I've soon returned from an adventurous tour to Gabon, along with seven Naturetrek clients. There were many highlights throughout; top of the list for me were watching for over an hour, a 15-strong family of Western Lowland Gorillas at Loango National Park. Other amazing bits were finding a troop of Mandrill, watching a sand-digging African River Martin, getting within mere metres from a Vermiculated Fishing Owl, plus a whole suite of primates.
The tour visited Lope National Park, the various waterways around Lambarene and finished at the wildlife haven that is Loango. It was however not without its issues, as ground transportation in these regions are hardly up to date or reliable, but there were very few hiccups, as long as journey times and bumps aren't included.
Other good birds were Pel's Fishing Owl, a beautiful mixed flock of Cassin's and Sabine's Spinetails, a Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, lots of Damara Terns, two African Cuckoo Hawks, an African Dwarf Kingfisher, stacks of Rosy Bee-eaters, Carmelite Sunbirds, a few Loango Weavers, amongst others. Only 22 new birds for me though, not helped by not visiting the eastern regions and having visited Angola recently.
Visiting the national parks in the eastern part of the country would be up there if I was to ever make it back to Gabon, so looks like a tour to the DR Congo is next... not really!
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| Western Lowland Gorillas |
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| African River Martin - approximately 20 seen |
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| Grey Pratincole |
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| Hartlaub's Duck |
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| Red-chested Cuckoo |
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| Square-tailed Nightjar |
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| Crowned Guenon |
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| Grey-cheeked Mangabey |
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| Mandrill |
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| Putty-nosed Monkey |
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| African Grey Parrots |
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| Black-bellied Seedcracker |
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| Forest Elephant |
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| Long-snouted Crocodile |
