Hi Folks

During my researsh, I've got the chance to see some very incredible animal from very close. Most of the time these encounter are totally unexpected, and fortunately I could make some interesting video from that! That said, I was not expecting what was coming ...

http://s97.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/BaboonSpider/Gabon/Animal/Gabon1051.flv&fs=1&os=1&ap=1

Hello Cedric,

which park or area are you doing the research in? Loango? Ivindo? Can you recommend Gabon in general as a travel or wildlife destination?
As Kipper I also thought of going there, but it's not my budget as well ! Someday...

Original von CédrikG
Hi Folks

During my researsh, I've got the chance to see some very incredible animal from very close. Most of the time these encounter are totally unexpected, and fortunately I could make some interesting video from that! That said, I was not expecting what was coming ...

http://s97.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/BaboonSpider/Gabon/Animal/Gabon1051.flv&fs=1&os=1&ap=1

Hi Tobi,

yes, I recommend the Gabon as a destination for the wildlife lover's. My researsh were made in the hearth of the country in the national park of the '' La lopé '', where I had the chance to see many animals in my 6 weeks.

That said of course in that country french is the main language used to speak tourist, in the national parc of the Lopé I dont beleive anybady were speaking english. Like most of the country in Africa they will try to get more money then it is suposed, im fortunate enough to be a french Canadian which seem's to be a very big advantage, as the few english people I met got charged double money then they did to me

It is extremly expensive in the city's, even in the village Lopé it is quite expensive. Gorillas were rare in that area, said to be seen more to the south. Forest Elephant were also rare, I had the chance to see a few because I was'nt in the tourist area, most of the time 2-3 hours of walk away from village in the mountain out of the track. A lot of monkey and forest buffalos are seen in this area to.

I had some problem at the airport with a group that started hitting with feet and hand the taxi I choosed, angry that I did'nt take the black jeep they wanted me to take ... else that, I did'nt have any experience of agression, but of course a lot of begging and people trying to have lot of money for a very small service.

Personally, Gabon is a great destination for tarantula researsh, which is why I focus on this country at the moment ... those who searsh for wild life may be more happy to Congo

[IMG]http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/BaboonSpider/Other/Me/Gabon2120.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/BaboonSpider/Other/Me/Gabon3218.jpg[/IMG]

Cedrik:

Enjoyed your video. You were very lucky to have gotten away from the forest elephants without being killed! It looked like you were mightly close. I wonder, where they haven't been acclimated to people as in other parts of Africa, if the elephants are more or less nervous at seeing humans nearby. Perhaps if they haven't been harrassed, they would be less fearful. Do you have an opinion on it?

Hi,

The animal to Gabon are said to have animal who rarely or never seen human before, which can explain some of their unpredictable behavior.

I dont beleive I harassed this particular elephant, but I dont know elephant behavior very well so maybe I did without thinking. Everything was going fine untill a monkey ''I beleive it was a monkey'' make a noise in front of him, and I think this is what produce this effect. We dont hear it very well on video, but I noticed the noise when I was on the field, and immediatly after it paniqued.

Another day I was searshing for tarantula, and a monkey began yelling at maybe 1 kilometer right front of me. I began to hear branch cracking getting closer and closer, which is very usual in these forest there's lot of monkey and when they move from trees to trees they really make lot of noise. That said for the first time I could hear foot step with the noise, an elephant was running right in my direction, probably scared of the monkey. It got very close, maybe 8 meters before he saw me, and turned 90 degrees and continued even faster. It happen so fast ... in blink of an eye everything's gone!

To answer your question, yes I beleive they are very not used to human contact, and monkeys - buffalo's and especially elephant contact are very unpredictable, most of the time they are extremlly afraid.

Thank you for sharing the film with us.
Now that I have fast internet connection in the sticks where I live - I can enjoy as well.

The 1st photo with the great view makes me miss home a lot.