To know more about Wildlife viewing : The animals in the Central African rain forest are much more frugivorous (fruit-eating) than those of the East African plains which are mainly browsers or grazers. Knowledge of the plants and their fruiting periods is important because animal movements are determined by fruit production. From October to December fruit is abundant in the forest. The dry season which lasts from July to September is a time of fruit scarcity and animals move a lot more in search of food. Some species like elephants and gorillas come out on to the edge of the savannah to eat wild guavas. Gorillas : two families are currently being habituated to human presence. However for the moment encounters with gorillas are somewhat irregular, although becoming more and more frequent. Mandrills : large groups of several hundred individuals (as many as 600 have been recorded - the biggest groups anywhere in the world!) can be found in the reserve. They are currently being studied, as little is known about these primates. Observing these groups is a spectacular event though relatively rare. Small monkeys : 5 diurnal species can be commonly observed in Lope : Colobus satanas, Cercocebus albigena, Cercopithecus cephus, C. nictitans and C. pogonias. They are frequently seen on walks in the forest.   Elephants : forest elephants can be observed in the savannahs, in swampy areas or near fruiting trees. the picathartes (or bare headed rock fowl), one of the most difficult birds to observe, is resident in the Mikongo zone. A "megatwich" for all birdwachters ! (see also).

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