The Vanishing Beauty, Kongou Falls Gabon

Gabon was believed to be the most eco friendly country of African and a forerunner of the conservation efforts for protecting the forests and the wildlife living in them, as the government of Gabon has made about 10 percent of the total landmass of the country a national park. But this belief has started to become an illusion as the recent government moves have indicated that the present authorities of Gabon are more interested in energy generation and mineral extraction than preserving its scenic beauty.

The magnificent Kongou Falls is the perfect example of what will be lost if the authorities don’t change their attitude. This massive fall that stretch for more than 3 miles, is one of the most gorgeous water falls that you will ever find in the world. Although the average height of the fall is not more than 56 meters but the roaring Ivindo river that pass through this fall creates such a stunning view that not many water falls in the world can compete with it.

Kongou Falls are located in the Ivindo National Park which is one of the 13 national parks of the country and is the recipient of the most of the tourist traffic to the country. These falls are not only important because of their scenic beauty but it also plays a huge part in the eco system of the park. But unfortunately under the current circumstances the fall will not be there for long as the Gabonese authorities are planning to build a hydro power dam right on the Kongou falls which will have devastating effect on the falls and the park itself. The plans have not changed even after the recent studies have shown that dam can be build on a number of other places along the Ivindo river with the equal amount of power generation potential.

So it will be a wise decision to visit this magnificent fall before it disappears. If you are arriving from abroad then you will be taking a cheap flight to Libreville the capital of Gabon from where you can hire a car for getting to Ivindo National Park. The park itself has quite a few attractions and will need at least a week to be completely explored, but we will let you know about it some other time.

Most of the resorts and hotels of the park are located close to the entrance so if you are planning to stay close of Kongou falls for a night or two then do not forget to take the camping equipment with you. There are a few fishing villages close to the falls and you can always ask them for a traditional boat to explore the Ivindo River close to the falls. The falls are gigantic and the millions of gallons of water that roar down from its height cause a massive thunder providing the tourists with a mesmerizing sight.

If you arrive there on a clear sunny day there is fair bit of chance that you can witness a beautiful rainbow right in the middle of the falls. You can indulge your self in a number of activities here like fresh water rafting and fishing for which boats can be hired from the local villages.