[2] Pongara National Park is situated on the southern side of the Gabon Estuary and covers an area of 96,302 hectares (371.82 sq mi).

Additionally, there is a long strip of sandy beach area and some grassy savanna within the park.

People have been living here since at least the Neolithic era and gather timber, grow cassava and banana, and hunt and fish.

A local conservation organisation monitors the female leatherback turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs, tags them, guards the nests, operates a turtle hatchery and provides ecological education for the local populace.

Many migratory birds visit the estuary and up to 10,000 waders overwinter there.