Setta Cama Exploration - Gabon - 9 days
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Meet & Greet on arrival at Libreville Int Airport
Shared Road Transfer from Libreville Int Airport to Libreville Hotel
The capital of Gabon, Libreville (or Elbévé in the local parlance) is also the largest city in the country, home to about 700,000 denizens, located in the far northwestern part of the country. In fact, the city is home to one-third of the population of Gabon.
The area that is now Libreville was long inhabited by the Mpongwe people until the French turned up in 1839, making Libreville the main port of the French colony there known as French Equatorial Africa. The Gabonese gained their independence from the French in 1960 and after that the city began to grow and expand in leaps and bounds.
Today, Libreville stretches for 30 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. There are lovely beaches to linger on and beach-side restaurants to enjoy fresh seafood meals. The city has a few interesting museums and other points of interest to check off of a list, but really Libreville is best seen by just wandering, exploring its various neighborhoods and enjoying the West African cuisine in restaurants.
Overnight: Park Inn by Radisson Libreville
Day 2: to Sette Cama
Shared Road Transfer from Libreville Hotel to Libreville Int Airport. Seat in Charter from Libreville Int Airport to Gamba Airport. Shared Road & Boat Transfer from Gamba Airport to Sette Cama Eco Camp
Overnights Sette Cama Eco Camp.
Days 3-9: Sete Cama Camp
What truly sets Sette Cama apart is its extraordinary marine and aquatic biodiversity. The coastline is a hotspot for dolphins, marine turtles, and seasonal sightings of humpback whales. Its mangrove channels shelter manatees, crocodiles, and exceptional birdlife, including African grey parrots, waders, and countless migratory species.
The landscape here feels softer and more fluid - sunlight glittering on calm lagoons and mangrove roots tangling into mirror-still water. Sette Cama offers a sense of timelessness, a place where terrestrial forest meets the vast aquatic world, creating one of Loango’s most tranquil, intimate and biodiverse environments.
This region is also known for the celebrated “surfing hippos,” a rare sight where hippos venture onto the beach and even into the Atlantic surf during certain tides and seasons. Due to Sette Cama’s enclosed, wild environment, explorations are more physically intensive than the northern end of Loango National Park, creating access to its remote wilderness where visitors are invited to explore and adapt to the natural environment.
Day 9: Departure & onward travels
Shared Road & Boat Transfer from Sette Cama Eco Camp to Gamba Airport. Seat in Charter from Gamba Airport to Libreville Int Airport. Meet & Greet on arrival at Libreville Int Airport, and Assist to the departure hall.
Accommodations:
Park Inn by Radisson Libreville invites guests to experience a vibrant blend of coastal tranquility and urban excitement. Nestled along the waterfront of Libreville, Gabon, this hotel offers stunning views of both the ocean and the city, making it a perfect retreat for travelers seeking relaxation and adventure. The contemporary design of the hotel complements its lively surroundings, ensuring a memorable stay for every guest.
With 140 modern rooms and suites, each designed for comfort, visitors can enjoy amenities such as free high-speed Wi-Fi and breathtaking views. The hotel's prime location allows guests to explore the exotic wildlife of Pongara National Park or immerse themselves in the nightlife of Quartier Louis, creating a unique experience that caters to both leisure and business travelers alike.
Sette Cama Eco Camp
Located on the slender peninsula between the Ndogo Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, provides a uniquely immersive experience into the watery heart of Loango National Park. Unlike the more open savannah landscapes to the north, Sette Cama is dominated by vast lagoon systems, mangrove forests, tidal creeks, and intricate waterways that shape both wildlife movements and human history.
Sette Cama Eco Camp lies in a coastal forest clearing at the southern reaches of Loango National Park, Gabon.
A short track from camp leads to Sette Cama’s remote, uninhabited coastline, where forest elephants and sitatunga roam the beach.
Half an hour away by boat, the Ndogo Lagoon meets wild Atlantic Coast at one of the last remaining undisturbed estuary mouths in Africa. Rainforest trails offer the chance to track unhabituated great apes on foot under the dense forest canopy, together with other primates, mammals, and birdlife. Coastal trails contrast completely with the forest, where isolated beaches become the playground of surfing hippos, forest buffaloes, and red river hogs, with seasonal visits from sea turtles and humpback whales.
Entering this totally wild environment is a lesson in learning to speak rainforest, from interpreting the calls of wild chimpanzees, to discovering the cultural and medicinal uses of flora for humans and wildlife alike.
Sette Cama is a living window into tropical Africa’s wild past. Where rainforest, lagoon and coastline are home to more forest elephants, great apes, hippos, and sea turtles than humans. Our explorations are active and immersive, for a true sense of the disappearing wilderness that once covered most of Tropical Africa’s coastline.
Meru-style tents - Sette Cama Eco Camp consists of four Meru-style tents set on wooden decks. All tents feature twin-bed configurations, are en suite, and are fully air-conditioned. The bathrooms are built using local hardwoods and provide comfort while maintaining an eco-conscious design.
Activities:
Rainforest Walks
Learn to speak rainforest while tracking unhabituated western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, red river hogs, rare duikers, and other primates.
Coastal Trails
Spot forest elephants, forest buffaloes & red river hogs on the coastline while searching out surfing hippos and sea turtles in the shallows.
Boat Explorations
Explore Ndogo Lagoon’s 50,000 hectares of mangroves, islands, and birdlife by boat.
Coastal Camp-Outs
Embark on a Point Milongo overnight to look for surfing hippos at dawn, hiking deeper into the park for an immersive forest experience.
Kayaking
Discover the calls of the rainforest from the water, whether distant primates or resident birdlife.
Nocturnal Boat Cruises
Meet the nighttime residents of Sette Cama, from water chevrotain to Pel’s fishing owls and dwarf crocodiles.
Wildlife Monitoring
Uncover the secrets of Gabon’s rainforest through camera-trapping and contribute to scientific efforts to document Sette Cama’s biodiversity and wildlife.
Turtle Monitoring (Nov - Mar)
Scout for nesting activity along the shoreline, assist with nest relocation and monitor hatchlings at our sea turtle nursery.
Ethnobotanical Excursions
Learn about Gabon’s rich plant life and human history.
Birding
Over 395 recorded species, including specials such as Vermiculated fishing owl, white-crested tiger heron, Loango weaver, rosy bee-eater & African river martin
Sundowners
Enjoy evening campfires on the beach, or wait by Ndogo Lagoon’s islands as hundreds of black casqued hornbills & African, grey parrots roost at sunset.
Camp Facilities
Accommodation: Four Meru Tents raised on wooden decks, en-suite, air-conditioned.
Main Area: Dining room, lounge, bar, and deck surrounded by coastal forest.
Meals: Set-menu dining featuring fresh, locally caught fish
Communication: Intermittent cellular reception and WiFi. Satellite phone for emergencies.
Electricity: Generator-powered
Children: Recommended for adventurous families with walking-fit children 12 years & over only.
Group Size: 6–8 guests ideal