Gabon: Gorilla, Mandrill & Forest Birds
This time of year is perfect for near-guaranteed encounters with troops of mighty Western Lowland Gorilla and the stunning Mandrill. We also expect to see Chimpanzee, plus many other exciting primates and mammals as we explore one of the wildest countries on the planet. Birding in the huge tracts of forest will see us search for lots of rare Congo Basin endemics, many of which are much easier to see at this time of year compared to the usual October dates.
Next Dates
1 June - 15 June 2026 (15 days)
Leaders:
Joachim Bertrands
Group Size Limit:
7
Single Room Supplement: $
800 USD
Deposit: $
1500 USD
Price: $
10800 USD
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Leaders:
Joachim Bertrands
Group Size Limit:
Add a Title
Single Room Supplement: $
TBD
Deposit: $
TBD
Price: $
TBD
Add a Title
Our tour price includes all permits for primate tracking, which make the per day cost of this trip higher than the longer birding-only itinerary which we run in October.
Accommodation:
Mostly moderately comfortable hotels and lodges. Basic camp in the forest while doing gorilla tracking.
Walking difficulty:
Moderate walking, with some long multi-hour treks in the forest while tracking primates.
Tour cost includes:
All accommodation, main meals, drinking water, internal flights, overland transport, tips to local drivers and guides, travel permits, entrance fees, and guide fees.
Tour cost excludes:
Flights before and after the tour start/end, visa, travel insurance, tips to tour leaders, laundry, drinks, and other items of a personal nature.
NOTE: Primate tracking and forest birding are easiest at this time of year, and birds can be quite responsive since it is breeding season for most species. If you wish to also see species in drier habitats to the south-east of the country and the arrival of African River Martin, we offer a longer Gabon tour in October, however the forest birding at that time of year is more challenging! Click here to find out more.
Day 1: The tour starts this evening with arrivals into Libreville International Airport (LBV). We will overnight nearby.
Day 2: Transit to Loango National Park for the beginning of our exciting time in the field.
Day 3-4-5: Loango National Park for Western Lowland Gorilla tracking. We should also see Red-capped Mangabey and Red River Hog. Many excellent birds can be seen here, like Vermiculated Fishing Owl and Loango Weaver.
Day 6: Transfer to Libreville.
Day 7: Transfer to Lope National Park.
Day 8-9-10: Lope National Park for Mandrill tracking. Here, we should also see Chimpanzee, Black Colobus, Putty-nosed Monkey, Moustached Monkey, Forest Buffalo, and Forest Elephant. We will put particular effort in for some of the rarest birds in the Congo Basin, such as Grey-necked Picathartes and many more.
Day 11: Transfer to Ipassa for our final stop on the tour.
Day 12-13-14: Birding and mammal watching at Ipassa.
Day 15: We will head back to Libreville this morning, where our tour ends in time for evening flights.