Tanzania Wildebeest Migration Safari
February 10 – 19, 2028
3 Spots Left
Gabon Wildlife Expedition
3 Spots Left
At a Glance
Location
Gabon
Tuition
$19,995
Dates
January 19 – 28, 2028
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 6 Guests
Collections
Gabon Wildlife Expedition Photography Workshop
Beach-Roaming Elephants and Western Lowland Gorillas in Africa’s Last Eden
January 19 – 28, 2028
- Two opportunities to photograph western lowland gorillas
- Witness elephants, buffalo, and hippo feeding on the beach
- Remote rainforest camps with exclusive access to rarely visited areas
Gabon is Africa’s last Eden, a place where gorillas inhabit the forest, elephants roam the beaches, and hippos enter the surf. It is an ecosystem found almost nowhere else on Earth, and the setting for one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife photography experiences.
Our 10-day expedition takes us deep into Loango National Park, one of the least-visited (but very safe) protected areas in Africa. From a small but comfortable tented camp beside the Atlantic, we’ll follow wildlife trails through the rainforest, explore remote lagoons by boat, and search the coastline for elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, primates, and colorful birdlife.
We’ll then enter one of the few forests on Earth where it is possible to track habituated western lowland gorillas in the wild. These elusive great apes inhabit dense, shadowed rainforest and remain far less accessible than their mountain-dwelling relatives in Uganda and Rwanda. Each guest will have two opportunities to follow their trails through the forest, accompanied by the researchers and trackers who have spent years learning the individual personalities of Gabon’s only habituated family.
Beyond the gorilla treks, our schedule remains deliberately flexible. We may explore the open savannah by vehicle, follow forest elephants along the beaches on foot, photograph from boats on the Akaka River, or spend an evening beside the Atlantic waiting for wildlife to emerge from the forest. January is one of the most productive times to search Gabon’s coastline for forest elephants, as large numbers emerge from the rainforest to feed along the beaches.
This workshop is an active, expedition-style journey into a genuinely remote wilderness, designed for photographers seeking rarer encounters. Through hands-on instruction in the field, you’ll work alongside your pro to photograph wildlife in low light, find clean compositions through dense vegetation, anticipate animal behavior, and adapt quickly as encounters unfold on foot, from boats, and along the coastline.
You will return home not only with photographs few people will ever have the opportunity to take, but with a deeper understanding of Africa’s last truly wild places.
Your Pros
Pablo Moraga
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
January 19, 2028: Arrival at Beachfront Hotel
Arrive at Libreville Leon M’ba International Airport (LBV), Libreville, Estuaire before 4:00 PM today. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
You’ll be met at the gate on arrival and escorted through entry formalities before being transferred to a beachfront hotel, where the group will gather ahead of the workshop. This evening, we’ll have dinner together and discuss the photography, wildlife, and adventure ahead.
January 20, 2028: Journey to Loango National Park
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our short commercial flight from Libreville to Port-Gentil. From here, we begin the journey into one of Africa’s least-visited wilderness areas. Over roughly four hours, the city falls away, and the landscape becomes increasingly wild, with rainforest, savanna, wetlands, and lagoons gradually taking over. On reaching the park, a short boat crossing carries us the final stretch to our small camp.
Loango is unlike almost anywhere else in Africa. Here, the Congo Basin rainforest reaches all the way to the Atlantic, creating a landscape where forest elephants, buffalo, gorillas, hippos, and other rainforest wildlife can emerge onto open savannas, lagoons, and wild beaches.
By the time we reach camp, we are well beyond the usual safari circuit and surrounded by one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on the continent.
January 21–22, 2028: Exploring Loango by 4×4, Boat, and On Foot
The following two days are about settling into the rhythm of Loango and experiencing just how remote this place really is. From Louri Wilderness, we’ll explore a landscape where rainforest, open savanna, rivers, and wetlands meet. Depending on the wildlife and conditions, we’ll explore by 4×4, boat, and on foot.
We may follow narrow trails through the forest, search the open country for forest elephants, buffalo, and red river hogs, or explore the waterways where hornbills cross above the canopy and elephants sometimes wade into the shallows to feed. Rock pythons, crocodiles, parrots, kingfishers, and an extraordinary variety of other birdlife all inhabit this rich mosaic of habitats.
This area of the park is a genuine biodiversity hotspot. Largely untouched. Very wild. There are few signs of people here, and often no other visitors at all. These are days of exploration, photography, and the simple experience of being immersed in one of Africa’s most extraordinary wilderness areas.
January 23–26, 2028: Gorilla Tracking
These four days form the heart of our time in Loango. We move to a small tented camp, placing us close to the research area that is home to the only habituated group of western lowland gorillas in Gabon. Access is extraordinarily limited, with just four permits issued each day .
Our group of six will divide into two smaller groups. Across these four days, every guest will have two separate opportunities to trek and photograph the gorillas . While one group heads into the rainforest with researchers and trackers, the other will be out exploring Loango by 4×4, boat, or on foot. The groups then swap, giving everyone the same opportunities both with the gorillas and throughout the wider park.
Western lowland gorillas inhabit a very different world from the mountain gorillas of East Africa. Beneath the dense rainforest canopy, light is scarce, vegetation is thick, and the gorillas can disappear among leaves and branches almost instantly. They are shy, often arboreal, and challenging to photograph, making each encounter rare and special.
The time away from the gorillas is just as important. This part of Loango opens onto broad savannas and waterways where we can search for forest elephants, forest buffalo, red river hogs, primates, and an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. Some outings may be by vehicle, others by boat or on foot. Nothing is rigidly scheduled. Local conditions and the knowledge of our ex-hunter local guides will shape each day.
January 27, 2028: Final Day Exploring Loango’s Most Active Wildlife Areas
Our final full day in Loango is deliberately flexible. By now, we will know which areas have been most productive and where we want to spend more time. We may return to the savannas in search of forest elephants and buffalo, explore the lagoons by boat, follow wildlife trails through the forest, or head toward the Atlantic coast to find wildlife roaming the beaches.
We have also built this day into the itinerary as a buffer. In the unlikely event that one of our earlier gorilla treks is unsuccessful, we have an additional opportunity to return to the forest and try again, subject to local conditions. Otherwise, the day is ours to follow the wildlife and whatever Loango gives us.
January 28, 2028: Departure from Loango, Onward Departures
After breakfast, we begin our journey out of the wilderness. We travel by boat and vehicle toward Port-Gentil, gradually leaving the forests, lagoons, and savannas of Loango behind. From Port-Gentil, a short scheduled flight returns us to Libreville.
On arrival, we transfer back to our arrival hotel, where day rooms will be available to rest, shower, and prepare for the journey home. While we expect international flights departing after 6:00 PM to be feasible, we strongly recommend spending one final night in Libreville. This provides an important buffer in the event of delays or schedule changes to the commercial domestic flight from Port-Gentil.
Flights out can be made after 6:00 PM on January 28, 2028.
What To Expect
This is an exploratory workshop in a genuinely remote part of Gabon, and flexibility is essential. Wildlife movements, weather, water levels, and local conditions will influence how each day unfolds, and plans may change at short notice to make the most of the available opportunities. Guests should also expect more walking than on a typical safari. Some outings may involve several hours on foot through hot, humid rainforest, on uneven, muddy, or overgrown trails. A reasonable level of fitness, comfort walking in challenging conditions, and a willingness to adapt are important parts of the experience.
It is also important to understand that this is a very different style of safari from East Africa. Loango receives very few visitors, and tourism infrastructure is correspondingly limited. The camps we are visiting are comfortable, characterful wilderness camps, but they should not be compared with the high-end safari lodges of Kenya, Tanzania, or Botswana.
Accommodation is in simple but well-appointed safari tents designed to keep you comfortable in a very remote environment. Each tent offers raised beds with standard mattresses, bedside tables, a private ensuite bathroom, and its own veranda, giving you somewhere to sit outside and take in the surrounding forest, savanna, or lagoon. The rooms are spacious enough to settle into comfortably, but deliberately unfussy, with the emphasis on practicality, privacy, and connection to the landscape.
The camps themselves are small and intimate, with communal areas for meals and relaxing between outings. Meals are prepared at camp, and evenings are quiet and informal, often spent talking over the day's photography before heading back to your tent. Power, amenities, and services are more limited than at a conventional safari lodge, but you will have a comfortable bed, private bathroom, good food, and everything you need after a long day in the field. Batteries will be charged in the lodge common area.
The emphasis here is firmly on location and access rather than luxury. Staying in these camps allows us to spend our days deep inside one of Africa's least-visited national parks, close to the wildlife and far from the usual safari circuit.
The Weather
We deliberately visit Loango during the green, rainy season, when the park is at its most lush and some of its most remarkable wildlife activity shifts toward the Atlantic coast. Rain brings fresh growth and abundant fruit to the forest edge, including fruiting palms close to the beaches, drawing forest elephants and buffalo out of the forest to feed. This is also the season when hippos are more likely to venture onto the beaches and into the surf, creating the extraordinary scenes for which Loango has become famous.
In mid-January, expect hot, humid conditions, with daytime temperatures around 86°F (30°C) and nighttime temperatures around 75°F (24°C) . Rain is part of the experience, but it does not necessarily mean entire days of wet weather. Tropical showers often build during the afternoon and may last an hour or two before clearing, although heavier or more prolonged rain is always possible.
The trade-off is exactly why we are here: lush landscapes, dramatic tropical conditions, and our best chance of photographing Loango's famous forest wildlife along the Atlantic coast.
Fitness
Challenging: This is a more physically demanding workshop than a traditional vehicle-based safari, and a good level of fitness is required. Much of our time in Loango will be spent on foot, including gorilla trekking through dense rainforest where trails can be muddy, uneven, and overgrown.
Guests should be comfortable walking for extended periods (several hours at a time) while carrying camera equipment. The combination of heat, humidity, wet ground, and longer periods on foot can make otherwise straightforward distances feel considerably more strenuous.
Flights
Arrive at Libreville Leon M’ba International Airport (LBV), Libreville before 4:00 PM on January 19, 2028. Flights out can be made after 6:00 PM on January 28, 2028. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for a $2,800 supplement. (Limited to 4 guests)
- Scheduled airport transfers.
- Two Gorilla Trekking Permits per Guest
- Visa Processing Fees
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- Internal flights during the workshop.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Libreville, Estuaire.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance including coverage from point of injury (required).
- Travel Medical Insurance (required).
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming is available for a $2,800 supplement. (Limited to 4 guests)
Payment Terms
- Your non-refundable deposit of $6,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further non-refundable payment of $7,000 is due by May 1, 2027.
- The non-refundable balance is due not later than September 1, 2027.
- In addition to our standard Terms and Conditions, for this workshop all payments are non-refundable, and this is why we recommend comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancelation. All other Muench Workshops Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
This workshop requires a good level of fitness. You'll need to be comfortable walking for several hours at a time through dense rainforest, often on muddy, uneven trails, while carrying your camera gear. The combination of heat, humidity, and longer periods on foot can make the distances feel more strenuous.
You'll have the opportunity to photograph a variety of wildlife, including forest elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, primates, and colorful birdlife. The highlight is tracking and photographing the habituated western lowland gorillas in their natural rainforest habitat.
You'll learn to photograph wildlife in low light, find clean compositions through dense vegetation, and anticipate animal behavior. You'll also practice adapting quickly to changing conditions as you photograph from boats, on foot, and along the coastline.
No, all payments for this workshop are non-refundable under any circumstances. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance, including trip cancellation coverage.
The maximum group size is six participants, ensuring a personalized experience with plenty of one-on-one instruction from the two professional photographers leading the workshop.
Yes, each guest will receive two Gorilla trekking permits, which are included in the workshop fee. These permits allow you to track and photograph the habituated western lowland gorillas in Loango National Park.
Pack lightweight, breathable clothing suitable for hot and humid conditions, along with sturdy waterproof boots for trekking. Bring camera gear that includes lenses suitable for wildlife photography, such as a telephoto lens for distant subjects and a wide-angle lens for landscapes.
