LANGUAGE BAY

The baï de Langoué is located in the heart of the primary rainforest in Gabon's Ivindo National Park. Discovered by Mike Fay in 2000, the baï is a natural clearing in the middle of the forest, frequented by numerous species of mammals and birds. Since 2001, a small team of researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been monitoring forest elephants and lowland gorillas at the bai. Their studies include collecting daily data on movements in the baï and identifying individuals.

The forest is teeming with animals: antelopes, aardvarks, pangolins and monkeys, as well as various rare species of butterflies and birds, including the highly sought-after Picathartesoreas and Hartlaub's duck. Elephant and gorilla visits to the bai are seasonal. Elephants are present 91% of the year, and even more during the rainy season, with a peak from April to June and November to January. Currently, around 1,000 identified individuals visit the baï. The gorillas' peak presence at the baï is from April to July, with around 50 individuals identified. Gorillas are present around 60% of the year. The flora is equally dense, including pandanus and raffia, as well as numerous endemic tree species.

Closed to visitors for several years, the site reopened in 2017, providing nature lovers with the opportunity to enjoy beautiful hikes and unexpected wild encounters.