The black-headed bee-eater is on just about every serious
birders top ten list, and again, can only be found in this part of the
continent. Our guide told us some people
literally cry when they see this bird, especially if it is the last one on
their world wish list. I'm certain I did
not get emotional when I filmed it, but I do recall wondering what we were having
for lunch. I will sometimes cry if tater tots are listed on a restaurant's menu and discover they ran out moments before I arrived.
We also saw evidence of the elusive chimpanzee, finding
several nests and hearing distant vocalizations, but never actually getting a
glimpse of our closest living relatives.
We visited a chimp research facility where
staff have been working for years to habituate one large group. Unfortunately, a guided visit was not an
option on this particular day, but we are grateful to have had previous filming encounters with chimpanzees in other parts of Africa.
As this is our final entry for the blog, I must say we were thrilled to learn that we are the very first television crew to be granted permission to track and film gorillas in Loango National Park. It is an incredible honor, and we feel fortunate to have played a small part in raising awareness of this extraordinary habitat and the diversity of wildlife that lives within its boundaries.
