Want to see Hundreds of Elephants Roaming on the Beach? Head to Loango, Gabon

In a country where the 10 per cent of the whole land mass is designated as the national park, it is certain that you will find the most stunning wildlife living in their natural habitat. Gabon must be the most eco-friendly nation of the world and this policy is actually paying dividends in the economic well being of the nation as well. Thousands of tourists and eco-scientists flock to Gabon to observe the rich diversity of the mammals living in these parks and this has brought a lot of revenue to the government.

But the most famous of all these parks is the Loango National Park, which not only includes a vast jungle with thousands of land mammals but 200 square km of the shoreline that is perhaps the best example of the typical African lagoon with its hundreds of whales and dolphins. You will be flying to Libreville the capital of Gabon, and from there you can take a 4wd for your journey to the park. Many airlines across the world offer cheap flights to Libreville, it’s a modern and stylish city, a complete opposite to the rest of the country, but if you are a little short on cash then it’s a good idea to reduce your stay in the city to an absolute minimum as it is perhaps the most expensive city of the west-central Africa.

The dirt roads leading out of the Libreville toward the park are mostly hard to navigate, and this lack of infrastructure is the only thing that can keep Gabon out of the spotlight of the tourism industry. But you will forget all the hassle of the road when you enter Loango, a 1550 sq. km of the jungle from some fairy tale and a pristine beach where elephants are roaming and water full of whales and dolphins. In the pools across the park, you will find the largest numbers of hippos surfing and rarest of the land animals roaming around. There are a number of ways to explore the park; you can take a guided tour in the company of a well-versed ranger who will know where to expect the most of the wildlife. You can also decide to camp in the park whether in the jungle or close to the beach and explore the park by yourself. Whatever you do, don’t forget to keep your camera close at hand at all times, because there will be a lot of photo opportunities there that you will not want to miss.