The First-Ever Gabon Wilderness Experience
We have just returned from the inaugural Gabon Wilderness Experience (August 2025), and it far exceeded everything we imagined.
The journey began gently at Sette Cama Camp – a rustic, character-filled camp with deep roots in the region. The accommodation was simple but comfortable, and it provided the perfect soft landing before the real adventure began. From here, we explored on foot through nearby forests and took boat trips into the tranquil waters of the Ndogo Lagoon, slowly easing into the rhythms of this extraordinary place.
Stepping into an Ancient World: The Gabon Rainforest
But it was when we entered the forest on the Trail section that Gabon truly revealed its magic. From a Wilderness perspective, it is unlike anywhere else we operate. Stepping into the Central West African rainforest is like stepping back a thousand years into a world untouched by time. There are no signs of human presence. Only towering trees, hidden wildlife, and a profound sense of peace.
The forest is not about ticking off sightings or photographing iconic animals in golden light. Most of the wildlife here has never even seen a human being, which makes encounters fleeting and deeply humbling. Yet this is the very beauty of Gabon: it is raw, untamed, and authentic. These animals are as wild as wild can be, living in one of the most complete ecosystems left on Earth.
Beyond Sightings: An Ancient Kinship with the Great Apes
That said, the forest did gift us unforgettable encounters – forest elephants, forest buffalo, red river hogs, a kaleidoscope of monkeys, dwarf crocodiles, and even wild chimpanzees.
One moment in particular left us utterly transformed: an old female chimpanzee emerged from the shadows and approached the group. She paused, studied us, and held our gaze.
“In that silent exchange of eyes, there was curiosity, recognition, and something far older—an ancient kinship. It was the most profound wildlife encounter of my life.”
— Wayne Te Brake, Lowveld Trails Co.
It was almost as if the forest itself had reached out to acknowledge us.
From Jungle Streams to Surfing Hippos: A Diverse Landscape
But what moved many participants most was not the wildlife – it was the stillness. Sitting silently against the buttress roots of ancient forest giants, we felt the grandeur of the forest seep into us. The spirit of the forest became the true guide of the journey.
The trail carried us through astonishingly diverse ecosystems: mangroves, mudflats, palm-fringed beaches, swamp forests, and vast stretches of untouched primary rainforest. Crystal-clear jungle streams, so pure we drank straight from them, held African pike, vibrant cichlids, and the ever-watchful dwarf crocodiles, their eyes glinting in our headlamps at night. The birdlife was rich, though often hidden high in the canopy, rewarding us with bursts of color and song when least expected.
And then, the final night – camping on the beach under a canopy of stars. At dawn, we walked the shoreline in hushed anticipation, rewarded with one of Gabon’s most iconic and surreal sights: the surfing hippos of Loango. We also spotted some turtles in the shallows and breaching humpback whales behind the breakers.
