For two decades, a group of wild African elephants has been watched over, studied and protected by their own guardian angel: an extraordinary American scientist named Andrea Turkalo. Turkalo’s own story is pretty amazing, but not nearly as compelling as the insights into elephant behavior her research has revealed, especially when it comes to “the secret language of elephants.” 60 Minutes’ Bob Simon Reports On Research To Create An Elephant “Dictionary” The Sangha River flows through the Congo Basin along […]

Gabon’s new president Ali Ben Bongo has named his first government. Mr. Bongo is promising change after more than 40 years under his father, Omar Bongo.

The operators of SCD Aviation SA, the tourism industry’s main private inter-parks airline, are looking toward the new Gabonese government in the hope of restarting negotiations to resolve the ongoing dispute. Press release in Word – English version Communiqué de press – version française The operators of SCD Aviation SA, the tourism industry’s main private inter-parks airline, are looking toward the new Gabonese government in the hope of restarting negotiations to resolve the ongoing dispute. Prior to the elections, all […]

DAKAR, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Ali Ben Bongo, son of Gabon’s long-time ruler Omar Bongo, won an election to succeed his late father with 41.73 percent of the vote, according to results announced by the interior minister on Thursday. The announcement came after days of mounting tension after Sunday’s election, with two other rival candidates also staking their claim to victory and accusing Ben Bongo of electoral fraud to ensure a dynastic succession from his father. Here are some possible […]

LIBREVILLE, Gabon The Bongo family extended its 41-year reign over this resource-rich country on Thursday as the son of Africas longest-serving ruler was declared the winner of a disputed presidential election. Scattered protests and violence broke out across this nation of about 1.3 million, an important oil exporter with close ties to France, its former colonial ruler. Backers of two losing candidates set fire to the French Consulate in Gabon’s second-largest city, Port-Gentil, put cars and tires to the torch […]

Africa’s Eden is forced to suspend its operations in Loango Lodge for international tourists until at least September 20th, 2009 following dispute between Gabonese government and regional aviation company SCD Aviation Word version press release – English Version Word communiqué de presse – Français Gabon, August 2009 – In 2002, late President Omar Bongo Ondimba put Gabon firmly on the map as an important future eco-tourism destination by nominating more than 11% of the nation’s territory as National Park to […]

Opposition candidates in Gabon’s presidential ballot have banded together to push for a postponement of the vote due to problems with electoral lists, officials said Wednesday. The Opposition Speaks out Jules Aristide Bourdes Ougouliguende and 10 other candidates plan to ask the Gabonese courts to postpone the vote, Bourdes’ comments followed a meeting between the candidates along with officials from the government and the presidency. These 11 candidates are considered the heavyweight opposition candidates in the election which follows the death […]

Six young gorillas, rescued from the illegal bush meat trade, have begun new independent lives on a lagoon island just outside Loango National Park in Gabon.   First Ever footage First steps into the wild Staff at the Société de Conservation et Développement (SCD) are celebrating after announcing the successful transfer of the six juvenile western lowland gorillas (a species deemed critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List (IUCN)) onto the safe island in the […]

Five Gabonese opposition parties have nominated Pierre Mamboundou to run for president in this month’s elections to succeed the late Omar Bongo Ondimba.   The opposition’s choice Mamboundou, leader of the Union of Gabonese People, came second to Bongo in elections in 2005. Bongo’s son, Defense Minister Ali Bongo Ondimba, is running as the candidate of the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party. “You have asked for a single candidate for the opposition…I offer you hope, I offer you a new way […]

Join Jean Du plessis as he Journeys through Africa exploring conservation issues that are plaguing the continent today and the efforts of individuals, organisations and governments in tackling the conservation challenges of Africas Wildlife Ultimate Africa Ultimate Africa is a documentary series hosted by South African safari explorer, Jean du Plessis. The show, which consists of nine episodes, takes viewers on a journey through Africa, exploring how anti-poaching efforts, as a part of conservation strategies, are helping to preserve the […]

Gabon which is currently ruled by interim president Rose Francine Rongombe, will see at least 23 candidates run for its official presidential elections in August following the death of former president Omar Bongo Ondimba   Candidates made public Included in the list of 23 candidates is the name of Ali Ben Bongo, son of the late president of Gabon. Ali was chosen to represent the nations leading party, the Gabonese Democratic Party, earlier this month. Mr Bongo, who will maintain […]

Both airline companies have agreed to launch joint-flights to the African continent in a bid to expand their flight network on the continent.   New flight possibilities Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa will increasingly offer long-haul flights with Lufthansa passengers benefiting form a wider choice of destinations. The long-haul flights will include the Brussels airline route from Brussels to Entebbe, Uganda as well as the new Lufthansa connection from Frankfurt to Libreville, Gabon.
 
Lufthansa passengers will thus be allowed to fly to […]

The countrys National Autonomous Electoral Commission has come up with a timetable for elections which it proposed to the Government late last week.   Election date set The election date has been scheduled for Sunday, August 30 2009. The date has been approved by the country’s Council of Ministers. Several political parties have already announced various candidates who will be representing them. The son of late president Omar Bongo Ondimba has been nominated to represent the Gabonese national party as […]

The elections to determine the Gabon’s next president must be held by 6 September at the latest, the West African nations constitutional court declared.   Countdown to elections A poll originally due to be held within 45 days of the appointment of an interim president on 10 June, was turned down by all main political parties in the oil-exporting state who argued that organizing an election in such a small timeframe would have presented great difficulties in organizing ballots for […]

Gabon’s government has submitted plans for a timetable ahead of presidential elections to the political parties in the country, officials said Thursday.   Delayed Elections Gabon’s Interior Ministry has drawn up a plan to revise the electoral rolls in the country between July 4 and July 14, with a further period for corrections to be made before the lists are put to the National Electoral Commission, on July 28. Interior Minister Jean-François Ndongou met politicians Wednesday to discuss this timetable with them. […]

The Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development party, has expressed doubts that the vote could be held on time.   Possible Election Delay Zacharie Myboto, leader of the Union for Democracy and Development party believes that the elections could face a delay of as much as 6 months. According to the constitution, interim president Rose Rogombe, who took up office on June 10, has a maximum of 45 days after becoming acting head of state in which to organize elections. […]

Air Portugal announces that it has added nine new flight destinations to various African countries   New routes The additional nine flights added by the Portuguese national carrier will target destinations of Luanda-Angola, Dakar-Senegal, Praia-Cape Verde and São Tomé over the summer. Three additional flights will be available per week to Luanda, Angola, in an effort to boost flight traffic between portugal and the African continent. Between Portugal’s capital Lisbon and Praia in Cape Verde, the airline will also be […]

The members of Gabon’s transition government have been appointed by interim president Rose Rogombe Gabon prepares for elections Gabon’s interim president, Mrs. Rose Francine Rogombé on Friday June 19, made public the names of the members of the transition government to lead Gabon until after the presidential election.According to the Gabonese constitution, presidential elections should be held within 45 days after the swearing-in of an interim president. Former prime minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong, who announced the resignation of the government […]

The airline company is expanding its network of services in west central Africa and is including a new route to the capital of Gabon, Libreville.   New Routes Starting off from the 15th of July 2009, the airline will offer flights five times every week (excluding Fridays and Sundays) from Frankfurt, flying via Accra-Ghana to Libreville. This latest addition would mean that a total of 16 destinations across Africa are now offered to customers. “Our route network is growing steadily, particularly in […]

The late Gabonese president, who passed away on Tuesday June 8 in a private clinic in spain, is set to be interred in Franceville, Ogooue- his region of origin. Final resting place Tuesday, June 16, marked the state funeral that saw scores of foreign dignitaries and heads of states from other African nations paying their respects to the deceased President. Libreville was packed with well-wishers from all over the country expressing grief and sadness over the loss of the one […]

Nikolas Sarkozy along with foreign dignitaries will join the leaders of up to a dozen other African nations to mourn the passing of Gabon’s president, Omar Bongo Ondimba. The French president is slated to fly in to Libreville, Tuesday June 16 in time for the start of funeral proceedings that will lead up to the late president’s burial on Thursday June 18. Sarkozy’s presence at the funeral negates claims that the relationship between the two nations, France and Gabon, had […]

The remains of late president, Omar Bongo, were flown into the capital Libreville yesterday, June 11, 2009   Gabon grieves Present on the arrival of the Spanish air force flight bearing the late president’s body, were thousands of people who had gathered to pay their respects. Among these were the military and administrative branches of the government as well as family members. The late president’s burial is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 and will be characterized by the presence of dignitaries […]

As decreed by the country’s constitution, Gabon’s first ever female president, senate speaker Rose Rogombe, has been sworn in as interim president   Gabon looks to the future Following the death of Gabon’s president, the constitution stipulates the appointment of the senate speaker to the role of president within a timeframe of 45 days within which the deceased president is mourned and elections to determine the next president are organised. This latest development has eliminated fears of a power vacuum […]

Gabon re-opens its borders and airports as situation remains calm in the capital, Libreville Latest developments Following the death of Gabon’s head of state Omar Bongo, Senate Speaker Rose Francine Rogombe has been scheduled to act as president of the country during the transition to power to be determined by upcoming elections. The elections should take place in the next 30 to 45 days as stipulated by the country’s constitution. The Country has also reopened its borders to international travel […]

Below is comment on the death of Gabon’s President Omar Bongo, Africa’s longest serving ruler, in a Spanish clinic on Monday. Hannah Koep, analyst, control risks group “Bongo’s unexpected departure from office leaves a potentially dangerous power vacuum. Given his highly personalized style of rule, the as-yet unresolved succession question could lead to elite infighting and a political crisis. Increased strategic maneuvering in the close circle around Bongo has been apparent for several months. The question is whether the players […]

In an upcoming BBC 1 TV broadcast, a primatologist, writer and camera man, team up and take to the heights of Gabon’s rainforest in a bid to study the little-known Mangabey monkeys. Living with Monkeys-Tales from the Treetops Primatologist Dr Julie Anderson, writer and adventurer Guy Grieve, and cameraman Gavin Thurston have been involved in a 5 week endeavour characterised by living in a tree house up in the thick rainforests of Gabon. In the trees and away from the […]

In his new book, “Gabon decrepitude, je reve pour notre Afrique”, Jimmy Mapango talks about the necessity for an African renaissance and how mismanagement and irresponsibility affects Gabon and Africa as a whole. Writer, poet and activist Thierry jimmy Mapango is a long time activist and member of the international coalition; publish what you pay for. He has been involved directly in a call for greater government transparency in the issuing of contracts to foreign companies who tend to exploit […]

Following her breathtaking paint project as artist-in-residence at the Loango National Park in Gabon, the UK- based portraitist and illustrator has been shortlisted among a group of finalists for the wildlife Artist of the year Award 2009. Artist of the Pristine world The Award, presented by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), rewards artists with the best representation of wildlife as seen in their natural environment. All profit from the subsequent sale of the artist’s work are reinvested to help […]

Africas Eden officially announces the introduction of an all new press room and new and interactive features on its website. The site africas-eden.com will retain its wealth of information and services on exclusive tours in the west central Africa region. New, interactive website Recently, Africa’s Eden launched its new website with an updated look and an expanded and more dynamic description of its tourism, research and conservation activities in west central Africa. “Your website looks REALLY good, perhaps the best […]

Gabon’s first lady Edith Lucie Bongo was buried Sunday 22nd of March in Edou, Congo Final Resting Place Gabon’s first lady Edith Lucie Bongo was interred Sunday 22nd of March, in her home country, the Republic of the Congo. Thousands of mourners attended her burial including her bereaved husband and Gabonese head of state, Omar Bongo as well as the heads of state of the Central African republic, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, democratic republic of Congo and Togo amongst others. The […]

The Voetspore team of 6 involved in last years Cape Town to Kilimanjaro-Kilimanjaro to Cairo expedition is at it again! This year the Team journeyed from Gansbaai-bay of geese; one of the southern tips of south Africa, through the Kalahari desert, the Namibian West, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo up until Gabon. Armed with Nissan 4×4 vehicles*, the team wound its way through one of the continent’s most unforgiving terrains battling anything from Angola’s notorious Ninja gang, to driving […]

Africa’s Eden presents its sincere sympathies to the president of the Gabonese Republic, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba , and to the Gabonese people, on the loss of the First Lady, Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba. Candle in the wind Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba, Gabon’s First lady, passed away last Saturday in Morocco after a protracted illness. The eldest daughter to President Denis Sassou Nguessou of the Republic of Congo and wife of Gabon’s president Omar Bongo, Edith Lucie Bongo died […]

The reality TV show Survivor Gabon took place in the country Gabon for its 2008 Season. Gabon a small west African country located on the Atlantic Coast in the central part of the African continent is known for its record number of natural reserves created to preserve the lush, unexplored forests and the wildlife that resides therein. Sole survivor Survivor Gabon – Earth’s last Eden, was the seventeenth season of the American reality TV show, Survivor. 18 contestants were selected […]

Africa’s Eden, operator of Loango National Park in Gabon, has been named the winner of the British Guild of Travel Writers Best New Overseas Project Award 2008. To achieve this international prize, it had to prove it was of social and economic benefit and had management policies which minimise adverse environmental impacts. Breaking new ground Tourism was almost unknown in Gabon when Loango National Park began as a pilot project by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Africa’s Eden. Its […]

The Geotourism Challenge is one of the key programs of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD). Making a difference The National Geographic Society and Ashoka’s changemakers were the brainchild behind last year’s Geotourism competition that saw the shortlisting of Gabon’s Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in partnership with Africa’s Eden, on a list of 15 finalists.

The Geotourism challenge competition culminated in a victory for: a programme in the Ecuador Amazon region to provide the youth with an academic degree in nature […]