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NEW! AFRICA'S LAST EDEN & SAO TOME
CENTRAL AFRICA Straddling the Equator on the remote west coast of central Africa, Gabon boasts a wealth of unexplored wilderness. Our safari concentrates on Loango National Park, described by National Geographic as the last wild place on earth, exploring the coastline, savannah and forest in search of remarkable wildlife and pristine wilderness. Then, on the tiny island paradise of Sao Tome, we hike lush rainforest trails from mountain to Atlantic coast, explore old colonial plantations and experience a unique blend of African and Portuguese culture. Loango National Park Created in 2002 from the merger of the Iguela and Petit Loango Reserves, Loango provides an irresistible combination of scenery and wildlife. We fly south from Libreville to Ombuoe and spend our first night on the remote island of Evengue. Next we head through dense rainforest along the Mpivie River passing the small town of St. Anne with its iron church built by Gustav Eiffel. Arriving at our comfortable lodge at Loango overlooking a lagoon, we begin to explore the wildlife of the surrounding savannah. Tassi Savannah & Akaka Forest For two nights on each tour we move to one of two camps dependent on the season. Tassi (Dec & Jan) is most famous for its beach visitors ranging from leatherback turtles to the less obvious and remarkable sight of elephant, buffalo and even hippo. Akaka (Jul & Aug) is one of the remotest areas of Loango, where we can take forest walks and explore the Rembo Ngowe and Rembo Echira rivers in search of birds, butterflies, red river hogs and other mammals as well as monkeys. Great apes, including lowland gorilla, can occasionally be sighted in both areas.
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Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/ Libreville (Gabon). 2 Fly to Omboue; boat to Evengue Island. 3 Boat along Mpivie River; drive to Loango lodge. 4 & 5 Game-viewing activities at Akaka Forest (Jul & Aug) or Tassi Savannah (Dec & Jan). 6 Return to Loango lodge; game-viewing activities. 7 Boat to Point St. Catherine beach. 8 Transfer to Omboue; fly to Sao Tome town. 9 Hike through Obo Natural Park to Bombaim (6hrs). 10 Hike to Agua Ize plantation (6hrs); transfer to Roca Sao Joao. 11 At Sao Joao; optional walk (4hrs). 12 Drive and boat to Rolas Island; Equator walk (2hrs). 13 Return Sao Tome town, fly London via Libreville. 14 Arrive London. Accommodation & Meals: 1nt hotel, 3nts lodge, 3nts camping, 1nt guesthouse, 3nts plantation houses, 1nt bungalow; 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches & 11 dinners included. See p41. Mode of Travel: Minibus, 4WD, motorboats. Comment: Be prepared for some basic conditions and possible changes to the published itinerary. Tourism infrastructure in both destinations is in its infancy. Walking is graded moderate and jungle trails can be wet and slippery underfoot. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader, drivers, boat staff, local guides and porters. Group Size: Approx. 7 to 10.
14 DAYS HOTEL/LODGES/PLANTATION HOUSES/CAMPING LANDSCAPES AND WILDLIFE IN REMOTE Island Trails of Sao Tome After further time at Loango and Point St. Catherine we fly to Sao Tome. From the 16th century cathedral and old Portuguese architecture of the capital, we head to Bom Successo in the foothills of Pico de São Tomé (2024m) to hike through virgin rainforest, bamboo groves, cocoa, coffee and palm plantations in Obo Natural Park. Further walks take us past meandering streams and stilt villages before we leave our old plantation guesthouse at São Joao to end with a boat trip to Rolas Island to hike across the Equator.
DATES AND PRICES Flight Inc 14 days Sun to Sat
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Red river pig, Tassi
2008 deps flight land Price in £s inc only 13 Jul-26 Jul 3995 3195 27 Jul-09 Aug 3995 3195 07 Dec-20 Dec 3995 3195 2009 Price in £s 18 Jan-31 Jan 4195 3375 12 Jul-25 Jul 4195 3375 26 Jul-08 Aug 4195 3375 06 Dec-19 Dec 4195 3375 Land Only tour: 13 days - start Libreville day 1 (Sun), end Libreville day 13 (Fri) Plus Local Payment: 500 (approx £340) payable Libreville These are guide prices, see p45 for details. Flights are also available on request from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Birmingham & Manchester.
Africa's Last Eden & Sao Tomé Ref BLG
SAO TOMÉ TOWN SAO TOMÉ TOWN
Bom Successo Botanical Gardens
LIBREVILLE
SAO TOMÉ
Equator 0ºN
GABON
Port-Gentil
Obo Pico De Sao Tomé ROCA 2024m R Natural Park
SAO TOMÉ
Boca Do Inferno Blowholes
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Omboue St Anne Church
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SAO JOAO ROCA
Ribeira Peixe
POINT ST CATHERINE TASSI
km km 20 0 150
Porto Alegre Equator 0ºN
ROLAS ISLAND
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(May-Sept) AKAKA Excursions in (Oct-Apr) Loango NP
Essential information about our tours see pages 38-51
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EVENGUE ISLAND
Gorillas
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