IVINDO NATIONAL PARKDATE CREATED: 2002
AREA: 3000 km2
HABITAT TYPES: Virgin Forest,
Secondary Forest
PROVINCE: Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Lolo
NEAREST MAJOR TOWNS: Makokou
Booué, Lastoursville
NEAREST TRAIN: Ivindo, Mouyabi
HIGHEST PEAK: Mont Kingué-749 Meters
MAJOR RIVERS: Ivindo (110 km),
Djidji (120 km)
HIGHEST WATERFALL: Djidij Falls (80 meters)
KEY FACTS
VISION
INTACT TROPICAL RAINFOREST
Elephants with huge tusks, easily-observedgorillas, one of Africa's best locations for forestbirding, and wild rivers with Central Africa'sgreatest falls - all create an important touristdestination at Ivindo.
Parts of Ivindo National Park have been isolated from people for so long
that its large mammals are almost unafraid. As a result, groups of Forest
Elephants, Rainforest Gorillas, and Sitatungas are more reliably-observed
here at Langoué Bai than anywhere else in Gabon. The Makokou area
brags the richest forest bird diversity in all Africa creating a magnet
for birders. The wildlife-rich Djidji and Ivindo Rivers, plus the most
spectacular waterfalls in Central Africa, offer important potential for
unique tourism explorations by boat and cross-country trips.
Visitors will experience these places in ways so unique that Ivindo will
become a world-famous travel destination. However, to insure that Ivindo
will stay forever pristine requires novel planning and construction to
maximize the potential for visitors without disturbing its rare
ecosystems (the primary draw of the Park).
LEFT: The Djidji River basin has a unique population of Forest Elephants - here a family group digsfor mineral-rich sediments in the river.
FAR LEFT: An architect envisions parts of the great Kongou Falls being made more accessible withconstruction of delicate stainless steel bridges ressembling Pygmy bridge designs.
PHASE TWO DEVELOPMENT
ivindoNational park
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Djidji FallsMount Kingué
IVINDO VILLAGE
Kongou Falls
Djidji Falls has dramatic high
chutes, elegant in the rich tropical
forest. The Park's three waterfalls
are the biggest and most
spectacular in Central Africa.
IvindoRiver
African Grey Parrots gather in huge
numbers every night on the Ivindo
River near Makokou - the largest
concentrations ever recorded for
Africa's biggest parrot.
The white waters below Mingouli Falls
offer wild rides through tropical forest
to adventure travelers. The 32 km river
above the falls has mutiple large salines
attracting elephants as well as recent
signs of remnant hippo populations,
important to protect from poaching.
Mingouli Falls
Makokou
Fang from the west and Kwele
people are in the area, once
Makina (Make) as well.
Traditional Makokou architecture
in the 1880's employed local
materials, beautifully woven.
Forty-two temporary fishing camps were
located in or near the Park in 2003, occupied
by BaKota people from Loa Loa village north
of the Park . The FIGET foundation is working
to apply valuable local knowledge - about the
upper Ivindo and its rapids - to tourism
development in Ivindo NP.
Rainforest bird diversity is
exceptionally high near Makokou,
with many birders eager to find
scarcely-seen species such as the
fable Picathartes with its bald red
and blue head. Two well-known
caves at Bélinga are important to
protect for Picathartes and for
multi-species bat roosts.
The proposed Rainforest Express
will bring visitors directly to the
Ivindo Train Station, seen at
present in this photo (and in need
of renovation).
The existing landing strip near
Ivindo has a long, safe runway.
Pottery remains from ancient
peoples can be found in the area.
The Institute for Research
in Tropical Ecology (IRET)
station near Makokou has
been recently renovated for
research but may also
be happy to welcome
paying guests.
A Djidji River exploratory team
from Outside Magazine in 2005
looking for “adventure travel” sites
found a wild pristine place, almost
unchanged by time.
Djidji
River
143 IVINDO NATIONAL PARK
Ivindo HighlightsDeep in the center of Gabon's rainforest, Ivindo National Park is one ofthe richest places for biodiversity in Africa, rivaling South America butwith more large vertebrates. The Makokou area in the north, already adestination for international bird tours, has the highest records for aviandiversity in forested Africa. This region has long been a center of researchas well as a magnet for birders seeking primary forest raptors, rare canopyand ground birds, and immense parrot roosts. The proposal here is toconstruct observation structures, adapted to the sites to offer the possibilityof wide views and an increased ability to see forest birds in the treetops.
A new kind of river exploration will form the basis for wilderness“adventure tourism” along the wild Djidji and Ivindo rivers. The threegreat falls with spectacular 60+ meter drops are the highest inEquatorial Africa.
Not discovered until 2000 during Dr. Mike Fay's remarkable“Megatransect,” the elephant-created clearing called Langoué Bai is oneof the wilderness centerpieces of the Park. It is Gabon's most accessibleplace for observing Rainforest Gorillas, Forest Elephants with huge tusks,and other shy forest species. The proper development of Gorilla BasecampLodge with unique viewing towers and canopy treehouses will provide acompelling magnet for global tourism.
The WCS research camp is
built on a small rock cleanup
near the great flat rock clearing.
The Megatransect, a history-making
walk across Central Africa tha
began in 1999, was a dramatic
and well-documented journey that
allowed the Wildlife Conservation
Society’s Dr. Mike Fay (seen here)
and National Geographic’s
Nick Nichols to draw international
attention to Gabon's wild forests.
At Langoué Bai, concentrations
of animals which have never
known people are relatively
unafraid and offer special
opportunities for rainforest
tourism development.
The observation of Rainforest
Gorillas at Langoué Bai will
be the most reliable and
accessible in Gabon.
Lango River
ivindonational park
Djidji River
Langoué BaiA straight stretch of level road close to the escarpment leading to Langoué Bai could provide
a landing strip closer to the park limit; from here visitors will take a solar mini vehicle or walk several
kilometers through the forest to Langoué Lodge.
Large numbers of elephants
and other wildlife have been
seen by rare visitors to the
almost unexplored Djidji
River and its tributaries.
WCS's renowned Director of
Archaeology, Dr. Richard Oslisly, has
discovered ancient signs of people
at Ivindo, including this flint flax from
the Late Stone Age 10,000 BP, found
at the rock clearing near Langoué
Bai.
Kota reliquary art brings
international appreciation
to traditional Bakota art
as well as high prices at
international markets.
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Langoué Bai - Garden of Eden Discovered
Bais are rare grassy clearings in forest often cleared and maintained byelephants attracted to dig in mineral-rich soils. They become a magnet forgorillas and other mammals. A very rare and localized marsh bird, the DjaRiver Warbler, is found at Langoué Bai. New species of butterflies haverecently been discovered in the mature primary forest around the bai andundoubtedly other endemics will be found. The tourist is attracted by theBai's concentrations of Forest Elephants, Rainforest Gorillas, Sitatugas andHartlaub's Ducks. Few other places in Rainforest Africa still have greatconcentrations of huge bull elephants with enormous tusks.
LEFT: Aerial view of the deep forest Langoué Bai, showing animal tracks in the clearing.
ANIMAL PRESENCE AT LANGOUÉ BAIPeak Seasons for Bai Species by Month
Rainforest Gorillas of Langoué
Discovered in 2000 by Dr. Mike Fay during the National GeographicSociety/WCS Megatransect, the Rainforest Gorillas at Langoué Bai[also called Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)] havebeen isolated for so long that they are remarkably unafraid of people.This tameness offered great initial opportunity for researchers and nowfor tourism. These gorillas are quite different from Mountain Gorillas ofRwanda and Uganda. The subspecies here is more frugivorous andlong-limbed for climbing trees, sometimes feeding 30 meters up in thecanopy and ranging widely in search of ripe fruits, making them harderto locate than their more sedentary mountain cousins.
In 2004, there were seven groups of Rainforest Gorillas known toregularly visit the bai. Visits are unpredictable, but tend to happen morefrequently during the dry season (December/January and May/July) andmost often occur in the early morning or late afternoon. It is rare to seemore than 10 gorillas at a time.
Forest Elephants frequent the bai more than gorillas (generally fewer than15 individuals at a time, but exceptionally over 40 congregate). They tendto come to the bai at night and early in the morning. This species isdifferent from the better-known Savanna Elephant of East and SouthAfrica. Gabon’s forest species has smaller, round ears and down-pointingstraight tusks. Langoué is exceptional for high numbers of huge bulls.
A multi-day visitor experience to this “Garden of Eden” might includeseeing gorillas and elephants, as well as sitatungas, buffaloes, and severalmonkey species. Hundreds of bird sightings are possible (430 species areknown in the Ivindo basin). New interpretive guidebooks and trainedguides will be important to enhance visitor experiences.
LEFT: Other bais in Central Africa are visited by gorilla families as they forage in the rich grasses.
Season/Animal Month
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Height of wet season
Height of dry season
Buffalo in bai
Gorillas in bai
Red river hogs in bai
Otters in bai
Crocodiles in bai
Sitatunga in bia
Lophira flush
Picathartes on nest at Langoué camp
Chimpanzees in forest
145 IVINDO NATIONAL PARK
Ivindo’s BiodiversityUnlike the better-known tropics of Latin America where thousands ofsmall birds and insects disperse seeds of major trees, the African forestecosystem is a place with interdependancy between larger mammalsand hornbills dispersing large-fruited plants. At few other places inRainforest Africa is this ancient ecological relationship as evident as atIvindo, where bush hunting has stopped and the animals can becometame enough to be easily observed for tourism.
While large mammals may be an African feature, the bird diversityin Ivindo's undisturbed primary forest is extraordinary. Forests nearMakokou have long been recognized as having the highest numbersof bird species in any one place in forested Africa.
“Ivindo has long been consideredthe epicenter for diversity of
forest birds in Africa.”PATRICE CHRISTY, GABON'S EXPERT ORNITHOLOGIST
Large mammals are not the only tameanimals in Ivindo’s wild areas, even somehuge monitor lizards are unafraid of people,allowing close approach.
Unknown Species? Researchers' camera trapstypically record densities of known animals.This unusual melanistic Ratel was captured onfilm by a camera trap in 2003, tantalizingscientists with possibility of more Ivindomysteries to come.
The first visitors are beginning to explore archaelogists' sites near Langoué Bai where signs ofLate Stone Age encampments are being found.
Only living near rock outcrops where they nest, the Picathartes (Red-headed Rockfowl) is aspecialized African forest bird that has become a magnet for Makokou bird tours.
Populations of Chimpanzees, and the eight monkey species in the Park, will require long habituationperiods to be seen easily by visitors.
This is the most reliable place in Gabon for Rainforest Gorilla sightings. Gorillas are observed at adistance with telescopes in a panorama of an unspoiled ecosystem. At Langoué Bai's observationtowers, gorillas are often seen interacting with sitatunga and elephants.
LEFT: Forest Elephants, young and old, frequently visit forest bais. This is one of many beautifulphotos captured by Michael “Nick” Nichols during the Megatransect.
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Proper Access to Remote PlacesThe major issue for developing in remote Ivindo National Park is how tobring visitors (and staff) to these places without befouling the very thingthat draws tourists here in the first place - pristine nature. Parcs Gabonconstruction standards to install water-free composting toiletsand prevent kitchen and bath discharge from entering natural watersystems are necessary. Innovative ways to bring people deep into theforest without building new roads are necessary as well, such as usingnarrow quiet electric-powered minijeeps. Road-building changes thehabitat and cuts trees but it also increases access for bushmeat hunting,which is so damaging to wildlife and to tourism economics.
Visitors want to visit deep forest camps. If told in advance that roughaccess is part of their wilderness adventure, they will tolerate theremoteness and appreciate their trip for its exclusivity. If they are notforewarned of potential inconveniences and obstacles, however,they will be unhappy.
For many fit tourists the optimal way to visit a wild pristine place is to walk with a guide for thelast few kilometers to their final destination. Their chances of seeing wildlife are greater on footthan in vehicles.
In place of standard-sized vehicles that require road-building, new sturdy mini all-terrain electricvehicles can enable people and supplies to be brought deep into the forest on elephant paths.They are silent and can be recharged with solar panels and generators. Two companies thatmanufacture these electric vehicles are Club Car and John Deere (respective websites are:www.clubcar.com and www.johndeere.com).
Getting into Ivindo National Park, deep in the forest, takes some work. The existing Ivindo landingstrip can easily accommodate medium-sized planes but a new strip needs to be built closer, unlessonly helicopters and mini SUV's are used.
The Ivindo train station is sited to provide service for tourism but the station needs revitalization(as has been proposed at Lopé). Increased service with a regular train schedule is also needed.
Helicopter landings offer practicality and easy access (even if expensive) and don't requireroadbuilding or provide inadvertent access to poachers. Noisy arrivals and departures will be bestappreciated by visitors and resident wildlife if a remote location can be found near the northwestedge of the rock clearing, closer to the research station.
147 IVINDO NATIONAL PARK
tourist development at Ivindo Visitors arrive to the north of Ivindo National Park via the town ofMakokou, or to the south from the logging village of Ivindo. Makokou iseasily accessed by scheduled air flights from the capital, and Ivindo has atrain station (which needs restoration, as at Lopé, to showcase the forestenvironment) as well as a forest landing strip for planes.
The upper Ivindo River is easily navigable by local boat to reach theKongou waterfall, while both the upper and lower Djidji and Mingoulifalls can be reached by rough logging roads (which need improvements).Langoué Bai is more remote, needing road improvements and a landingstrip built on the logging road. The final kilometers to Langoué Baishould not have a major road connection, but instead relyon helicopter and small sturdy electric vehicles no wider than anelephant to keep the forest safe and wild.
PLACES FOR LODGES
Nine concessions are proposed in the Park and buffer zone (somepending discussions with logging concessionaires). Major lodges areplanned for the Kongou and Djidji falls areas with 20 beds each. Smaller,less permanent campsites are planned along the Ivindo and Djidji Riversfor overnight travelers. A private reserve concession of 1000 hectares canbe well situated on the Upper Djidji, in the buffer zone, accessible fromLastourville logging roads. Where possible it is desirable to have the largerpermanent lodges at the edge of parks or just outside in buffer zones. Thisprevents overgrowth of development and staff near lodges in the parks(a problem in US parks) and creates better conditions for staff and benefitsthe local villages. It will benefit IRET (the Institute for Tropical Ecology, anNGO) to accept paying tourists.
Two exclusive lodges are planned near Langoué Bai, each with 16-bedcapacity (maximum 20), and shared access to the bai's skytowersand canopy rooms. It is critical that one site is not overburdened.The second lodge is to be built in phase three in an old village, furthersouth, to handle overflow from the first lodge at Langoué's rock clearing.
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DJIDJI FALLSThis spectacular waterfall is one of thehighest in Gabon. The isolated junglelocation makes it even more magnificent.
WHITEWATER RAFTINGBelow Mingouli Falls, the Ivindo Riveroffers some of the best whitewaterrafting potential in Gabon.
LANGOUÉ BAIThis world famous bai offersincredible widlife viewing. Hotelsin the area should work carefullyto blend into the forest.
IVINDO TOWNThe closest access point to Langoué Baiis the town of Ivindo (on the train linefrom Libreville).
FLOATING TRIPSThe Djidji River is ideal forfloating. Calm waters andabundant wildlife will attractnumerous visitors.
MEGATRANSECTDr. Michael Fay’s famous Megatransectpassed directly through this area,leading to the discovery of Langoué Bai.
PARROT ROOSTThousands of Gray Parrots roost inthe Raffia along the banks of theIvindo River below Makokou.
RIVER ACCESSFishermen traditionally access theIvindo River in the dry season.
RESEARCH CENTERThe IRET research station has beena center of tropical forest researchfor many years. Sited in a prime birdwatching location, it can becomean important tourist destination.
No Go Zone
Mt. Kingue
RHP
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5 kmBuffer Zone
5 kmBuffer Zone
EXISTING CAMPAn existing camp along the IvindoRiver can be accessed by pirouguefrom Makokou.
CLogged Area
Logged Area
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HOTELS AT PARK EDGESeveral small hotels could be builtin the buffer zone for largeconcessions.
Railway Under Development
Equator
HIPPO PROTECTION NEEDEDImmediate protection is needed tosave Ivindo’s small remnant smallpopulation of hippos.
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Travel the Ivindo in style on this proposed Crocodile Canoe, inspired by the ancient war canoes of the King of the Kongo. By boat, it is just three hours from Makokou to Koungou falls.
Explore the river rapids with BaKota fishermenand learn their secrets for navigating the riverand catching giant river catfish.
The Djidji Falls are majestic and spiritual. One feels a connection to nature here.
Much To See and DoFor many tourists, Ivindo National Park will be the gateway to RainforestAfrica. Tourists will be looking for a multi-day experience with a variety ofthings to do and see. Two main audiences are expected. One is retired,well-educated nature tourists who want an opportunity to experience thereal African rainforest, see wildlife, hear stories from local people, buyunique gifts, and travel through “unexplored” wild rivers in relativecomfort and safety. The second group is 30- to 60-year-old specialistslooking for their passion, whether they are birders looking for Congo RiverMartins over the Ivindo and Black Guineafowl on forest trails, oradventure travelers looking for accesible “extreme” sport opportunities ina romantic wild place.
Many nature tourists are older, wanting both“gentle adventure” and relative comfort.
Adventure tourists are younger and ready toexplore nature in new ways.
Search for big mammals by boat or on forest
trails to find animals close-up. This will be
the experience of a lifetime for many visitors.
They want it to be well organized and full of
meaningful activities.
VISION
WCS & cresolus
149 IVINDO NATIONAL PARK
CENTRAL IVINDO LODGEWITH TOURISM RADIATING IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS
A major new lodge (20 beds) would be well sited near the spectacularDjidji Falls, distributing guests to multiple activities in the region. Manyvisitors will want to travel upriver to explore the wild Djidji with itswildlife and romance of timeless unexplored Africa. Some will wantadventurous explorations to the white waters between Kongou andMingouli Falls (where elephants and possibly hippos can be seen) oroutings in the wilder waters outside the Park below Mingouli Falls. Somewill want to follow Mike Fay's overland Megatransect trail northeastthrough the forest. Others will want to explore the Makokou area to findbirds, and watch African Grey Parrot night roosts while having asundowner in a unique floating bird observatory on the Ivindo River.
LEFT: A main lodge overlooking the waterfalls at Djidji will be spectacular in its own right. It can alsofunction as a tourism hub where visitors can radiate out in multiple directions.
VISION
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Comfortable Wilderness Lodge onthe Djidji
A lodge in remote wilderness does not necessitate a spartan,uncomfortable existence. While basic tourism standards include foodand water that is safe to consume, private bathrooms with warm showers,and a cool place to relax out of the sun and rain (not necessarily air-conditioned), a higher degree of comfort includes fresh fruits andvegetables, spacious rooms to spread out luggage and wet clothes,brightly-lit bathrooms, places to read. It also includes highlyknowledgeable staff and the assurance of safety. Days must be wellorganized with all preparations (including transport) ready inadvance and guides must be friendly and well-trained.
ABOVE: Private bedrooms may be the onlyplaces that require air-conditioning, for thosewho choose to use it.
LEFT: Even a simple daily task such as washingfor dinner can become an enjoyable ceremonywith elegant designs.
Elements of local traditional architecture can be recycled using long-lasting modern materials.
LEFT: A comfortable lodge should offer
private places for contemplation. The Djidji
Lodge could offer secluded areas with
panoramic views. High-end lodges in Kenya
(for example, the Saruni Lodge) bring
“creature comforts” to wild rural places.
VISION
WCS & cresolus
151 IVINDO NATIONAL PARK
DJIDJI RIVER EXPLORATIONSBOAT TRIPS ON A WILDERNESS RIVER
Few unpopulated, lightly-hunted forest rivers still exist in Africa. Such rareplaces are extremely valuable for nature tourism. The challenges forproper tourism development here concern preserving the area’s pristinewildness. The solution is to build sensitively on the land - especiallyregarding access, the siting of lodge and campsite, provisioning of thisremote location, and proper training and employment for Gabonese.Visitors will come here from the central Ivindo Lodge and from anotherbuilt in the buffer zone on the upper Djidji River.
The projected major market will be nature tourists wanting smooth easyadventure plus comfortable accommodations along a rainforest river -although a one-night stop in a temporary river camp, anticipated inadvance, will be considered a good special adventure. A secondarymarket for the Djidji will be younger, more adventurous people wantingto paddle their own pirogues and go with sturdy guides on customizedside explorations.
LEFT: An Outside Magazine expedition explored the Djidji in August 2005, scouting out this authenticAfrican wild river’s potential for adventure tourism. The magazine ran an article on the journey in theirJanuary 2007 issue.
RIGHT: Those looking for rugged adventure willwant to explore the Djidji River and Djidji Falls.
CENTER RIGHT: Chameleons and other smallcreatures will be of interest to tourists ona wilderness adventure.
FAR RIGHT: The animals along the Djidji may beas naïve and unfamiliar with people as thosediscovered at Langoué Bai. The Djidji may havethe largest populations of crocodiles in thearea. Djidji waters host populations of ottersand a few Hippopotamuses (in need ofimmediate protection).
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