Unusual Destinations Blog

Best of Gabon

BEST OF GABON – BIRDS AND WILDLIFE OF GABON

Visiting Lope and Mikongo in Lope National Park, the Bateki plateau and Sette Cama in Loango National Park. Walking for the most part is relatively easy. Accommodation with private bathrooms facilities.

Dates: 14 to 29 August 2009
with Ian Davidson and/or Patrice Christy and local guides

Please note that any times given are scheduled times – these are here as a guide only. Please be prepared for delays and changes. The tourism structure is in its infancy.

Briefly – 16 days – Birds & Wildlife of Gabon Dates: 14 to 29 August 2009
with Ian Davidson and/or Patrice Christy and local guides August 14 (Friday): Arrive Libreville; night train to Lope.
August 15: Day in Lope National Park.
August 16: Drive to Mikongo area in Lope.
August 17: Full day Mikongo area.
August 18: Full day Mikongo in primary forest.
August 19: Morning at Mikongo before return to Lope in late afternoon.
August 20: Train to Franceville and overnight
August 21: Drive to Lekoni.
August 22: Day Lekoni.
August 23: Drive Franceville for flight to Libreville and connect to Gamba and Sette Cama.
August 24: Day Sette Cama area.
August 25: Day Sette Cama area.
August 26: Day Sette Cama area.
August 27: Day Sette Cama area.
August 28: Transfer to Gamba for flight to Libreville. Check-in.
August 29 (Saturday): Early AM departure (00h20) for Johannesburg.

FULL ITINERARY (subject to alteration & availability)

August 14 (Friday): Arrive Libreville and transfer to Owendo train station for journey to Lope. Early AM arrival and rest of night at Lope Hotel (room only). August 15: Lope National Park, lies in the centre of Gabon, and is composed of savannahs and primary forest. It is a reminder of what Central Africa was like during the Glacier Age. In this extremely rich habitat there are estimated populations of 4500 forest elephants, 2500 gorillas, 2000 chimpanzees, 50000 mandrills, 1000 leopard and large numbers of Red Forest Buffalo, Sitatunga, Yellow-backed Duiker, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Moustached Monkey, Red-river Hog and there are over 400 species of birds. With time and patience we will see some of these. From the camp we will enter the forest using elephant trails and any old logging tracks. We spend time in two different parts of Lope National Park, two in the savannah edges in the area of the Lope Hotel from where we’ll bird along the Ogooue River and inland looking for Yellow-throated Leaflove, Scarlet-spectacled Wattle-eye, Splendid Glossy Starling, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Compact Weaver and Long-legged Pipit, Yellow-mantled Whydah, Blue-throated Bee-eater, and various species of swallow including Square-tailed Saw-wing and Red-breasted Swallow. In the scrub and forest edge we should find Black Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black-headed Batis, Naked-faced Barbet, Fiery-breasted Bush Shrike, Whistling Cisticola, Orange Weaver, Black-capped Illadopsis, Red-bellied Malimbe, Black-chinned Quail-finch, Forbes’s Plovers and Green-headed, Tiny, Reichenbach’s and Violet-tailed Sunbirds and in the evening perhaps Bates’s and Swamp Nightjars. Overnight Lope Hotel. August 16, 17, 18: We have two nights deep in the forest at Mikongo Camp, an hour and a half drive from the Lope Hotel. It is from the conservation centre at Mikongo where we will access this central African tropical forest and it is from here that we’ll look for primates and for the enigmatic Grey-necked Rock-fowl. Black Colobus, Crowned and Putty-nosed Monkeys, Western Lowland Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Mandrills, forest Elephant, various species of forest duiker and Red River Hog are most likely. Also in the forest we should encounter various species of hornbill including White-crested, African Pied, Piping, Red-billed Dwarf, the striking White-crested and the huge Black-casqued Wattled; also’s to be seen include Snowy-headed Robin-chat, Great Blue Turaco, Guinea Turaco, Gabon Coucal, African Grey Parrot, various Gr eenbuls including Honeyguide, Golden, Red-tailed and if we are very lucky Lyre-tailed Honeyguide. Dja River Scrub-Warbler would be a very good find and Latham’s Francolin, Black-bellied Seed-cracker, Vermiculated Fishing Owl and Red-chested Owlet could be encountered almost anywhere. Overnights Mikongo Research Camp. August 19: Today we return to Lope by late afternoon. Overnight Lope Hotel. August 20: Morning at Lope before afternoon train to Franceville. Overnight Poubara Hotel. August 21: Today we drive into the highlands of Gabon, the Bateki plateau, a deciduous woodland area (Brachystegia) where many interesting birds not seen elsewhere in Gabon occur. Overnight Lekoni hotel. August 22: Day Lekoni. Here we will hope to see Sooty Chat, Red-necked, Black-collared Bulbul as well as Black Wood-hoopoe, Double-toothed Barbet, Red-throated Wryneck, African Broadbill, Woodland Pipit, Petit’s Cuckoo-Shrike, Salvadori’s and Green-capped Eremomelas, Yellow-bellied Hyliota,  Angola Batis, White-winged Black Tit, Amethyst, Johanna’s and Western Violet-backed Sunbirds, and Bocage’s and Lühder’s Bush-shrikes and Cabanis’s Bunting. Overnight Lekoni Hotel. August 23: Drive to Franceville for flight to Libreville to connect with flight to Gamba. From here we travel by boat to our lodge at Sette Cama, set on the edge of a huge lagoon. Excursions here include travel by boat and on foot.  August 24, 25, 26, 27: Days at Sette Cama. Flocks of African Grey Parrot are a sight to behold. Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetails flit overhead, and we may also see Chocolate–backed and Blue-breasted Kingfisher. The prizes here would be  Black-headed Bee-eater, Violet-tailed Sunbrd, Vermiculated and Pel’s Fishing Owls. The lodge grounds are great for the endemic Loango Weaver and Red-tailed Palm-thrush. Mammals in this area include Forest Buffalo and Elephant, Hippopotamus and perhaps Servaline Genet.  August 28: Morning excursion before our boat transfer to Omboue for our flight to Libreville. Day room Libreville before transfer to airport for check-in for outbound flight. August 29: (Saturday): Early morning departure (00h20) for outbound flight to Johannesburg.

Reading Material

1. Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe. The Bradt Travel Guide by Sophie Warne, 20
2. Under the Canopy – advancing conservation in Gabon – Robert J Ross. Africa Geographic magazine, August 2004: 34-4
3. Birds of Africa south of the Sahara, a comprehensive field guide. Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan, 2003.
4. The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals – Jonathon Kingdom. Academic Press, first published 1997 with subsequent revisions
5. Birds of Western Africa. Nik Borrow and Ron Demey, 2001.6. The edge of Africa. Carlton Ward jr et al – Hylas Publishing, 2003.

Includes
International flight Johannesburg/Libreville return; all accommodation; meals (except in Libreville and on train); transport; excursions with bird guides and trackers; park entry fees.

Excludes
Visas; meals in Libreville and on train; any airport departure taxes; any drinks; bottled mineral water; teas & coffees; travel insurance; any tips to hotel staff, local guides, etc.

Price (2009) [subject to availability and any ticketing surcharges

6 persons: Euro6901 per person sharing from Johannesburg. 7 persons: Euro6621 per person sharing from Johannesburg. 8 persons: Euro6413 per person sharing from Johannesburg. Single Room Supplement – Euro535 per person.

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Gondar Fasil Castle

This is a great itinerary offering visitors the opportunity to discover Ethiopia. You will be starting off with the enchanting Historical Route, rich in cultural heritage, followed by the spectacular Bale Mountains, home to some of Africa’s rarest wildlife.

Itinerary: 14 nights

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. At Bole International Airport, you will be met by our Ethiopian agents, who will assist you with formalities and transfer you to the hotel. If time allows our agents will take you to the National Museum, local cathedrals with exquisite artwork, traditional coffee shops where you can purchase fresh coffee and if there is time visit the merkato (Africa’s largest open air market). Overnight stay at the Bole Ambassador Hotel (Dinner, bed and breakfast).

Day 2: Transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight to Bahir Dar, the source of the Blue Nile. Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the various islands and peninsulas are home to more than twenty monasteries most of which were founded during the 14th Century. The Zege Peninsula has a large natural forest with a large population of monkeys and forest birds. Travel from Bahir Dar by motorised boat to Ura Kidhane Mihret which has one of the most beautiful churches in this region with over hundred paintings. Bahir Dar is a birdwatcher’s delight with regular sightings of white pelicans, hornbills, cranes, storks, rollers, bee-eaters etc. Overnight stay at the Papyrus Hotel (Full Board).

Day 3: After breakfast a morning excursion to the Blue Nile Falls, not far from the source of the mighty Blue Nile River. The vehicle stops about forty-five minutes from the actual falls and from here you will walk down a small ravine, across the Portuguese Bridge and up to the Blue Nile Falls – fairly strenuous but not unbearable. Please remember to wear proper hiking shoes/boots and stock up on bottled water. Back to the hotel for lunch and then a visit to one of the popular markets in Bahir Dar, or alternatively do some bird watching in the forest. Overnight stay at the Papyrus Hotel (Full Board).

A special note: Unfortunate consequences of a recent hydroelectric development have caused the virtual disappearance of the Blue Nile Falls. As well as destroying the beauty of the falls, the project is likely to have severe long-term effects on both the plant and bird life of the region. While at this stage the bird and plant life is still spectacular, visitors need to be aware that the falls are not as impressive as they once were. At this stage, when electrical demand is low and in the rainy season, the diversion through the hydroelectric plant is switched off for several hours at the time allowing the falls to resume some of their former glory.

Day 4: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Gondar, a remarkable town founded in 1632 by the great Emperor Fasilidas. Gondar was the royal capital of Ethiopia. After checking into your hotel you will set off to explore the castles and Emperor Fasilidas’s bathing pool. From here it is a short walk to the Debre Birhan Selassie church, possibly the most famous church in Ethiopia with breathtaking murals on the ceiling. Goha Hotel is your accommodation for the night (Full Board).

Day 5: After breakfast it is off to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. Lalibela is famous for its rock-hewn churches carved well below ground level, and the town is situated among impressive mountains looking down into the Rift Valley. The churches are quite eerie and you access them by walking through mysterious tunnels, passages and courtyards. The churches are A World Heritage Site and also home to hermits and priests and their younger scholars.  Many of the churches are surrounded by protective scaffolding to try and conserve these magnificent buildings from further weathering. Overnight at the Roha Hotel (Full Board).

Day 6: After breakfast the adventure continues with a full day excursion by mule to Asheton Mariam monastery which is 4 000 m above sea level and overlooks the Lalibela valley. The journey is quite remarkable with incredible views. Asheton Mariam Monastery has some interesting church treasures including ornate crosses.  Overnight stay at the Roha Hotel (Full Board).

Day 7: After breakfast, leave the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Axum. Axum is the oldest town in Ethiopia and by far the holiest city of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and is a photographer’s delight. This small town is home to the ancient stelae (mysteriously erected and transported), the Queen of Sheba’s swimming pool and the ruins of her palace, the Axum Museum and most importantly St Mary’s Church where the Ark of the Covenant is believed to be housed. Overnight stay at the Remhai Hotel (Full Board).

Day 8: Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa. From Bole airport you are driven by 4×4 vehicle via the crater lakes to Mojo. Overnight Daema Hotel.

Day 9: After breakfast it is time to drive to Awassa, via the Rift Valley Lakes of Ziway, Abiata and Shala. All of these lakes support massive concentrations of water birds and the scenery is spectacular with abundant wildlife. Awassa, situated in the Rift Valley is a pleasant town and the perfect place to start off the tour to the South. Watch out for the Grivet and Guereza monkeys in the grounds of the hotel. There are also hippos in the lake. Awassa is a bird watcher’s delight with sightings of Afrocan Fish-eagle, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Grey Kestrel, weavers and the endemic Black-winged Lovebird, Yellow-fronted Parrot and Banded Barbet. Overnight at Awassa Wabeshebelle Hotel # 2 (Full Board).

Day 10: Early morning walk along the shores of Lake Awassa for more incredible bird watching in the marshy scrubland. Here you should see Blue-headed Coucal, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, White-rumped Babbler and the endemic Thick-billed Raven. Back to the hotel for breakfast and after this the long journey to Goba – a five hour drive into the Bale Mountain National Park which offers five vegetation zones and is home to many endemic birds and the endangered Ethiopian Wolf. Please be aware that the road is in very bad shape which makes for a rather arduous journey! Other wildlife is the Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Warthog, Bohor Reedbuck, Olive Baboon. There are rare sightings of African Wild Dog, Leopard and Lion. Overnight stay at the Goba Wabeshebelle Hotel (Full Board).

Day 11: After an early breakfast you will be taken up to the Sanetti Plateau, also part of Bale National Park. This represents an outstanding example of Afro-alpine moor land. With luck, you’ll enjoy close-up views of the Ethiopian wolf – Africa’s rarest canid. Of the 400 remaining Ethiopian Wolves, 75% live in Bale National Park. Their habitat preference means the Sanetti Plateau is the best place to find them. Fortunately, they are very approachable and offer superb photo opportunities. Sanetti Plateau offers great birding: look for endemics like Blue-winged Goose; Spot-breasted Lapwing and Rouget’s Rail, all common here. Overnight at the Goba Wabeshebelle Hotel (Full Board).

Day 12: Early morning walk (1 – 2 hours) in Dinsho. Look in the juniper forest for mammals like the endemic mountain nyala and Menelik’s bushbuck. You may also see endemic birds like the Abyssinian catbird, regarded as Africa’s finest diva! Transfer to Nazret which is the third largest town in Ethiopia. Offering a wide choice of restaurants, hotels and authentic coffee shops this town has a very laid back feel. Overnight Adama Mekonnen Hotel before going to Awash National Park.

Day 13: Early morning departure and drive to the Awash National Park with lunch stop in Asela. Awash National park is situated in dry acacia savannah some 200km east of Addis Ababa with a spectacular gorge and waterfall. Interesting mammals include Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Defassa Waterbuck, Salt’s Dik-Dik, Hamadryads Baboon, Striped Hyena and Golden Jackal. Accommodation provided in the Awash Genet Hotel in Awash Saba (Full Board).

Day 14: After breakfast start the long drive back to Addis Ababa and overnight at the Bole Ambassador Hotel (Full Board).

Day 15: Transfer to the airport and depart.

Prices include

International and domestic flights with Ethiopian Airlines, hotel accommodation and meals as indicated, meet and greet on day of arrival and all airport-hotel transfers, all accommodation, full board throughout the tour, all excursions to sites of interest as per itinerary, English speaking guides for all the historical places and entrance fees for all sites.

Not included

Visa fees, drinks, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance, airport taxes.

Below is an approximate price per person sharing (October 2009)

• Euro3925 ex Johannesburg
  
• Euro3250 ex Addis Ababa

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