Situated between the Nkomi and Ndogo Lagoons, Loango National Park spans 1,550 km2 (600 sq mi) of savanna, beach, forest, and mangroves.

The naturalist Mike Fay called Loango "Africa's Last Eden," and this is where Michael "Nick" Nichols from National Geographic took his pictures of surfing hippopotamuses.

Today, although some Gabonese citizens have migrated toward the urban centers or taken up employment within modern industries such as oil and timber production, most individuals living in traditional villages still depend heavily upon their natural surroundings for their day-to-day needs.

Village-dwelling peoples use a slash-and-burn agricultural technique and grow several domesticated plant species including manioc, peanuts, and mustard greens.

Traditional hunting gear such as bows and arrows, spears, deadfall, and spring traps have been replaced by high-caliber rifles and shotguns.