Haut-Ogooue: Savannas, Plateaus and Wildlife Watching

For a trip to Haut-Ogooue, two distinct natural perspectives take center stage: the plateaus of Parc National des Plateaux Batéké and wildlife watching in Parc de la Lékédi. Parc National des Plateaux Batéké lies in Haut-Ogooue Province in Gabon’s far southeast, on the border between Congo and Gabon. These two park themes give a trip different points of focus: the forms of the landscape and encounters with wildlife.

Plateaus, valleys and gallery forests

Parc National des Plateaux Batéké consists of rolling plateaus and hills. Valleys and streams that flow seasonally cut through the terrain; elevations range from 350 to 930 meters. This range is as much a part of the landscape as the shifts between elevated areas, hills and valleys. Visitors interested in nature and landforms will find a park whose character is shaped by more than a single type of landscape.

The vegetation also forms a mosaic: grass and shrub savannas are interspersed with moist gallery forests containing various tree species. Both open savannas and wooded areas therefore shape the landscape described here. The landforms and vegetation offer two different perspectives on the same park: its varied topography and the changing types of plant cover.

Getting there and wildlife watching in Parc de la Lékédi

From Moanda, travel by road toward Bakoumba, then follow a one-kilometer track to the entrance to Parc de la Lékédi. Factor this route into your travel plans and check local road conditions before setting out. The park operator states that reservations and an accompanying guide are required for visits; confirm these requirements before planning your trip.

A drive in a 4x4 vehicle offers the chance to watch wild buffalo, harnessed goats and birds. Sitatungas may also be seen. You can then cross the suspension bridge to watch chimpanzees in the canopy. This offers two different ways to observe wildlife: from a 4x4 vehicle and from the bridge, looking up into the treetops.

Important requirements when approaching mandrills

Approaches to mandrills take place in groups of no more than five people and can be physically demanding. For safety reasons, this visit is prohibited for children under 12. Wearing a mask is mandatory near mandrills and other primates. The limit of five applies to groups approaching the mandrills; the age restriction and mask requirement apply to the situations specified. Take these requirements into account when planning your visit.

More nature highlights in the wider destination of Gabon

Beyond Haut-Ogooue, the wider destination of Gabon encompasses other natural and cultural landscapes. In Lopé-Okanda, the landscape preserves evidence of the biological evolution of the rainforest-savanna transition zone that has existed to this day over the past 15,000 years.

Ivindo National Park covers almost 300,000 hectares. Blackwater rivers run through the area, and rapids and waterfalls are edged by intact rainforest. In Loango National Park, visitors can watch birds, with a view of species found in the forests and the Congo Basin. There is also the possibility of looking for habituated western lowland gorillas. These named highlights add to the picture of Gabon as a wider travel destination; they are distinct from the plateaus and visitor experiences in Haut-Ogooue.

Discover more destinations: Lemboumbi-Leyou, Mpassa, Plateaux, Ogooué-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem, Estuary.

Back to the wider travel overview: Gabon.