Day 1: The tour starts this evening with arrivals into Libreville International Airport (LBV). We will overnight nearby. 

Day 2: This morning we take a flight to Franceville, in the south-east of the country. Upon arrival, we will directly transfer to Lékoni, even further east towards Congo! On the way we might well see our first Black-headed Bee-eater.

Day 3-4: We will have two full days birding on the amazing Lékoni plateau. The mix of miombo woodland, grasslands and tropical forest provides an amazing set of specialties, including several recently discovered species. Amongst others, we’ll be looking for the localised Finsch’s Francolin, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Black-backed Barbet, unique Black-collared Bulbul, Dambo Cisticola, the yet-to-be-described Teke Cisticola, Red-capped Crombec, Plains Lark, Red-throated Cliff Swallow, Congo Moor Chat, Black-chinned Weaver, plus a vast array of Miombo and grassland specialties.

Day 5: Leaving early, we’ll be able to spend most of the day birding on our way back to Franceville. We’ll make some stops looking for Afep Pigeon, the scarce Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Sjösted’s Greenbul, Pale-fronted Nigrita and more. Overnight in Franceville.

Day 6: Today will mostly be a driving to towards Makokou, but we will make some short stops in the pristine forest surrounding us the whole way. We might well find some cool forest species like Western Dwarf Hornbill, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike, Falkenstein’s Greenbul, Chattering Cisticola, Black-headed Waxbill, Cassin’s Malimbe, Yellow-capped Weaver, Preuss’s Weavers or even perhaps our first Black Guineafowl.

Day 7: We will have a full day exploring some usually productive dirt roads in the surrounds of Makokou. In addition to species mentioned above, we will have a chance for Nkulengu Rail, Sjöstedt’s Owlet, Long-tailed Hawk, the rare Black-collared Lovebird, Gabon Forest Robin, and much more.

Day 8: After some last birding around Makokou, we will make our way to the nearby Ipassa Nature Reserve for a four-nights stay.

Day 9-10-11: Three full days of birding in Ipassa will allow us to cover every micro-habitat this amazing reserve has to offer. Participants should be prepared for the slow birding and hard work required in afrotropical rainforest, but with persistence the rewards are great! We will be on the look-out for mixed flocks, usually holding dozens of species not readily seen otherwise. The list of specialties recorded here is very long, and possibilities include Black Guineafowl, Plumed Guineafowl, Latham’s Francolin, Olive Ibis, Spot-breasted Ibis, Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-casqued Hornbill, Bare-cheeked Trogon, Gabon Woodpecker, White-spotted Wattle-eye, Gabon Batis, Gosling’s Apalis, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Bristlebill, Woodhouse’s Antpecker, Red-crowned Malimbe, Red-headed Malimbe, the superb Rachel’s Malimbe, the rare Yellow-capped Weaver, or perhaps even Grey Ground Thrush if we are lucky. We will also take a boat trip at night in search of roosting birds and some special nocturnal targets, including Bates’s Nightjar, Brown Nightjar, Fraser’s Eagle Owl, and Vermiculated Fishing Owl.

Day 12: Today we will drive westwards towards Lopé National Park, arriving this evening for a three-night stay.

Day 13-14: With ample time to exploring most stretches of the vast national park, we hope to connect with as many of the scarce specialties as possible. Most notably, Dja River Scrub Warbler is an important target, while more forest birding could produce Gabon Coucal, the rare Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, Bates’s Swift, Eastern Bearded Greenbul, White-bearded Greenbul, Sharpe’s Drongo, Forest White-eye, Red-eyed Puffback, Red-bellied Malimbe, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Western Bluebill, and Bates’s Sunbird. We also have a chance of observing the unique Mandrill, while the legendary Grey-necked Picathartes has bred in this vicinity during recent years (success with this species relies upon local guides having found a nest, so it is far from guaranteed).

Day 15: We will drive back to Libreville today, making some stops along the way, including by several rivers to look for Grey Pratincole.

Day 16: After an early-morning flight to Port-Gentil, we will drive south to Loango National Park where we will stay for four nights.

Day 17-18-19: We will have three days of birding in Loango National Park and the surrounds of Omboué. The major attraction of this region are flocks of hundreds of African River Martin (establishing their nesting colonies along the coastal dunes at this time of year) together with thousands of Rosy Bee-eater! An evening boat trip should produce White-crested Tiger Heron and Pel’s Fishing Owl, while birding in a variety of open woodland and grasslands will be good backup for finding many of the difficult species we have previously tried for, with a few additions possible like Hartlaub’s Duck, Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher, Swamp Boubou, Red-tailed Leaflove, Long-legged Pipit, Loango Weaver, and the restricted-range Violet-tailed Sunbird. 

NOTE: While not the best time of year, it is possible to see both Chimpanzee and Lowland Gorilla on an overnight trek with the national park staff. Please let us know if this would be of interest to you at the time of booking. 

Day 20: After some final birding in the Port-Gentil area, we will fly back to Libreville, where our tour ends this evening in time for late flights.