Pisteur (literally: pathfinder), Baka pygmy, the man with a devilish laugh, always combined with his characteristic grin. He knew the area around Minvoul best, but deeper towards the heart of Minkebe also held no secrets for him. Loved honey - whenever we found a bees' nest there was no stopping him.

Navigated with compass, GPS, map, ruler, pencil and lots of dedication. Fons was also responsible for equipment, not formally, but in practice, because not everyone had everything with them. He has no plans to make such a strenuous jungle track again, but was so taken by Gabon that he wants to visit the wild life reserves like Lopé and Petit Louango (Gamba). Perhaps as soon as next year.

Porter. He is Fang and the only one with 2 wives. This is acceptable as long as you can provide for them both. Certainly the strongest of the locals. He was the nearest to what we had expected a Fang to be like. And during our last evening out in Oyem, Bertrand did not go for soukous or makossa, but for the type of dance that that is associated with Buti rituals. And how!

Photographer - very meticulous and responsible for the best photos of the expedition. Timo had the most trouble from the conditions in the forest. At 1.98 m tall you encounter many more branches, thorns and liana than the others. Later he was the victim of an infection in a finger, either caused by an insect bite or a thorn.

Porter, Fang. Alain had been to the centre of Minkebe earlier for four weeks as part of the MIKE project (Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants). It was the first time for the others. Alain was naturally cheerful. He did have a tendency to know better after the event. For example when we had taken a wrong route.

American, with a calling for socializing. A purebred optimist. She never complained and she was just as dirty as the men. She made full use of her American French and her unstoppable questions, talking and laughing clearly contributed to team morale. She was at ease in the forest and was concerned about the welfare of the locals.

Pisteur, Baka pygmy. The quiet one. Even with the other locals he only discussed what was strictly essential. Hij and Akoro switched leading position each day, because it was such a severe role. Balfou had a nose for elephants. He had worked on a project in Lopé to find them and attach transmitters to them. Fons and Mathon encountered the first elephant with him.

Team leader, responsible for communication and contacts. And for half a video, because the camera did not survive it through all the swamps. But it does contain the best highlights. After two expeditions in Minkebe he still has the feeling that there is more to discover - Inselbergs (rocks) for example, more elephants of course and there are still gorillas.

Contact person for the Gabonese, also responsible for the cooking - Fang. Had the habit of regularly reading the Bible and got up singing every morning. What are you singing Bienvenu? Oh those were Christian cantatas. He felt responsible for us - to make sure that the tourists would not get trapped in the pitfalls of the forest. Serious and sympathetic.

Bienvenu,Fons,Timo,Christy,Mathon,Balfou,Alain,Bertrand,Akoro