CAR, Gabon & São Tomé: Along the Equator Tour

Sunday 22nd February – Bangui (CAR)

• Arrive in Bangui at your own convenience. Bangui, the capital and largest city of CAR, is connected to Paris and Istanbul, as well as many African cities (Casablanca, Johannesburg…).
• After clearing immigration and customs, we’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the city centre.
• A pre-tour meeting will be held at 6:00pm in the lobby of our hotel to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner and drinks at a local restaurant to sample some delicious cuisine.
• Overnight stay Bangui.

Monday 23rd February – Bangui – Boali Falls – Bangui

• After breakfast, we leave Bangui for a drive north to Boali Falls, around 50 kilometres from the capital. The falls are among the most impressive natural sights in the country, and we’ll spend time exploring the area on foot.
• We’ll have lunch nearby while taking in the sound and spray of the cascading Mbali River.

Afternoon

• In the afternoon, we will return to Bangui for a boat trip on the Ubangi River, the natural border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From the water, we’ll see local fishermen at work and watch the sun dip over one of Africa’s great rivers.
• Overnight in Bangui.

Tuesday 24th February – Bangui – Mbaiki – Bangui

• After breakfast, we wille head south towards Mbaiki, a small town surrounded by dense rainforest. We’ll visit a nearby pygmy village, learning about local traditions, daily life and community music. The experience offers a rare glimpse into one of Central Africa’s oldest cultures.

Afternoon

• Back in Bangui, we’ll explore some of the capital’s key landmarks, including the Bangui Cathedral, an unexpected piece of French Gothic architecture in the tropics, and the Boganda National Museum, which offers insight into the country’s pre-colonial heritage and independence struggle.
• We’ll also wander through the Central Market, where bright textiles, handcrafts and produce line the narrow aisles.
• Overnight in Bangui.

Wednesday 25th February – Bangui – Libreville (Gabon)

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our 10:45am Afrijet flight to Libreville (Gabon), arriving at 12:40 (flight not included in tour cost)
• We’ll check-in, have lunch and start our visit of the city.

Afternoon

• We’ll start by exploring Mont Bouet Market. It is Gabon’s largest market, with hundreds of stalls selling fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry (live and dead), fabric, clothing, jewellery, household goods, traditional medicine, etc. 
• Located on the country’s western coast along the Atlantic Ocean, Libreville is known for its vibrant cultural scene, lush greenery, and stunning beaches. We’ll enjoy a city tour of the capital.
• You’ll visit the Stele of Freedom statue, located in front of the Presidential Palace, that commemorates the end of the slave trade in 1848. An emblematic monument of the Gabonese Republic, it depicts a half-man, half-woman slave breaking free from his chains.
• You’ll also see the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, built in 2008 by the decision of President Omar Bongo; the beautiful Saint-Michel Church, built in wood in the local’s traditions; and the more recent Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Church, financed by Ali Bongo and covered in azulejos imported from Portugal!
• Night departure to Okalassi village, here we’ll get to experience a Bwiti-ceremony, which takes around 3 hours. This spiritual ritual is deeply rooted in Gabonese culture and offers insight into the country’s ancestral traditions.
• Dinner and overnight in Libreville.

Thursday 26th February – Libreville – Lambarene

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll transfer by boat (45 minutes) to the Pongara National Park.
• In the Pongara National Park, if we’re lucky, we will be able to observe turtles nesting on the shores. Pongara National Park stands out for its exceptional array of primates, flora, and avifauna. You may be treated to glimpses of arboreal monkeys observing you from lofty branches, while forest elephants and hippos leisurely navigate the tranquil lagoons.
• In the afternoon, we’ll head for a safari in the park.
• Overnight stay at Pongara National Park, one of Equatorial Africa’s most pristine coastlines.

Friday 27th February – Pongara National Park – Libreville

• After breakfast, you’ll spend the morning enjoying the natural surroundings of Pongara.
• You can either choose to hike through the coastal forest or kayak along the mangroves.
• Another option is to walk and relax on the quiet beaches.
• In the afternoon, we will return by boat (45 minutes) to Libreville.
• Upon our return in Libreville we’ll head to a local neighbourhood to experience the famous Okuyi mask dance, a traditional performance where masked dancers embody ancestral spirits through graceful movements and rhythmic drumming.

Saturday 28th February – Libreville

• After breakfast, we’ll drive north to Cap Estérias for a short tour around the Mondah Forest, one of Gabon’s last remaining coastal rainforests and a haven for diverse birdlife, primates, and medicinal plants.
• We’ll continue to Akanda National Park, known for its mangrove forests and tidal lagoons, where we’ll take a scenic boat trip to explore its rich ecosystem and spot migratory birds, marine life, and local fishing villages along the way.
• Transfer to the airport for the 17:40 Asky flight to São Tomé (flight not included in tour cost). The flight lasts one hour, but there is a one hour difference between the two countries, so you’ll also arrive at 17:40.
• Overnight stay in São Tomé.

Sunday 1st March – Southern part of Sao Tome Island

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• We’ll begin our road trip to the southernmost part of the island, stopping at the abandoned hospital of Roca Agua Ize. This hospital used to be one of the best hospitals in western Africa and was built for the workers at the Roca Agua Ize plantation.
• Located nearby the plantation is the Hell’s Mouth (“Boca de Inferno”). The natural seaside rock formation has an impressive blow hole!
• We’ll make a short stop in São João dos Angolares, the largest town on the southern part of the island.
• Explore Cascata De Praia Pesqueria. This waterfall is the perfect spot to take a dip and cool down.
• The most famous landmark of Sao Tome and Principe is the Pico de Cao Grande. Standing 663 meters tall, it’s a giant, steep volcanic rock that you can see from all over the island.
• Stop by an old rusty tank for a classic YPT group photo on top of it.

Afternoon

• Arrive in Porto Alegre and board a boat for a 20-minute journey to Rolas Island. On arrival, we’ll head to a secluded part of the beach for lunch.
• We’ll take a short hike to the monument where the Equator line crosses through Sao Tome & Principe.
• Take the scenic journey back to Soa Tome.
• Dinner in town and explore the nightlife of the island capital.
• Overnight stay at Sao Tome.

Monday 2nd March – Northern part of Sao Tome Island

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Today, we’ll discover the North of Sao Tome. We’ll start our journey stopping by the village of Roca Agostinho Neto, named after the first president of Angola.
• Visit the largest plantation in the country. It used to be the biggest cocoa producer, but nowadays the plantation is partly working and families relocated to live on its domain.
• Continue towards the Atlantic with a stop at the Blue Lagoon Beach, a tiny strip of pristine turquoise ocean, lined with baobab trees. It’s a perfect spot for snorkelling and discovering local sea life.
• Next is Lagao Azul, the northernmost point of the country, via the Santa Catarina Tunnel, the only tunnel in Sao Tome and Principe.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a popular crab restaurant. There are also vegetarian options available.
• Explore the fishing village of Santa Catarina. It is also a perfect place to drink fresh coconut water or palm wine.
• We’ll return to the capital and stop by the Monte Café Plantation. This is one of the most famous coffee plantations on the island.
• On arrival to our hotel, we’ll freshen and relax before heading out.
• Farewell dinner and drinks at our favourite restaurant and a few drinks at the Portuguese colonial bar.
• Overnight stay in Sao Tome.

Tuesday 3rd March – Sao Tome

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Tour concludes – YPT can arrange airport transfer, advice ongoing transport and extra accommodation in Sao Tome. If you are keen on visiting Príncipe, contact us for more info.