Gabon Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org

Travel Notes: Africa: Gabon Travel Notes

Gabon tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Gabon links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.

Gabon Background

The République Gabonaise straddles the Equator.

Countries neighbouring Gabon are: Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and Republic of Congo.

This former French colony gained its independence on August 17, 1960.

Much of the Gabonese Republic is covered in tropical rainforest and bisected by rivers. The principal river being the Ogooué, which is navigable from the Atlantic Ocean to Ndjolé.

Weather in Gabon

View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Gabon.

Franceville Weather, Libreville Weather, Moanda Weather, Port-Gentil Weather.

Getting Around Gabon

Gabon by Road

Only about 8 per cent of Gabon's 7,535 km of roads, are surfaced.

A major road crosses Gabon from north to south, linking the country with Loubomo, in the Republic of Congo, and Douala, in Cameroon.

Gabon by Rail

There is a rail link through Mbinda, in the Republic of Congo, with the Pointe Noire- Brazzaville Line.

In 1974 construction began  on the Trans Gabon Railway; with the section between Libreville's port of Owendo and Booué being completed in 1982.

The extension to Franceville in the south-east was opened in 1986, and a spur to the iron-ore deposits of the north-east was begun in the early 1990s.

Gabon by Boat

The River Ogooué and its tributaries, the Ivindo and Ngounie rivers, are navigable.

The rainy seasons in Gabon are from February to April, and October to November.

Libreville

Libreville, on the Gabon River estuary, is the capital and major port of the Gabonese Republic.

Founded by liberated slaves at the site of a French mission in 1849, Libreville was originally called Gabon.

Le Meridien Re-Ndam: Bp4064, Libreville.
Recently renovated, Le Meridien Re-Ndama is the ideal choice to combine work and pleasure. Located in the business district, it offers guests the use of the most up-to-date office equipment, superb leisure facilities and highly reputed restaurants.

Novotel Libreville Rapontchomb: Blvd de L'Independance, Libreville.
Located in the city centre, the Novotel Libreville Rapontchomb offers 188 comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with sea views. Just two minutes from the business and shopping centre, the hotel features meeting rooms and a large swimming pool with sun terrace. Excursions arranged within Gabon.
Closed for renovation until December 2008.

Okoume Palace Inter-Continental:Boulevard de Nice, Libreville.
The Okoume Palace Intercontinental is a five-star Hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. A perfect place to use as a base for the exploration of Libreville and the fascinating countryside of Gabon.

Port-Gentil

Port-Gentil, the capital of Ogooué-Maritime Prefecture, is located in western Gabon - on an island in the Ogooué River estuary, east of Cape Lopez.

Originally a hunting camp called Mandji-Oroungou, a French post was established here in 1885.

Gabon Language and Culture

The official language of Gabon is French, although the majority of Gabonese are Bantu-speaking; the Fang, being the largest of the ethnic groups.

Gabon Travel Guides

Books on Gabon Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Gabon.