GABON Ivindo National Park Lopé National Park Lopé Boué Omboue Loango National Park Port Gentil AT L A N T I C OCEAN Libreville 32 F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Central Africa Elephant

Africa / Central Africa Recalling the days of the great adventurers and explorers Gabon is a very different and unique destination for serious natural history lovers looking for something new and a little out of the ordinary. Gabon takes you into the legendary rainforests of central Africa. This peaceful and prosperous country has some extraordinary landscapes (rainforest, mighty rivers, coastal lagoons, beaches and savannah) which contain a magnificent array of mammals, birds and reptiles. The major highlight is the Western Lowland Gorilla population but there are also significant populations of chimpanzees and other primates, Forest Buffalo, Congo Sitatunga, Hippopotamus, Leopard and numerous smaller species. Gabon should also be on the list for bird enthusiasts as there are over 680 recorded species with new discoveries still being made. Offshore, the coast is a major breeding ground for Humpback Whales and the empty beaches are world-renowned nesting sites for turtles. Highlights July • The start of whale-watching season off the coast of Gabon (until mid October). • Big game congregates in the Akaka wetlands area of Loango National Park from now until September. • July and August are the best times for viewing ‘super groups' of Mandrills in Lope National Park. Other than the large groupings of Gelada Baboons in Ethiopia, this is the largest known grouping of primates anywhere in the world. September • Big game on the beaches and savannah around Tassi in Loango National Park is seen from now until July. October • The best time for viewing large mammals on the beaches of Gabon is from now until May. November • Leatherback Turtles come ashore to nest on Gabon's beaches until the end of March. Other sightings at this time of year include Olive Ridley, Green, and Hawksbill Turtles. Climate Gabon has a tropical climate with high humidity year round. There are two dry seasons: December to January and May to September, but rainfall in the other months follows a tropical pattern of downpours followed by sunshine. Most wildlife can be viewed year round and the wetter months are in fact better for some wildlife-viewing such as animals on the beach and the savannah. S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com 33 Ogooue River, Lope Humpback Whale