Original Story Published by: Travel Africa
At Travel Africa we love learning about tours that reach into relatively untrammelled parts of Africa; trips that offer a real sense of venturing into the unknown, while helping a fledgling tourism industry take root. So when we heard of Secret Compass’ new expedition pack rafting down Gabon’s Ivindo River, we were keen to hear about their reconnaissance trip.
Bucket-lists, top 10 blah blah blahs, and a never-ending stream of ‘adventure’ selfies. The Internet can be very good at telling us where to go, what to do and how to feel. Frankly, it all feels a little too predictable. But, look a little closer and there’s plenty of opportunity to trail-blaze..
On the western shores of Central Africa sits Gabon, home to a network of world-famous national parks dissected by the equator. Modelling the country on the success of Costa Rica, the Gabonese government aspires to turn this abundance of natural resources into a successful eco-tourism product, while maintaining the dense tropical rainforests that account for around 80 per cent of the country. However, a serious lack of infrastructure currently keeps tourist figures minimal.
“I love Gabon”, says expedition leader Paul Taylor. “In terms of tourism, it is still finding its feet so there’s so much to discover. Nothing is given to you on a plate but, in terms of the environment and the wildlife, the rewards are huge.”
In north-east Gabon, the Ivindo River, a 110km-long body of water, snakes through the eponymously named national park integral to the country’s conservation efforts. Flowing south-west through some of the continent’s wildest and thickest jungle, its upper stretch is fairly gentle as it steadily drains Gabon’s eastern plateau, gathering momentum before reaching the town of Makokou.
To read the full article, visit Travel Africa.
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