Fun things to do in Gabon

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well, at the base camp I used to shave, to have a "clean" look and to feel well; in the forest I could not enjoy the use of a mirror and I did not shave. . . . , but I had to wash every day and even during the day (picture2). Walking in the water for hours makes yor feet sensitive to mycoses and even cuts from the stones, so do not forget to wash! haha

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Religion in Lambarene
Christian and Muslims appear to live in peace in this part of Africa. Well, these religions are a bit mixed up with animism, but the protestant Church of Lambarene seems very strict for an African one; The mosquee looks poor and it would not surprise me if this is an old church transformrd into a mosquee. Anyway, on the streets unlike in more northerly African counties, you do not see any difference between Muslims and Christians.

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It is midnight Dr Schweitzer. . . title of a movie and a book. Midnight of August the 4th 1914, beginning of WWI.
Dr Schweitzer a German citizen at the time had established a hospital in Lambarene in the beginning 1900's. As a german citizen he was put in prison by the french military at the first minute of the war. . . . He was also a protestant missionary and introduced modern medicine in this part of Africa.Today (in the 80's) this hospital is very active in general medicine and has experts for tropical diseases and parasitoses. I do not know if it still has a missionary activity. It is even possible to sleep there in a separate building.
The picture shows families visiting their relatives at the hospital, bringing food as is usual in many parts of africa.

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Usually, in the forest you do not have a chance to have broad views over the landscape. on the top of the hills you may see further, specially if many trees have been cut by the foresters (plunderers in many cases). The trees here separated from their direct environment show their majestuous shapes.

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The base camp was located near the Noya river , a tributary or the Mitemboni river delineating the border between Gabon and eaquatorial Guinea. The tides are still perceptibles in this area and big fishes from the estuary come there. On good days you may make godd catches.
technique: a fishing cane, a good rappala, and let it go fro the slowly moving rubber boat. Within one hour you have a few kg of fish and the people in the nearby village enjoy your gifts.

This is one of the easiest parks to get to as you can take the train. Once there you may see elephants, monkees and gorillas. however, in the half day safaris you don't actually get to see much of the park (about 5%) so you need more than a weekend to get deeper into the park to really see anything.

An interesting part is a walk in the jungle with the guides, who will pouint out various plants such as the sharp leaved onre used for cutting the umbilical cord at birth and the one used to cotrol a child who urinates too frequently!