Gabon: Travelling

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Léon-Mba International Airport (LBV)	12km/7.4 miles	20 minutes	SOGATRA operates a bus service between the airport and the city centre	No	Available

Major airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Among the historical sites of Gabon, the most important are: the Kaya-Kaya Rock art site (with its 280 petroglyphs carved with metal tools); the historic town of Lambaréné; the Lastourville Caves (used since ancient times for magical ceremonies); and the Ayem rock art in Ogooué-Ivindo (with its prehistoric rock carvings).

Cultural

The National Museum of Arts and Traditions in Libreville offers an insight on Gabon's traditional arts with its huge collection of cultural masks and tribal crafts. Other imporant museums include the Gabon National Museum (also displaying a wide collections of masks, sculptures, carvings and artworks) and the French Cultural Centre, where several musicals, exhibits, recitals, and other cultural initiatives take place.

Nature

Gabon has a rich wildlife and beautiful landscapes, with 11.25% of the country's territory proclaimed as national parkland, with rainforests, savannah and white-sand beaches.
The main national parks include: the Lopé National Park (a Unesco World Heritage Site populated with elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and mandrills); the Loango National Park (with forests, savannah and lagoons where hippos find their habitat, together with whales and dolphins that populate Gabon's sea); and the Mayumba marine park.
The Leconi Canyons are the country's main attraction, with its twin canyons and its rocks that glow red and gold at sunset.

Religious

The main religious points of interest are the Cathedral Sainte Marie and Notre-dame de Lourdes in Libreville, the Evangelic Center of Bethanie, St louis and Sta Ana in Port-Gentil.

Thermal

Gabon is not rich in mineral and thermal water.

Beach

Many beautiful deserted beaches can be found on the Atlantic Coast of Gabon. Pointe Denis and Ekwata in the northern area of the country and Mayumba and Sette Cama in the south are among the most famous beaches. Port Gentil and Cap Estérias also welcome tourists and are suitable for skin diving.

Winter Sports

The climate of Gabon is not suitable for winter sports.

Outdoor Activities

Being rich in natural parks and wildlife, Gabon is an interesting destination for trekking enthusiasts (wildlife tracking is becoming the country’s main attraction, with its fauna of gorillas and chimpanzees, elephants, crocodiles, leopards, etc).
The Atlantic coast of Gabon offers several beautiful uncrowded beaches, suitable for different kinds of water sports and activities. Mayumba National Park is suitable for bodysurfing and humpback whales watching.

Shopping

Traditional masks, carvings and bieri (ancestral sculpture) made of natural materials such as wood, raffia and feathers, are typical of Gabon and are still used in religious ceremonies and activities. Original Fang masks in particular have a high value at art auctions throughout the world.
Crafts from local villages, clay pots, fang masks and stone carvings can be bought in the Akebe-Plaine and Mon-Bouet markets in Libreville. The M'bolo complex is Libreville's biggest shopping centre, with many small shops. The Village des Artisans Arts & Crafts, also in Libreville, is another location where Gabonese souvenirs can be bought, though most of the goods are imported. In informal shops it is normal to bargain.

Tourism Organisations

Gabon Tourism

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

There are no specific vaccination requirements to enter Gabon (except for vaccine against yellow fever which is required for travellers arriving from all countries if they have more than 1 year of age). Nevertheless, WHO and foreign ministries of various countries recommend the following vaccines before entering the country: Hepatitis A, Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis B and Rabies. Vaccination against Measles is also required.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

CDC Health Information for Travelers to Gabon

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

U.S. Department of State - Gabon Travel Information
Government of Canada - Gabon Travel Advice
OSAC - Gabon Crime and Safety Report

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Libreville (GMT+1)

Summer Time Period

There are no daylight saving time clock changes in Gabon