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Bakoumba
ℹ️Practical info — Bakoumba
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Bakoumba is the gateway to Lékédi Park; book your guided wildlife tour in advance.
- Anti-malarial precautions and insect repellent are highly recommended.
- A 4x4 vehicle is best for navigating the roads leading to the town.
- Be prepared for high humidity and tropical showers year-round.
🍽 Food
Try this chicken in palm nut sauce at local guesthouses.
Enjoy grilled fish at the small village eateries.
Try the staple fermented cassava with your meals.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Here you will find fresh produce and basic daily goods.
Wood carvings are often available near the park entrance.
Enjoy peaceful nature walks observing mandrills and other wildlife.
Relax at the quiet spots along the local streams.
Water temperature…
Bakoumba is a prominent mining town in southeastern Gabon, located in the Haut-Ogooué Province near the city of Moanda. The town gained international fame as the site of the world's longest cableway, which operated from 1962 to 1986 and transported manganese ore over a distance of 76 kilometers to the Congolese border. Following the cessation of the cableway's operations, Bakoumba successfully transitioned into a center for nature conservation and ecotourism, notably through the establishment of Lékédi Park. This park is home to a variety of primates, including gorillas and chimpanzees, and serves as a pilot project for sustainable development and wildlife protection in the region. The town itself possesses a well-developed infrastructure by Gabonese standards, a legacy from its peak manganese mining era. In today's economy, fish farming and forestry play vital roles alongside conservation efforts. Bakoumba is regarded as a model for the structural transformation of a former industrial town into an ecologically focused community. The blend of industrial heritage and striking biodiversity makes it a unique destination for both researchers and tourists.
- Location: Gabon
- Nearby: Dienga (35 km)
- Population: ~4.861 (2023)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| Rain mm | 160 | 158 | 223 | 219 | 184 | 38 | 10 | 25 | 116 | 291 | 347 | 224 |
Geography
Facts
- Bakoumba was home to the world's longest industrial cableway (76 km).
- The town is situated in the manganese-rich region of Haut-Ogooué.
- Lékédi Park is a significant sanctuary for primates and other wildlife.
- Bakoumba was originally built as a logistics base for the COMILOG company.
- The area hosts one of the largest fish farming operations in Gabon.
- Manganese ore was formerly transported from here directly to Mbinda, Congo.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Bakoumba (1)
Frequently asked questions
What is the main attraction of Bakoumba?
What was the COMILOG cable car?
Is there accommodation in the park?
How do I get from Franceville to Bakoumba?
Can you go fishing there?
Bakoumba: where is it located?
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Bakoumba: why is it worth visiting?
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