Mangrove trees are remarkable engineers. Their long, curved roots trap mud and sand, slowly building up land where there was only water before. They also provide a safe nursery for fish, crabs and shrimps – many seafood animals start their lives hidden among mangrove roots where larger animals cannot reach them.
Pongara's beaches are visited every year by huge leatherback sea turtles, the largest turtles in the world. Females drag themselves up the beach at night to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs. Weeks later, tiny hatchlings dig their way out and scramble towards the sea. Rangers in the park help protect the nests from disturbance.
Manatees swim gently through the calm mangrove waterways, nibbling on water plants. Dolphins sometimes enter the estuary to feed. Crocodiles rest on muddy banks in the sun. Herons and egrets stand perfectly still in the shallows, watching for fish.
Because Pongara is so close to Libreville, it is one of the places where Gabonese people can most easily see their country's extraordinary wildlife. School classes visit to learn about the importance of mangroves and the sea turtles that have been coming to these beaches for millions of years.