Pointe-Denis
Gabon · Estuaire · 3 m
Description
Pointe-Denis is the sand spit at the tip of the peninsula opposite Libreville, half an hour by boat from the capital and the beach every resident heads for at the weekend. On one side lies the calm estuary, on the other the open Atlantic with a long empty shore of small lodges and beach bars. The spit forms the northern edge of Pongara National Park, whose mangroves and coastal forest hold buffalo, forest elephants and mandrills. Leatherback turtles come ashore to nest between November and February in one of the densest concentrations anywhere. Humpback whales pass offshore in the dry season.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Atlantic beach and the sand spit
- Boat crossing from Libreville
- Leatherback turtles nesting on Pongara beach (November - February)
- Pongara National Park mangroves and forest
- Humpback whales off the estuary mouth (July - September)
- Beach lodges and weekend barbecues
- Pointe Denis lighthouse
- Forest elephants and buffalo on the shore
- Sport fishing off the estuary mouth
- Kayaking in the mangrove creeks
- Night walks with park rangers (November - February)
- Birdwatching on the estuary mudflats
- Seafood grills at the beach restaurants
- Walking the length of the sand spit
Getting there
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry