Loango National Park

About this place

Loango National Park lies in western Gabon, protecting varied coastal habitats between the Nkomi and Ndogo lagoons across some 1,550 square kilometres of savanna, beach, forest and mangrove. It includes part of the Iguéla Lagoon. The naturalist Mike Fay called it «Africa's Last Eden». The park is famous for elephants, buffalo, hippos, gorillas and leopards venturing onto the beaches. A National Geographic photographer took his famous pictures of hippos in the surf here, so it is known as the land of surfing hippos. Humpback whales and dolphins gather off its coast. You see a calm lagoon reflecting palm trees and a long wooden jetty leading to a lodge among the trees. On the green grassy plains, forest elephants walk with their young and red buffalo graze near the forest. The coast has over a hundred kilometres of uninhabited beaches. It is about 74 km from Omboué in a straight line. Access is usually by boat or small plane on an organised trip with the park lodges. Arrange the trip in advance, and follow the guides near wildlife.