Tanad

Bat break

Let’s take a short break from the narration of our adventure inside Gabon and talk about bats today. It’s been a long time since we wanted to do so, as our closest neighbours in Libreville are bats, fruit bats to be precise. The very species that is widely talked about in these Covid-19 days. TheContinue reading “Bat break”

Update

Hello everyone, Some of you reached out to us to see how we are doing here in Gabon in these virus times. Thanks! So that is just a quick note to say we’re all right. Schools and borders closed 3 weeks ago, and since last week there is a night curfew from 19:30 to 6:30.Continue reading “Update”

Along the Ogooué river

This is day 2 of our family expedition. It’s early morning, and we leave the Albert Schweitzer hospital after a peaceful night. The 7 of us hop on a small motor boat and get introduced to the captain, Jean-Rémy. We are going to navigate on the mythical Ogooué river until Omboué, some 120 nautical milesContinue reading “Along the Ogooué river”

L’hôpital Albert Schweitzer de Lambaréné

We reach Lambaréné in our little bus by the end of the afternoon. Tonight we are visiting and staying in the most famous place in the region: the old Albert Schweitzer hospital, the first of its kind on the African continent. Albert Schweitzer was a theologian, virtuoso pianist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and most famously aContinue reading “L’hôpital Albert Schweitzer de Lambaréné”

En route to Lambaréné

The winter holidays were busy with very special family guests visiting from France. We took together a one-week adventure inside Gabon for the first time, with a guide all along. Many many things happened during this unforgettable trip, and it will take a few blog posts to tell about it. Our first day was dedicatedContinue reading “En route to Lambaréné”

Sunday

Last Sunday we took a walk with connoisseurs friends of the area around Cap Santa Clara and the arboretum, some 15 km North of Libreville. We get to the starting point through a very mean dirt and mud road. Then we walk 2 hours through the forest, until we reach a really beautiful – thoughContinue reading “Sunday”

Chez Madame Léonie

On a hot Friday morning, I am off with my friends from the Bienvenue à Libreville group to visit Madame Léonie’s plantation, some 50 km away from Libreville. And so we hop in a brand new and shiny Toyota Hiace minivan – 14 of us inside. It’s my first time on the notorious Route NationaleContinue reading “Chez Madame Léonie”

Tenue correcte exigée / Gabonese dress code

Je me rends à la Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale. Le personnel de la réception m’indique que je dois monter au bureau 502. Me voici donc face à l’agent de sécurité, devant l’ascenseur : “Bonjour Monsieur, je vais au bureau 502. – Monsieur, vous ne pouvez pas passer. – Et pourquoi ? – Parce queContinue reading “Tenue correcte exigée / Gabonese dress code”

Libreville through the pane

Hanging around Libreville as a pedestrian or taxi rider with a camera is not the smartest thing to do. Last week I was out on an excursion outside of the city in a small van, so I took this opportunity to bring my camera and steal a few shots of the outskirts from inside theContinue reading “Libreville through the pane”

Let it snow

A couple of weeks ago, I had to laugh out loud by myself when I entered my favourite supermarket, in shorts, a T-shirt and all sweaty as usual: I was greeted by a Christmas tree, its garlands and artificial snow flakes. Since then, the Christmas fever has taken over the main city shops and restaurants,Continue reading “Let it snow”