The Gabonese anti-poaching environment is so different from what we are used to here in southern Africa. Working in thick jungle with wide fast flowing rivers is challenging indeed.
Add to this the constant high humidity, thousands of mosquito’s, tangled vegetation and forest elephants that repeatedly stalk you down to charge you at close range and your energy levels are soon sapped dry. The other big difference is that patrols last 21 days and poaching gangs are very well armed and move in groups of 40 – 50 strong, coming across into Gabon from Cameroon. Definitely one of life’s experiences and I am looking forward to getting back there later in the year to support an integrated training program for the Gabonese rangers.
