Location
Haut-Ogooué is Gabon's second province. Covering an area of 40,000 km², it is located in the south of the country, bordered to the north by Ogooué Ivindo, to the south and east by the Congo, and to the west by Ogooué Lolo. The province has nearly 150,000 inhabitants. The native populations are the Obamba and Téké groups. The province is also home to pygmies.
The province's main towns are Franceville, Bongoville, Lekoni, Okondja, Moanda and Mounana.
Plateaux Batékés
Environment :
The region is characterised by plateaus and valleys. It has an average altitude of 400 m with 600 m hills in some areas. The region offers a pleasant climate and the plateaus provide an exceptional panorama for an equatorial country.
The vast Batéké plateaus represent a tourist hotspot, as they feature an harmonious balance between the forest and the savannah, offering a variety of beautiful landscapes. It is an area of contrasts between valleys, forests and savannahs, crossed by the river Ogooué and countless rivers that snake their way across the landscape, providing several magnificent waterfalls, such as the one at Poubara. The southern part of the region stretches towards the high plateaus, the north-east part towards the forest-shrouded area of Okondja and the west towards Moanda.
Two types of vegetation are in evidence: forest vegetation in the lowlands and steppe vegetation everywhere else. The tropical climate is marked by the contrast between a short dry season lasting three months (from June to August) and a long rainy season lasting nine months.
Part of the region has been turned into a national park to protect the province's natural resources. The National Park of the Batéké plateaus is the last refuge for téké wildlife, the widest variety of birds in Gabon and gorillas used to the presence of humans.
Culture :
Haut-Ogooué culture is rich with rituals. Although the initiation ceremonies (the "ndjobi") are for a select audience only, the extremely beautiful dances arising from the rituals are for everyone's eyes. The craft industry is especially rich in this province. The craft tradition is alive and kicking, with an extremely wide range of products: raffia weaving continues to be given pride of place in the region and particularly Okondja (mats, baskets, and so on). You will also find woodcarving, copper and iron working, and weaving according to the traditional techniques in the villages' guardroom.
Transport :
The province has two airports: Franceville (Mvengué - 20 km from Franceville) and Moanda. Flights are run by the national airline company Air Gabon.
From Franceville, visitors can reach the other towns by road. Independent carriers serve the entire region and the communication routes in the province are negotiable and currently undergoing renovation.
Taxis enable travellers to get from A to B in the towns and run until late in the evening. Car hire facilities are also available.
Accommodation
The Haut Ogooué province offers a wide range of accommodation geared towards customers' different needs and requirements. From motels to five-star hotels, visitors can find whatever type of accommodation they are looking for. Visitors can also stay with local families, allowing them to gain first-hand experience of the warm welcome provided by the Haut Ogooué population.
Most of the town's restaurants offer local specialities, with vegetables mainly constituting the staple ingredients. The restaurants in the major hotels also serve European dishes (particularly French).
Hotels and Restaurants in the province :