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Langoue
To a remote Gabon Wilderness

Together with my wife Clarissa Augustinus, in 2003 I made an interesting expedition to Langoue in the North East of Gabon. This was a pristine rainforest region, and entailed a train ride to the Invidio siding where I was met by Langoue's manager. He took us by vehicle along a rough forest track to a road head at the foot of an escarpment. We walked from there and several hours later arrived at the tiny, very makeshift research camp near Langoue Bai. We were there for several weeks and I was able to get plenty of material for paintings of the regions wildlife. This was my most successful rainforest expedition when it came to seeing abundant wildlife. However it was not a raw wilderness experience like our Ndoki adventures in Congo!

1/15 : The rough forest track leading towards Langoue.
An image of a rainforest track looking forward from a vehicle's cab. Heavy vegetation presses in on both sides.
2/15 : The road head. Here we shouldered our equipment a walked the rest of the way.
An image of  Paul Augustinus and 2 staff from Langoue preparing to set off on the long walk to Langoue.
3/15 : A rest break on the long walk in.
An image of Paul Augustinus talking with some porters while seated on the ground in the rainforest.
4/15 : Several hours later we arrived at the base camp.
An image of Paul Augustinus hiking over some rocky ground in a clearing in the rainforest. On the far side of the clearing is the base camp.
5/15 : Base camp. No amenities at all.
An image of  Paul and Clarissa Augustinus having a rough meal while seated on the rocks just outside the mess tent.
6/15 : The walk from the base camp to Langoue Bai.
An image of Paul Augustinus on a path leading through some dense rainforest
7/15 : At the Bai.
An image of  the artist, Paul Augustinus making a sketch on a platform overlooking a wide clearing in the rainforest
8/15 : Filming the expedition was Clarissa's job.
An image of  Clarissa Augustinus filming a scene on a sheltered platform with a tripod and a video camera
9/15 : The clearing was a good place to see elephant and gorilla together.
An image of a gorilla and a forest elephant interacting in the clearing.
10/15 : A forest sitatunga.
An image of a small red antelope with striped flanks looking up at the platform from below.
11/15 : Away from the clearing sightings became more difficult
An image of a red buffalo in the rainforest gloom. Just a small fragment of its hide is visible through the vegetation.
12/15 : A fleeting glimpse of a gorilla in the trees above.
An image of a gorilla perched high in a tree, barely seen through the intervening leaves and shrubbery.
13/15 : A fleeting glimpse of a tiny duiker.
An image of a barely visible duiker in the dappled light of the rainforest floor.
14/15 : Langoue Bai! Spectacular wildlife gatherings.
An image of  forest buffalo, elephant, sitatunga and gorilla together at the bai clearing on a sunlit morning.
15/15 : After a long day at the bai - a meal back at camp.
An image of Paul and Clarissa Augustinus having a meal outside of the store tent at the camp. Again they are sitting on the rocks.

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