In general, the days tend to be slow and quiet and mostly spent trying to keep cool.  I have a favorite spot on the beach under a nice tree where I like to nap, read, write in my journal or occasionally watch TV shows and movies on my ipod, while always on the lookout for birds, lizards and other interesting wildlife.  Occasionally, the Ecoguards and I will go for hikes to nearby savannahs in hopes of seeing elephants, buffalos or other wildlife.  Many of the Ecoguards are former hunters and animal trackers so they excellent at following the subtle signals animals leave behind.

The field camp I am stationed at in Mayumba National Park is called Nyafessa, which means 'Mermaid' in one of the local Gabonese languages, and it is magical in every sense of the word.  Nyafessa is one of the more primitive of the field camps in the park, as a permanent field camp is still under construction, so we are without running water or electricity, but it is still incredibly comfortable.  There is a nearby stream where we are able to gather drinking water and shower near where it empties into the ocean.

As I mentioned in a previous post, olive ridleys are not the first sea turtle to be satellite tracked in Gabon.  Collaborators at seaturtle.org, the Marine Turtle Research Group and Wildlife Conservation Society have been tracking leatherback sea turtles for the last several years - and have found that they cross the entire Atlantic Ocean!

Well, it looks like today I am off to Mayumba at long last.  Thankfully, a bush taxi through the entire country won't be necessary, but it will still be a long trip.  

It's Wednesday and I'm still in Libreville, so it seems like a good chance to tell you a little about life here - for me and the Gabonese.