INVINDO NATIONAL PARK.
Ivindo National Park is a national park in east-central Gabon in Central Africa, straddling the border of the Ogooué-Ivindo and Ogooué-Lolo provinces. Its creation was announced in August 2002 by then-President Omar Bongo at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, along with Gabon’s 12 other terrestrial national parks. Most famous for the spectacular Kongou and Mingouli waterfalls of the Ivindo River, known as the “wonders of Ivindo”, the park also includes the Ipassa Makokou Biosphere Reserve and Langoué Bai, one of the 5 most important forest clearings in Central Africa. The park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 for its outstanding biodiversity and relatively intact tropical forest ecosystem
Physical Geography.
Physical features of the park include the Ivindo River, the park is the main tributary to the Ogooué, and Mount Kingué (749 m) and Mount Ngouadi (870 m). Average rainfall is 1672 mm, with peaks in rainfall between September and December, and February and May. Violent thunderstorms occur seasonally, and can sometimes generate localized tornadoes, especially on the Ipassa Plateau; the disturbances caused by this effect may be responsible for the fact that this forest superficially resembles secondary forest. Average temperature is 23.9 °C (measured at Makokou a few kilometres from the northern park border), with seasonal variation of around 3.3 °C.
The park covers 300,000 ha, almost all of which is forested with a mixture of Atlantic coastal forest of Lower Guinea, and semi-deciduous forest typical of the central Congo Basin. The old-growth forests in the south contain a geographically unique population of Caesalpinioideae (peacock flower), which in turn provides habitat for a very wide diversity of butterflies, birds, and mammals. These species include the western lowland gorilla, common chimpanzee, African forest buffalo, red river hog, sitatunga, and African golden cat, as well as one of the last relativity intact populations of forest elephants. Notable bird species include the endangered grey-necked rock fowl and grey parrot while more than 430 bird species have been recorded within the park.
The many streams and waterfalls within the national park have also allowed for the diversification of freshwater species. Many fish species live within the park, 13 of which are threatened. There are at least 7 species of Podostemaceae riverweeds, and each waterfall pool may contain unique aquatic flora. The Didji River also provides critical habitat for the endangered slender-snouted crocodile.
History and Conservation.
Since 2001, before the park’s creation, the WCS has studied and protected the southern region of the park, concentrated at Langoué Bai, with the support of what is now the Gabonese National Parks Agency (ANPN). In 2004 WCS constructed a purpose-built camp 3 km from Langoué Bai, with accommodation and offices for researchers, providing important insights into bai ecology and a protective presence against poachers.
The Institut de Recherche en Écologie Tropicale (IRET), a tropical research institute under the authority of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique et technologique (CENAREST), is found in the north of the park, 12 km from the closest city, Makokou, while Langoué Research Station, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is found in the south a few kilometers from Langoué Bai.
KONGOU FALLS.
Two hours from Kongou Forest Camp on foot is Kongou Falls. Thundering 56 metres down and spanning three kilometres in width, Kongou’s chutes spills over 900 cubic metres per second; making it one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world along with Djidji and Mingouli — the Wonders of Ivindo. And in the midst of all of this eye-catching splendour is the abundance of wildlife that thrives in pristine habitats; forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, forest buffalo, leopard, red river hogs, duikers, civets, leopard and flocks of exotic birds.
To reach Kongou Falls, you will journey in a pirogue [dugout canoe] from the village of Loa Loa, located 17 km south of Makokou. Everywhere around you is a dense rainforest teeming with primates and forest elephant on the river banks; even pods of hippo and Nile River crocodiles, some are so close that you can almost touch.
Another place we’ll visit is Ipassa Makokou Biosphere Reserve, one of Africa’s most vital ecological refuges for Iovino’s wildlife. There are over 2,000 species of flora; 600 species of mammals, reptiles, butterflies, endemic and rare bird species in this corner of the park — even more snapping crocodiles — a sense of place with over 15,000 [ha] of protected jungle.
At the forefront of research is the Ipassa Research Station; the oldest in Gabon now managed by Institute for Research for Tropical Ecology [IRET] which serves as the field base for Duke University’s study on Gabon’s pristine ecosystems. Today, Ipassa is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
ACCOMMODATION TO THIS NATIONAL PARK
Kongou Forest Camp is an authentic ‘nature’ camp which shelters in the shade of rainforest near Kongou Falls — one of two exclusive national park camps located within the northern region of Ivindo. The other camp is Langoué Base Camp, which is located in the southern region of the park.
To plan your trip, it is important to note that Kongou Falls is only accessible from Makoukou Village, which is either a 14-hour drive from Libreville or a five-hour drive from Booué. A minimum four-night stay is required for you to enjoy the sheer scale of the journey before you return to Makoukou and onto Langoué. You will either end the trip in Lope National Park or in Libreville [based on your personal preference].
Kongou Forest Camp comprises traditional wooden buildings with three of the huts serving as guest dormitories and each outfitted with single beds and mosquito netting [maximum six guests at any one time]. And though they do not have electricity or hot water, there is a communal shower and the Ivindo River, which flows directly behind the buildings. At night with the paraffin lamps glowing around you, it is possible to sit by the water and be immersed in the sounds of the river and surrounding forest as monkeys, and red river hogs scamper around you.
Meals are prepared in camp; simple dishes of vegetables, rice and fresh fish cooked over a roaring campfire. Tailored to the more adventurous, Kongou Forest Camp still forms part of the exhilarating rainforest experience. Also keep an eye out for chimpanzee and pangolin.
Kongou Forest Camp is undergoing reconstruction and is scheduled to reopen in July 2020.
For the ultimate jungle escape, we also operate a single, three-tiered platform at Langoué Base Camp — a very steep hike from Langoué Bai, which is one-hour away. With its exclusive views of nature up close, you can enjoy an overnight stay and experience Africa’s Last Living Eden like an intrepid explorer
WHEN TO VISIT THIS NATIONAL PARK
Ivindo National Park covers 3000 km2 [300,000 ha] and straddles the borders of Ogooué-Ivindo and Ogooué-Lolo provinces. Hot and steamy, the peak time to navigate Kongou Falls is from November to April.
The park’s average rainfall is 1672 mm, with the rainy seasons between September and December, and February and May. As access to Kongou Camp is by foot, you may want to visit during the short dry season. Activities are year-round, however, including your visit to Langoué Bai, where from our camp’s viewing platform, you will observe western lowland gorillas, herds of elephants and other mammals foraging on saline-rich marshlands.
LANGOUE BAI
Ivindo’s equatorial rainforest is home to over 600 mammals and over 2,000 plant species. Undisturbed since time, herds of forest elephants, mandrills, sitatunga [antelope], colorful butterflies, over 400 bird species and the largest concentration of western lowland gorillas on the African continent live in the park’s wild, lush interior.
The saline marshes at Langoué Baï offers a rare glimpse into Africa’s last living Eden. Prized by Ivindo’s abundance of wildlife, the ancient forest clearing was only discovered in 2000 by the biologist, Dr Michael Fay on his now-famous Megatransect expedition. Enscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, it is also the fifth largest on the African Continent. Carved by Gabon’s forest elephants over the centuries and spanning one kilometre in length; 300 metres wide, the baï also serves as the base for WSC Gabon’s Forest Program which protects and monitors populations of gorillas and elephants. Here you will see how scientists collect their field data through acoustic monitoring and by motion sensor.
Overnighting just within an hour of the baï is also a rare treat. From our three-tiered camp platform you will observe the nocturnal creatures in numbers not found anywhere else.
Further off the grid is another forest trail to the Ivindo River where canopy is pitted against canopy. In the treetops you will see monkeys scamper across an entanglement of branches as flocks of African grey parrots take off in feathery flight. And beneath the shafts of sunlight you may come across playful chimpanzees, foraging buffaloes, elephants and even gorillas in lush hideaways; secluded places where Gabon’s wild cats also quietly prowl.