Cultural Tour of Gabon & Democratic Republic of Congo

Day 1: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Arrive Kinshasa; meet assist and transfer to Hotel.
Meal(s) Included: No
Overnight at Grand Hotel Kinshasa or Similar

Day 2: Kinshasa

After breakfast, your full day tour of Kinshasa begins.
Highlights will include:

• Memorial of the former DRC president Kabila, the statue of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister
• Kinkole , a fishermen village , and will visit the local market.
• Rapids of Kinsuka

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Grand Hotel Kinshasa or Similar

Day 3: Kinshasa

After breakfast, take a cruise on the river to visit a Congolese village in Mangengenge where you will be received by the Chief. Afterwards enjoy lunch and a tour of the village.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Grand Hotel Kinshasa or Similar

Day 4: Kinshasa-Chute De Lukaya-Bonobo Sanctuary

After breakfast go on a tour of the Bonobo Sanctuary, a haven for abandoned Bonobos, and the first of its kind. Afterwards visit the Symphonie des art.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Grand Hotel Kinshasa or Similar

Day 5: Kinshasa-Libreville

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Gabon; meet assist and transfer to hotel.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Le Meridien Re-Ndama Hotel Libreville or Similar

Day 6: Libreville

After breakfast, begin your full day tour of Libreville. Take a morning stroll along the waterfront, noting the folk art sculptures along the walkway. Visit the Musée des Arts et Traditions; learn about Gabon tribal culture and in the evening visit the popular Louis Quarter where you can sample the city’s stylish clubs, restaurants and bars. Or you can visit Pointe Denis, which is easily accessible by a short boat ride and is a resort island with some of the area’s best beaches.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Le Meridien Re-Ndama Hotel Libreville or Similar

Day 7: Village of Cap Esterias – Bwiti Ceremony

After breakfast, transfer to the fishermen village of Cap Esterias. You will have the opportunity to attend and assist in the preparation of a Mayaya ceremony which occurs that night. Meet with the traditional healers of the village and venture into the Mondah forest to collect healing plants and barks. You will be shown how the traditional torches are made among other things. Sit with initiates in what is called “the Bwenze” (the place where the traditional treatments are prepared) and assist in everything that is allowed for a non-initiate. The ceremony will start around 10:30pm with a speech and lecture, afterwards the ceremonial songs start followed by dancing which lasts until the sun rises. There is no sleep this night.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Village of Cap Esterias- Libreville

The Dancing must stop at sun rise and is followed by a blessing ritual; afterwards transfer to hotel for some much needed sleep.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast
Overnight at Le Meridien Re-Ndama Hotel Libreville or Similar

Day 9: Invindo National Park

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Ivindo National Park. Visit the surrounding Ba’Aka pygmy villages in the afternoon. Dinner is in the local Pao Rosa Restaurant.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Ivindo National Park

After breakfast, transfer by pirogue to Mekob village. For day 5 and day 6, you will be sharing in the everyday life of traditional fishing, hunting, hut building, cooking, and traditional healing of Ba’Aka pygmees. Nowadays, pygmees wear jeans but their knowledge of the forest is still irreplaceable. They will reveal to you a few secrets of the rainforest.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Invindo National Park- Libreville

After breakfast, begin another full day in the village. Around 4pm, transfer to Booué by car, and from Booué to Libreville by train. Arrive at Booue at night to catch your train, which should depart around midnight.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Le Meridien Re-Ndama Hotel Libreville or Similar

Day 12: Libreville- Departure

Arrival Libreville; meet assist and transfer to Hotel. Evening transfer to airport for your flight back home.
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast