News

New Destination: Dzanga Sangha Reserve, Central African Republic

The Africa’s Eden team organises with great impetus, unforgettable trips to Gabon and the Islands of São Tomé & Príncipe through the concept “Tourism pays for Conservation”. In close cooperation with conservation organisations, we strive to assure the protection of irreplaceable and valuable nature, while at the same time offering an opportunity for small groups of travellers to exclusively experience the pristine surroundings and fascinating wildlife.

With our mission of ‘conservation tourism’ clear in mind, we are proud to announce that from October 2008 we will start to offer clients the opportunity to discover a new destination: the Dzanga Sangha Reserve in the South of the Central African Republic, one of Central Africa’s best kept secrets.

This breathtaking reserve covers an area of more than 4,000 km2 and is home to large mammals such as Forest Elephants, Forest Buffaloes, large Boars, Gorillas and Forest Antelopes, in densities described as unique. At a clearing in the forest named the Dzanga saline, more than 3,000 elephants have been counted and identified over the last years. Africa’s Eden is making this secret known to the world, giving small groups of visitors the chance to:

• Go gorilla tracking to a habituated group of Western Lowland Gorillas;
• Observe between 30 and 100 timid forest elephant in the wild from a platform at the Dzanga saline clearing;
• Ramble across the rainforest in the company of a group of Mangabeys;
• Get to know the secret culture of the BaAka pygmies on a net hunting outing.

Large mammals require extensive protected areas in order to be conserved. Société de Conservation et Développement (SCD), sister company of Africa’s Eden, will support WWF in their efforts to safeguard these areas.

Details Gorilla Tracking Tour

Tourist Reservations to Langoue Bai suspended

We received an official statement from Langoue Bai in Ivindo National Park, Gabon that the WCS Camp will suspend tourist reservations at Langoue Bai beginning January 2009 till further notice. According to the WCS camp, the reason behind the suspension is that the Gabonese government will be evaluating the WCS activities of the last 7 years of Langoue Bai in Ivindo National Park during the next 6 months. The evaluation process will involve talks on the global reports submitted by WCS on animal monitoring and ecotourism, and based on these reports and talks, the Gabonese government will determine the way forward.

For Africa's Eden, this means that we can no longer handle bookings including Langoue Bai. The procedures are as follows:

Gabon - 1 of 15 finalists National Geographic Geotourism Challenge

Gabon has been shortlisted amongst the 15 finalists of the National Geographic’s 2008 Geotourism Challenge competition, and the winners will be determined by an internet vote.

’’The goal of the Geotourism Challenge is to identify and showcase innovators-individuals and organizations- that support the approach known as geotourism: tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place-its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents’’.

The voting ended on June 11th. On June 17th the winners will be announced!

AFRICA'S EDEN SPONSORS “The Search for Gabon’s Sacred Rainforest Caves” EXPEDITION

In July 2008, a team of scientists and cave explorers will join National Geographic grantee Trevor Frost and the Wildlife Conservation Society on a 6-week exploratory caving expedition to Gabon (West Central Africa). In Gabon, the team will canvas the dense rainforest in search of caves, archaeological discoveries, and new species. This National Geographic expedition will aid Gabon in convincing the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to grant the caves (currently candidates) full World Heritage Status.

Dense tropical rainforest, flooding rivers, thousands of forest elephants, bad roads, and Ebola outbreaks all characterize Gabon but they have also made it one of the most pristine and least explored countries on earth. This expedition will involve visiting three of Gabon’s cave areas where the team will survey, photograph, film, and complete scientific studies in each cave they encounter. The scientific studies will include paleoclimatic reconstructions, archaeological investigations, and biodiversity surveys led by Dr. Lee White of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Dr. Richard Oslisly of the Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment. With help from National Geographic, the photos, video, and writing will be used to produce compelling stories on the adventure that will influence the decision makers at UNESCO as well as the general public in Gabon and abroad. Expedition leader Trevor Frost says “Every day I find out about something new that will make this expedition even harder-like cave dwelling bats that carry an Ebola like virus or that locals consider the caves sacred and one must gain permission before entering-but after the expedition is over, those hurdles will make better stories and the whole trip more rewarding”.

About the Expedition Members:

Trevor Frost (USA): At the age of 22, Trevor Frost has already graduated from college and traveled to 30 countries on 5 continents. He has worked as a field biologist on 3 continents and was recently awarded a prestigious National Geographic Expeditions Council Grant for this expedition. The idea for this expedition is his and in addition to leading the expedition he will also be a photographer.

Dr. Lee White (United Kingdom): Dr. White has worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Gabon for over 20 years. He worked closely with Dr. Mike Fay and together they were the key players in convincing Gabon to establish 13 National Parks that protect 11% of Gabon’s land.

Dr. Richard Oslisly (France): Dr. Oslisly has been exploring caves and working on archaeological investigations in Gabon for over 30 years. He worked closely with Dr. Mike Fay in creating the famous Loango National Park and his work is largely responsible for the caves placement on the UNESCO candidate list for World Heritage Status.

Kevin Downey (USA): Kevin Downey, the expedition photographer, has been caving for over 30 years. His photography from caving expeditions has resulted in more than 300 magazine articles, 12 books, and many specialized publications. He has worked with National Geographic, Toyota, Smithsonian and recently BBC to complete books for their famous Planet Earth Series.

Find out more about The Search for Gabon’s Sacred Rainforest Caves Expedition by visiting
Blogs National Geographic Gabon Caves

Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location

WATCH THE SURVIVOR PREVIEW

May 12, 2008, 02:10 AM | by Dalton Ross

The reality franchise Survivor is gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be setting up shop on the continent’s west coast in the country of Gabon. “I didn’t know where it was,” confesses host Jeff Probst. “I had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we have ever gone.” What does that mean in terms of wildlife? “We don’t know,” Probst says. “No one’s really ever hung out there. We’re going to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will be given instructions that they need to finish it since we’re a little concerned because it’s so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could take care of it. We’re not gonna have that because they’re telling us it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla could wander into camp.”

Survivor: Gabon—Earth’s Last Eden begins filming in late June and will air in September on CBS.

Source: http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/05/jeff-probst-tal.html

Operation Loango becomes Africa's Eden

The eco-tourism company named Africa’s Eden grew from a pilot project named Operation Loango initiated in 2002. That was the year that Gabon’s President Omar Bongo Ondimba put the country firmly on the map as an important future ecotourism destination by nominating more than 11% of the nation's territory as National Park – a new standard in African eco-tourism and conservation.

The aim of Operation Loango was to develop low-impact eco-tourism and conservation in Gabon through the concept of ‘tourism pays for conservation’. The project offered small groups of tourists the opportunity to intimately experience the unique, diverse and intact eco-systems in and around Loango National Park.

In 2007, the pilot project was wrapped up successfully and its activities formalised into three divisions: Africa’s Eden for eco-tourism, Africa’s Connection-SCD Aviation for regional aviation and Société de Conservation et Développement for research, park management and educational activities. The name Operation Loango is now used only for research activities in Loango National park.

Annie Flore Batchiellilys in concert,
January 21, 2008 at 20h30, L'Olympia, Paris

Pinze ngo tole!
Seule je n'y arriverais pas!
I wouldn’t be able to get there on my own!

London was the first in row of major European cities Annie Flore Batchiellilys will be visiting to promote the new album. Her Paris concert on January 21, 2008 was a big success.

She will also be performing at all the Gabonese embassies in Europe. Annie explains:

"The songs on my third album "Je t’invite" ("I invite you") express my gratitude and love for Gabon. In August 2007, I was asked to become Gabon's ambassador for tourism to promote Gabonese tourism and culture internationally and I am very honoured to be taking up this position."

She counts on working closely with diplomatic parties to help raise Gabon's international profile as a significant new tourism destination.

www.myspace.com/annieflorebatchiellilys
Read biography Annie Flore Batchiellilys