Gabon is a relatively wealthy, stable, central African country situated on the Equator, on the Atlantic coast, only 7 hours flying time from Paris.

As it's on the coast, rainfall occurs in short heavy bursts, usually in the late afternoon and at night. The traditional drier African winter months May to September are warm but overcast in Gabon, meaning that the more traditional Southern and East African destinations are better for photographers/beach lovers during this period. Having said this however, whale sightings are excellent from June to September and of course there is the exciting prospect of investigating endless rain forests and a country very much off the beaten track.

During the months of October to March (the champagne months) the light is brilliant and there is plenty of sunshine, an ideal time to combine a beach and safari holiday with a difference.

Over these months the interior is flooded and the groups of forest elephant, forest buffalo, red river hog and lowland gorilla migrate to the coastal strip, where the ground is slightly higher and the Ikoume trees are fruiting - a favourite delicacy!

This is also the leatherback turtle breeding season. There is nowhere else on earth that can one observe elephant, buffalo, hippo, turtle and gorilla on the beach, in a totally unspoilt and uncrowded location.

Gabon has 700km of untouched white sandy beaches along with its national parks, all just opening up to tourism.

Make no mistake, this country is more used to hosting researchers, loggers and oil teams than tourists but if you want to experience real Africa - unfenced and uncommercialised - this is the right destination to be heading for in the near future.

We are running three unique set departure trips to Gabon in 2008. Each trip is led by a professional guide.

• Brian Jackson has spent 3 seasons in Gabon managing the Loango Lodge set up in Loango National Park
• Chris Worden has led 4 previous safaris to Gabon
• Flip Nicholson has spent 1 full season in Gabon

All three guides are highly experienced throughout Africa and are well known in the safari industry.

2008 Set departure Gabon safaris:

Safari dates (9 nights):
Sun 13 Jan - Tues 22 Jan 2008 
With tour leader Brian Jackson

Sun 20 April - Tues 29 April 2008
With tour leader Chris Worden

Sun 06 July - Tues 15 July 2008
With tour leader Flip Nicholson

Group size:
8 participants, 1 professional guide/tour leader

Costs:
£3490.00 or US$6980.00 per person sharing

Includes: parks fees, meals and snacks, accommodation, activities, local transfers in Gabon, services of a profesional guide throughout
Excludes: international flights to and from Libreville, Visa for Gabon, all drinks, tips and items of a personal nature.

Visas can be purchased in advance through the Gabon Embassy and a lettre d'invitation will be sent to you for this purpose when confirming your safari.

For further details of the itineraries please contact Trish on http://www.easimail.co.za/Home/link.asp?id=7560&hash=2526da or Chris on http://www.easimail.co.za/Home/link.asp?id=7561&hash=bf54fa

Air France is the best option and flies from London Heathrow to Libreville, Gabon via Paris Charles de Gaulle on a Sunday and Tuesday morning and returns along the same route on a Tuesday and Sunday evening.

The flight time is 7 hours from Paris (CDG) to Libreville (LBV)

It's often more economical to book your own flights through Air France  on the Air France website http://www.easimail.co.za/Home/link.asp?id=7562&hash=148365 however we can arrange flights for you if you'd prefer to make all your bookings through us.

A footnote on East Africa:

We're taking bookings for the migration 2008 in Kenya and Tanzania. As an example one of our favourite haunts in Western Tanzania is practically full for September and October 2008 already. Speak to John on http://www.easimail.co.za/Home/link.asp?id=7563&hash=4c63db to avoid disappointment