Accompanied by my little brother Luc Ndouckou, I was gliding on the waters of the Ogooué when my eyes met a carcass of a colonial building, like a stone ghost devoured by time. But beyond these ruins, it was the very soul of Gabon that revealed itself to me. The rounded mountains, draped in eternal green, seemed to greet me. I did not yet know that I was treading the sacred soil of my Okandais ancestors, but my heart had already recognized it.

Albert Yangari, Minister of Tourism, was the first to believe in this gentle madness. Under the impetus of the State, the first hotel complex saw the light of day in 1988. But failure was not long in striking. Management collapsed, the bungalows were given over to bats, and the jungle began to reclaim its rights over what was no more than one more ruin.

Today, every visitor who crosses our threshold is no longer just a tourist. You become a witness, a passer of memory. By staying here, you contribute to perpetuating a man's fight and the dignity of a people. The Lopé Hotel continues to be written with you.