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Central Africa which has the second biggest forest in the world (1,840,000
km2), the lungs of the earth, is a paradise for botanists and zoologists.
It is therefore a special place for naturalist tourists and for ecotourism.
In Gabon the forest covers 80% of the territory, and the average population
density is only 4 people per square km., a major part of whom live in
the cities. Since the area is so sparsely populated, and the roads so
few and poorly built because of the difficult climatic conditions, there
is therefore little pressure on nature.
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Gorilla |
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Mandrill |
Statistics speak for themselves: 64,000 elephants, 20,000 gorillas,
35,000 chimpanzees, 680 bird species, 2,000 to 3,000 humpbacked
whales, 320 species of orchids and numerous epiphytes. Here you
find quite rare zoological species such as the lowland gorilla,
sun-tailed monkey, mandrill, forest elephant, bongo and the Rock
fowl.
There are also incredible magic places, such as the refuges of the
ice age hiding species of unknown plants, the sumptuous inselberg,
mountains overseeing the jungle, the great and magnificent isolated
waterfalls seen only by the animals in the forest, the beaches where
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hippos, elephants and buffaloes bathe, the lush rivers and lagoons bordered
by papyrus or mangroves, the waterhole clearings where the elephants,
gorillas, sitatungas and birds all come together in a harmony worthy of
an earthly paradise. |
Impatiens |
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Splendid Glossy Starling
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Gabon represents a recent destination in the area of ornithological
tourism. This country has interesting attractions, the main one
of which is the natural scenery and its fauna. All the forest bird
species can be found here in big numbers, because of the low level
of the cutting down of the forest and the weak impact of hunting.
The network of protected areas, recently classified as national
parks, allows one to observe the majority of the 680 bird species
known to the present in Gabon (included therein are a certain |
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number of rare or occasional migratory species
that are not easily observed).
In Gabon you see some bird species that are rare or difficult to find
in the other countries of Central Africa, and this in itself justifies
your trip to Gabon.
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Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye |
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African River Martin |
The most important are the Rosy Bee-eaters, the Black Bee-eater,
the African River Martin, the Loango Weaver and the Bare-headed
Rock-fowl. Various observation sites have been identified for
these species.
The itinerary allowing you to get the best results concerning
the forest bird species, and the savannahs of the Batéké
plateaux located in the south eastern part of the country, are
the National Lopé Park and the Ipassa Research Station
in Makokou which are integrated into the National Ivindo Park,
and allow you to see almost all the forest bird species in the
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Most of the Central African forest species are common and easy to see
here. Some of the most difficult species to find and observe are the
Bare-headed Rock-fowl, the forest birds of prey such as the Congo Serpent
Eagle and the long-tailed hawk, the forest guinea fowls, the yellow-throated
green cuckoo, the Honeyguides, the Bates’s swift, the Bates’s
Nightjar, the Forest Swallow, the Wattle-eyes
and a few rare weaverbirds.
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Tiny Sunbird |
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Giant Weaver
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In special areas of the Batéké plateaux birds of particular
interest are as follows: The Finsch’s francolin, the Congo Moorchat,
the Black-chinned Weaver, and a certain number of cisticola species
who live in this particular habitat, the observation of which is difficult
elsewhere in Central Africa, especially because of access. Since this
savannah is part of a group of savannahs extending as far as Angola
and Zambia, this area attracts a certain number of bird species that
are seldom represented in Central Africa, and are quite different from
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Finally, on the coast, the big national parks offer quite varied habitats
(big marshes, savannahs and forests) and a very diversified bird population,
with good conditions for observation. During the nesting period, the
most sought species are the Rosy Bee-eater and the African River Martin.
As for São Tomé and Principé, they
have around 140 species, 26 of which are endemic and make up an ideal
addition to the ornithological trip to Gabon.
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Principe White-eye |
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Maroon Pigeon |
Among the most interesting species, we can mention the São Tomé
Fiscal Shrike , the African Green Ibis, the Principe Drongo, the Sao
Tomé Oriole, the Giant Sunbird, the Principe White-eye , the
Sao Tomé Weaver, the São Tomé Scops Owl and the
Marron Pigeon.
All the drawings of birds on this page and in the website have been
given and authorised by Patrice Christy and William Clarke, the kind
authors of the
Bird
Guide for Lopé Reserve and the Bird Guide for São-Tomé
and Principé
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According to estimations, the number of species of orchids in Gabon
is around 320. This figure is always changing since many places have
been little studied, or have not at all been studied yet. We find orchids
in every region of Gabon, on the coast, in the high hills, on the savannahs
and in the forests. The open land species that are common on the savannahs,
along the marshes or roads are: Eulophia, Platycoryne, Habenaria, Brachycorythis
pleistophylla, and in the underbrush of the forests you have Phaius
manii, for example.
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Cyrtorchis chailluana |
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Ansellia africana |
The epiphyte species are nevertheless the most numerous. We can easily
find Plectrelminthus caudatus, Cyrtorchis chailluana and Calyptrochilum
emarginatum which can produce stems that look like vines growing over
5 meters in length, Angraecum eichlerianum, Listrostachys pertusa, and
numerous species like Polystachya and Bulbophyllum, several Diaphanante,
Vanilla and Tridactyle and many others including the very beautiful Ansellia
africana.
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In São Tomé the orchids are better known, since they were
described in a recent publication: the
Guide for Orchids in São Tomé and Principé
by Tariq Stevart and Faustino de Oliveira. Here we find around 130 species
with about 23% endemic species, including in particular: Habenaria thomana,
Manniella gustavi, Angraecum doratophyllum, Bulbophyllum lizae, Chamaengis
thomensis, Cribbia thomensis, Cyrtorchis arcuata, Liparis rosseelii,
Polystachya parviflora, Polystachya biteaui and Dinklageella sp. |
Bulbophyllum imbricatum |
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Plectrelminthus caudatus
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In Gabon as in São Tomé, the blossoming period
takes place throughout the year, although from March to May,
and especially from September to December are the most interesting
periods. The variation in orchid species of these two countries
easily justifies a combined trip to both countries. We are
readily available for all the orchideophiles to arrange a
tour adapted to your time availability and your preferred
season.
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Fishing for fun is not ecotourism, nevertheless, it can be integrated
into ecotourism if it is done with respect for nature. In Iguéla
in the National Loango Park, the Ye Tsanou Lodge applies strict
catch and release rules and chooses fishing spots for the presence
of fish and also for the natural context around fishing. Few
places in the world allow one to fish tarpons, carangas, captains
and barracudas with herds of elephants or red buffaloes in the
background, along virgin beaches and lush green forests.
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Green Pigeon |
A Few
Rules of Good Ecotourist Behaviour
Relations with nature:
-Don’t leave any garbage or waste on the ground;
-In places where the ecosystem is particularly fragile, follow the paths
and itineraries in order to avoid walking in sensitive areas;
-Don’t try to get too close to animals: a stressed animal can
become dangerous, and its behaviour is much more interesting in its
natural environment;
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-Even harmless diseases can be dangerous for certain species, especially
the primates, so take every precaution to avoid contaminating them;
-Don’t take plants or animals away from
their natural environment, especially in the protected areas;
-Strictly follow the instructions of the guides or path-followers, and
learn to walk in silence.
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Relations with the local people:
-Respect local customs and habits;
-Avoid casual or scornful behaviour, or shocking clothing;
-Banish sexual tourism;
-Don’t photograph someone without having his prior consent.
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