understand the ecology, behaviour and demography of the gorillas. Your visit here directly supports these conservation efforts, fundamental to the survival of these endangered species. As well as the gorilla project, join a guide in Lope National Park trekking to see troops of mandrills during the months of July and August when they gather in the hundreds for the mating season.
Cultural Immersion
Bwiti Ceremony
Experience a powerful Bwiti ceremony, a ritual widely practiced in Gabon where locals connect with their ancestors and spirits of the forest through fire dances, rhythmic drumming and chanting under the influence of the hallucinogenic plant Iboga. This experience is a kaleidoscope of sounds and colours, with traditional clothing adorned with amulets, faces decorated with tribal clay makeup and the use of traditional Gabonese instruments.
Libreville
Whale Watching
End the trip with a guided humpback whale watching tour from Libreville at a time when the breeding season is at its peak. Watch males fighting for female attention, breaching and showing off their patterned tails in a bid to win a mate, while whale experts give insights into their behaviour and migration routes. Also keep an eye out for humpback dolphins, spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Single Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Gorilla permit
- Mandrills trek
- Accommodation throughout
- All meals as specified
- Bwiti ceremony experience
- Transport throughout (train, 4x4, boat, internal flight)
- Accompanied by a local guide throughout
- Entrance to Lope and Loango National Parks
- Whale watching excursion
What is excluded
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Drinks with meals
- Items of personal nature
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters
- Visas (if required)
Other available dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/07/26 | 28/07/26 | 11 days | £8,995 pp | Jorge Fernandez | 8 Max | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
| 01/08/26 | 11/08/26 | 11 days | £8,995 pp | Jorge Fernandez | 8 Max | LIMITED | Reserve place |
Reserve your place on this group tour
Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.
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