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Mbeli Bai. Ndoki Congo
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Mbeli Bai. Ndoki Congo

by Jeffry Oonk

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 9, 2011181 views7 comments
An older image taken from a hired bush plane above a forest clearing in P.R.Congo.
Ndoki National Park is located in a very remote conner of the P.R.Congo (Congo Brazzaville), with only a handful of visitors every year (maybe more now, but still very few).

We took off before sunrise and flew for about 1 hour. This natural clearing called Mbeli bai provides food for forest elephants, western lowland gorillas and birds.

This is a true wilderness taming with shy animals.

Taken with 17-35 mm. Slide film.

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by INGOMA on August 9, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Thanks for sharing this, Jeffry! Looks like it is straight from National Geographic. Stunning conditions and the slight tint adds a lot here. A beautiful image and I wish I could see this larger!
Registered on July 2, 2004, 231 Posts, 3110 Comments
Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on August 9, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Absolutely Incredible !! :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

Most of us venture there only in your dreams.

Thank you so much for posting this ! Did you get a chance to explore the area on foot ? Would love to see more pics from there !
Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Schrayer on August 9, 2011 at 9:18 PM
I like the aerial perspective here. This is well composed as my eye wanders throughout the scene. The fog / low lying clouds are also great elements as well. Great work!!
Registered on May 28, 2004, 114 Posts, 2890 Comments
Comment posted by Jeffry Oonk on August 10, 2011 at 5:25 AM
Thx for comments.

@Christoph: If fact a similar image was published in NGM back in 1995.
Nick Nichols shot a vertical frame from almost the same position.
NG had a small ultralight plane build for the job and had it send by DHL to Ndoki. Building costs and shipping was US$100.000.
I hired a small bush plane for an hour, which was much cheaper.

@Anand: I was there for 3 months. Spending about 3 weeks on an observation platform at the edge of Mbeli bai waiting for gorillas. Animals were very shy, but sometimes just curious like the chimps.
Registered on February 5, 2011, 21 Posts, 122 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 10, 2011 at 5:04 PM
Very cool Jeffry. Would love to see a larger version! Hope I make it to Africa some day...
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 10, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Very cool Jeffry. Love the atmosphere. Would love to see a larger version! Hope I make it to Africa some day...
Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments
Comment posted by INGOMA on August 10, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Jeffry, thats exactly what I thought! I saw Nick Nichols' work and this totally reminded me of it. I think yours is better! :biggrin: :wink:

Love the story about the plane.
Registered on July 2, 2004, 231 Posts, 3110 Comments