Nkolandom

Nkolandom lies in the hills south of Ebolowa in the forested south of the country, and it was developed as an ecotourism site around a group of granite hills, forest, streams and a waterfall, with a lodge, walking trails and a small farm. The trails climb through secondary forest to viewpoints on the rock domes, from which the country rolls away in unbroken green toward the Equatorial Guinea and Gabon borders. Local dishes are served at the lodge, and the site works with the villages around it. It is one of the more organised places to walk in forest country in the south, in a region where most protected areas are hard to reach and have no facilities.

What you actually see

• Granite hills above the forest - the rock domes the trails climb.
• Forest walking trails - marked routes through secondary growth.
• A waterfall and streams - the water in the valleys below.
• Views south toward the borders - unbroken forest to the horizon.

When to go

December to February in the drier season; it rains heavily for much of the year. A day, better overnight. Book the lodge ahead, particularly at weekends.

Honest expectations

The forest is secondary rather than primary and wildlife is limited to birds and small species. Trails are muddy and slippery in the rains. It is a lodge operation and priced accordingly. The track in is rough.

Nearby

Ebolowa is north; the Equatorial Guinea border lies south.