Practical information Gabon

103348  sq.mi

Flight duration London-Libreville: 9 hrs 25 with a connection. Libreville is 3,570 mi from London.

1485832 hab.

Libreville Léon M'Ba international airport is located 8 miles north of the city. Taxis will drop you in the centre of town in 10 minutes and for the cost of around 2000 FCFA

Insecurity problems are linked to the recent growth in crime, especially in Libreville and Port-Gentil. There are no areas that are forbidden to tourists. Forbidden or strategic sites are indicated.

French is the official language but different communities speak their own dialect, usually derived from a Bantu origin (Fang, Batéké...).

As well as a passport valid for at least six months after your return, a visa is required for European citizens. It is issued in a week from the Gabonese embassy.

Christians (95%), Animists (4%), Muslims (1%).

The currency is the CFA Franc (XAF), which consists of 100 Centimes. The Euro is the only currency that can be exchanged easily here. The same goes for traveller's cheques, so it is best to get these drawn up in Euros, too. Commission fees can vary significantly from one place to another, so shop around first. The use of credit cards such as Visa, American Express and MasterCard is very limited. Bank opening hours: from 7:30am to 11:30am and from 2:30pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

By plane : Fast and convenient. Air Gabon, Air Service and Air Inter connect the main cities together such as Libreville, Lambaréné, Port-Gentil, Franceville and Oyem.
By boat: there is a daily connection between Libreville and Port-Gentil (there is no road between the two cities). The trip lasts 4 to 8 hours. Boats also sail along the Ogooué River that connects Port-Gentil to Lambaréné, and some even go to N'djolé.
By train: The "Transgabonais" run four times a week from Libreville to Franceville via Booué and Lastoursville. The journey is very long but has a certain touristy charm. It is worth mentioning that most of the train stations are located outside of the cities ( the one in Libreville is in Owendo, 6 miles south of there), enabling taxi drivers to use prohibitive rates.
Minibuses and bush taxis are very expensive. Minibuses run between Libreville, Lambaréné, Mouila, Oyem and Bitam. During the rainy season, quagmires, uprooted trees and collapsed bridges make the roads dangerous. Moreover, some public transportation drivers are used to stopping during the drive to have a drink! If your driver seems tipsy, get off and wait for the next minibus!
Car rental: Car rental agencies are located in the main hotels and airports. Car rental rates are astronomical. Despite this, if you choose this means of transportation, be aware that only 380 out of 4,660 miles of road are tarred. A dense and impenetrable forest covers more than three quarters of the country. With or without a driver, a four-wheel drive car is highly recommended. To rent a car, an international driver's license is required (minimum age: 21 years old ).

Vaccination against yellow fever is required. Do not forget to update your vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis. Other vaccines are recommended: hepatitises A and B, typhoid and rabies (if you are travelling far from the cities and for a long period of time). A treatment against malaria is necessary, as the country is listed in zone 3 for risk of paludism.
Once in the country, do not swim in stagnant waters and only drink sterilised water or from the bottle (with the cap taken off in front of you). Do not eat raw or half-cooked food (meat, fish, vegetables, fruits), avoid ice cubes and be vigilant with dairy products and ice creams.

Voltage is 220 V. Adaptor not needed.

Call Gabon from the UK: Dial 00 + 241 + personal phone number you wish to call.
From Gabon to the UK: Dial 00 + 44 (the international code used to dial U.K.) + 20 (the area or city code used to dial London) + personal phone number (without the first 0).