Ivindo National Park
Gabon · Ogooué-Ivindo · 460 m
Description
Ivindo is rainforest almost without a break, and the Ivindo river runs through it over two of the great waterfalls of Africa. Kongou drops sixty metres across a front several hundred metres wide and is reached only by pirogue and a walk through the forest. Mingouli falls further upstream in a single narrow chute. Away from the river the draw is Langoué Bai, a natural forest clearing where mineral-rich mud pulls in forest elephants, sitatunga and lowland gorillas that a hide overlooks for hours at a time. UNESCO listed the park in 2021. The railway stops at Ivindo station on the way through.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 6 days (optimal 4 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Kongou Falls
- Langoué Bai forest clearing and its viewing hide
- Western lowland gorillas at the bai
- Forest elephants in the clearing
- Mingouli Falls
- Pirogue journey up the Ivindo river
- Ipassa research station and its forest trails
- Rainforest birdlife including the picathartes
- Trekking to the falls through primary forest
- Camping at the Langoué Bai platform
- Sitatunga and forest buffalo at the bai
- Swimming holes on the Ivindo above the falls
- Makokou as the road gateway to the park
- Butterflies and orchids of the primary forest
- Night sounds of the rainforest from camp
Getting there
- Airports:
- MKU
- Train stations:
- Ivindo