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Gabon✨ 8 best things to do in Gabon

Things to do in Gabon

1. Spot wildlife on Loango's beachesWatch forest elephants, buffalo and even hippos wander onto empty Atlantic beaches in one of Africa's most unusual parks.
2. Track mandrills in LopéFollow researchers to find a supergroup of hundreds of brightly coloured mandrills moving through forest and savanna.
3. Ride the Transgabonais railwayTake the train inland through endless rainforest from Libreville to Lopé.
4. Watch whales and turtlesSee humpback whales offshore in the austral winter and leatherback turtles nesting on the beaches later in the year.
5. Visit Schweitzer's hospitalExplore the museum at Lambaréné where the Nobel Peace Prize winner treated patients on the Ogooué River.
6. Take a pirogue on the OgoouéGlide past lakes, fishing villages and forest on the country's great river.
7. Relax at Pointe-DenisCross the estuary from Libreville to a sandy peninsula with beaches next to Pongara National Park.
8. See Kongou FallsVenture into Ivindo National Park to witness one of central Africa's most spectacular waterfalls.

Gabon🗺️ Where to visit in Gabon

Where to go in Gabon

• 
  LibrevilleKomo estuary · capitalA relaxed seaside capital with a lively seafront, markets and a museum of Gabonese masks and art.
• 
  Loango National ParkSouthwest coast · wildlife & beachesLagoons, forests and beaches where elephants, hippos and whales can all appear in one trip.
• 📍
  Lopé National ParkCentral Gabon · UNESCO siteSavanna and rainforest with mandrills, gorillas and ancient rock engravings, reachable by train.
• 
  Ivindo National ParkNortheast · rainforest & waterfallsRemote forest with powerful waterfalls and a forest clearing where elephants and gorillas gather.
• 
  Pongara National ParkNear Libreville · mangroves & beachesMangroves and turtle-nesting beaches just across the estuary from the capital.
• 
  LambarénéOgooué River · historyA river town known for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital and boat trips to nearby lakes.
• 📍
  Akanda National ParkNorth of Libreville · mangrovesMangrove channels and mudflats that host large numbers of migratory birds.
• 📍
  Port-GentilOgooué delta · coastal cityAn oil town on an island with beaches and access to the delta's waterways.

Gabon🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Gabon

Best time to visit Gabon

Gabon is hot and humid all year, with two dry and two wet seasons. The coast around Libreville is very wet overall, while the interior savannas around Lopé are a little drier.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Libreville (approximate averages).

Gabon🎉 Festivals & events in Gabon

• August
  Independence DayOn 17 August Gabon celebrates independence with parades, music and festivities in Libreville and across the country.
• June
  Fête de la MusiqueOn 21 June musicians play in streets and venues across Libreville in a free celebration of music.
• November
  All Saints' DayOn 1 November families gather to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones.

Gabon🧭 Gabon itinerary ideas

How many days in Gabon?

Gabon🎒 Backpacking Gabon – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $70–110 a day

• Gabon is expensive and has little budget infrastructure, so plan carefully and expect to use organised trips for national parks.
• The Transgabonais train is the most affordable and comfortable way to reach Lopé.
• Shared taxis and bush taxis connect towns, but roads can be slow, especially in the rainy season.
• Eat at local maquis and street stalls for grilled fish, chicken, plantains and cassava.
• Bring a French phrasebook – English is not widely spoken.

Gabon🛡️ Safety & money in Gabon

Emergency: 1730 police · 18 fire

Gabon🛬 Getting to Gabon

Léon M'ba International Airport in Libreville is the main gateway, with flights from Europe and other African hubs; overland routes connect with Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo.

✈️ Cheap flights to Gabon: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Gabon💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Gabon

• Rainforest covers around 85% of Gabon.
• Natural nuclear fission reactions occurred at Oklo in Gabon about two billion years ago.
• Gabon holds the largest population of forest elephants in Africa.
• Hippos in Loango are sometimes seen swimming in the Atlantic surf.
• Lopé is home to some of the largest mandrill groups ever recorded, numbering in the hundreds.

Gabon❓ Gabon travel FAQ

Gabon travel questions