National parks rich in wildlife
With nearly 150 mammals listed, Gabon will delight nature lovers. The emblematic animal of the country, the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), smaller than its savannah cousin, is widely distributed throughout the country and can be found in different habitats such as forests, savannahs and swamps. From Minkébé Park, where the highest concentration of pachyderms in the country can be found, to La Lopé, through Loango and Moukalaba Doudou parks, it is estimated that Gabon is home to more than 50,000 specimens, or about 60% of its total population. The country is therefore the last refuge of this species which has been suffering from poaching in recent years.
Another representative animal is the lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), one of the three species existing in the world, all in Central Africa. They are widely distributed in the country, except for the vast savannahs of Haut-Ogooué and near urban areas. However, they are more numerous in the national parks of La Lopé, Ivindo and Moukalaba Doudou. In semi-liberty, on the island of Petit Evengué (Fernan Vaz), some individuals are being reintegrated into the wild. In the Plateaux Batéké National Park, the Gorilla Protection Project is conducting an identical, but larger-scale experiment, although it is not open to visitors. Despite their large numbers, they are not easily observed. Although this species is protected, its forest habitat and its fear of humans, caused by hunting and other enemies, make it very shy. Apart from occasional and furtive encounters, the chances are greater on the Mikongo side (Lopé National Park) where the area has been protected for a long time, but remain very hypothetical. On the other hand, in the bai (clearing) of Langoué (Ivindo National Park) and during the good season, the presence of either solitary or groups is very frequent and observation is facilitated by the open space where the gorillas come to feed on herbaceous plants rich in mineral salts
The forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) is also very present in Gabon. Red in colour, it has, like the forest elephant, a shape typically adapted to the forests of the Congo basin. Feeding on grasses, especially grasses, it can be found in savannahs, swamps or forest clearings, especially in La Lopé and Loango. Throughout the stay, depending on where you are, you can observe other herbivores of the bovid family such as the bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), the largest forest antelope in Africa, in the Mwagné National Park, grimm's duiker or Ntsa (Sylvicapra grimmia) on the Batékés plateaux and the sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei), an antelope adapted to wetlands, on the banks of the Akaka River or in the Langoué bay.
On the primate side, the observation will be just as remarkable. First of all, let us mention the sun-tailed cercopithecus, a species endemic to Gabon, discovered only in 1984. Endowed with an orange-red tail at the end, it lives in groups of about 15 individuals, led by a large adult male. It can be found in the Bee Forest and in the south of the Lopé Forest, but the chances of seeing it are rare because of its ability to hide. Also seen in the Lopé Park, the mandrill, a species endemic to Central Africa, is a medium-sized tree monkey with a spectacular appearance, especially for the intense red and blue colours it displays. A study and radio-tracking program makes it easy to spot and follow them. You can also watch for one of the two species of colobus, monkeys with a long tail and a heavy belly, in the parks of Lopé, Minkébé, Ivindo and Mwagné. Chimpanzees are present in almost all the national parks of the country, in variable proposals.
As for the felines, you can try to find the golden cat, endemic to the rainforest of the west coast of Africa, and the African panther. The latter is found in the parks of Lopé, Loango, Ivindo, Minkébé and Moukalaba-Doudou. Smaller populations of panthers live in the parks of the Monts de Cristal, Pongara, Batéké Plateau, Waka and the Birougou Mountains. Active mostly at night, they are difficult to observe and you need a lot of luck to see them, at nightfall or early in the morning. Finally, let's not forget the bushpig, an omnivore with a debonair appearance and a picturesque face. It is present on a large part of the territory and in the majority of the national parks. Although little known as an ornithological destination, Gabon has no less than 600 species of birds. Let us quote among others the crowned eagle, the grey pelican, the African spoonbill, the palm vulture.A unique aquatic fauna
Between the ocean, rivers and streams, the aquatic fauna is just as rich and diverse as the terrestrial fauna. Aware of this remarkable biodiversity, in 2017 Gabon created the largest network of marine protected reserves in Africa, extending over 53,000 km² in the Atlantic Ocean. This last marine sanctuary in the world is home to a plethora of endangered species, including the largest nesting population of leatherback turtles in the world. Numerous nesting sites follow one another from Libreville to the Congo border, with a higher number in Mayumba National Park. During the season, from the beginning of November to the end of March, thousands of turtles arrive on the beaches to lay their eggs, offering a fabulous spectacle to anyone who observes them discreetly. There are also four other species of marine turtles in Gabon: the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the olive ridley turtle and the loggerhead. Apart from the leatherback turtle, the largest of its kind, they are all particularly threatened by a series of dangers ranging from industrial fishing to oil pollution, but also by the habits of coastal populations. The best way to participate in their protection is to refuse to buy turtle shells, meat and eggs and, of course, not to throw rubbish into the sea, especially plastic.
During the dry season, thousands of orcas, dolphins and especially humpback whales migrate south from Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe. Corisco Bay, Cape Lopez, Loango and Mayumba National Parks are the most frequented sites by these cetaceans. In the waters of the Atlantic, one can also find a myriad of fish including the famous tarpon prized by fishermen, the captain and the barracuda. The rivers are equally rich in fish, with red carp, tilapia and catfish among other species. It is also possible to meet hippos in the regions of Lambaréné, Minkébé and Ivindo, but also in the national parks of Moukalaba-Doudou and Loango. Moreover, in the latter, surprising phenomenon, hippos bathe in the ocean! Finally, the luckiest ones will be able to see manatees, these large mammals with cylindrical bodies, in the lakes, lagoons and river mouths.A luxuriant flora
Covering more than 80% of its territory by tropical forests, Gabon abounds in an incredible number of tree and flower species, which are still being inventoried today. From primary forests to coastal forests, mangroves and savannahs, the many habitats that make up its environment offer one of the most diverse floras in the entire African rainforest, with more than 8,000 plant species, about 20% of which are endemic to the country. In terms of number of plant species, the Crystal Mountains are undoubtedly the richest area in Gabon and perhaps even one of the most diverse in all of tropical Africa. Moreover, in 2015, a new plant of a new genus was discovered there to the great satisfaction of scientists. This flowering plant from the Annonaceae family, named Sirdavidia solannona after Sir David Attenborough, English naturalist and BBC presenter, has since been classified as an endangered species. In addition to plant life, Gabon's dense forests contain around 800 species of trees, some of which are highly prized for the quality of their tropical wood or their medical properties. This is the case of okoumé, a large tree of light red colour, sometimes reddish brown, which can reach up to 50 metres in height. It is popular for making plywood, furniture, mouldings and panelling. The other famous species of Gabon is the kevazingo, also called bubinga by the Europeans. It is a red, black or brown wood, rare and therefore much more expensive than okoumé. It is prized by Asians for its visible veins and is used to make designer furniture. Another example is the olon, a fairly large tree that belongs to the Rutaceae family. Its trunk is covered with thorns and its soft, light and yellow wood is used for the construction of pirogues, tom-toms and beehives. As for the niove, a slender and straight tree, it is also widely represented in the Gabonese forest. Its fruits, ovoid with two valves, release a single seed wrapped in a red flesh consumed by birds, primates, rats and porcupines. Its wood is used to make paddles and the sap is a healing agent. Finally, the onzabili, a large tree also found throughout Gabon, is distinguished by its scaly trunk and its sweet, yellow, flattened, acidic but edible fruits. The powder of its bark is used against liver diseases.
