Léconi Canyons

Near Léconi in the far southeast, water has cut into the sand of the Batéké plateau to leave canyons of bare red, ochre and white rock, sharply eroded into ridges and pinnacles, with savanna running right up to the rim on all sides. The Cirque de Léconi is the best known, a bowl several hundred metres across. The colours are strongest in the low light of early morning and late afternoon, and there are no barriers at the edge.

What you'll find

• The Cirque de Léconi - the main bowl several hundred metres across.
• The colours - red, ochre and white bands in the eroded sand.
• The pinnacles - the sharp ridges and towers left by the erosion.
• The savanna rim - open grassland running right to the canyon edge.

When to go

June to September is the long dry season and the easiest for access. Early and late light show the colours best. The rains make the track difficult.

Things to know

There are no barriers at the rim and the drops are sheer. Facilities are essentially nonexistent. The drive from Franceville takes a couple of hours on rough road.

Nearby

Franceville is west, and the Batéké Plateau park is south.