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About Gabon |
| Overview |
| Gabon is an independent republic which lies in the bight of Africa
and forms part of the West Central Region of Africa. The capital city
is Libreville. Other major towns are Franceville, Oyem, Lambarene
and Port-Gentil. The official language is French. The country is one of the world's upper-middle-income countries with the highest GDP per capita in Africa, and an economy based on oil and minerals. It has a free-market economy in which the dominant sector is private. It maintains favourable laws towards foreign investment. The local currency is the CFA-franc. |
| Climate |
| The climate is equatorial, being hot and humid. The average temperature is 28°C throughout the year. However, there are four seasons: June to October is cool, often cloudy and fairly dry (26°C); November to mid-December is the short dry season; February to mid-May is hot, with most rain falling during this period. |
| Language |
| The official language is French. Few Gabonese speak English so an English/ French dictionary will prove useful. Many indigenous languages are also spoken. |
| Population |
| The Gabonese population is 1.300.000 inhabitants. There are roughly 50 ethnic groups with 73% of them people living in urban areas; the density is 3,7 inhabitants per km2; foreigners and locals are living together as one. |
| Health |
| Most of Gabon’s health services are public, but there are
some private institutions as well. Gabon’s medical structure
is considered one the best in West Africa. Over 90% of the population
has access to medical care, and the vast majority of children have
been immunized for a number of diseases. A yellow fever vaccination is necessary at least 10 days before departure. Anti-malaria precautions must be taken. |
| Currency |
| The local currency is the Central African Franc, CAF. Payment in French Francs is accepted everywhere in bank notes. We recommend that you take currency in travelers cheques. Credit cards are not yet widely used, but are accepted by some of the larger hotels. |
| Transportation |
| Roadways connect virtually all major communities, but maintenance work is difficult because of heavy rainfall. The railway system is new and not yet fully developed, although the government continues work on it at a steady pace. There are pots handling both freight and passengers. River transportation is used extensively, mostly to float logs. There are three international airports, and another 56 airports provide domestic service |
| Geography |
| The Republic of Gabon is situated in Central Africa, astride the
Equator, and covers an area of 267,667 sq kms. With only 1,300,000
inhabitants (two-thirds of whom live in Libreville, the capital),
Gabon is one of the least densely populated countries in Africa. To
the north it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, to the
south and east by the Congo and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Gabon is a tranquil world of lush virgin tropical rainforest which
covers more than three quarters of the country and which is dissected
by a network of broad rivers. Savannah is found in some parts, and
mangrove forests occur at estuaries on the Atlantic seaboard. |
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| Borders |
| Equatoriale Guinea (350km) NW, Cameroon (298km) north, Congo (1.903km) E and SE; Atlantic Ocean (900km) west. |
| History |
| Gabon was discovered by the Portuguese in 1473. The British, Dutch,
French and Spanish followed thereafter, many of them engaging in the
slave trade. However, in 1849 the French established Libreville as a colony for freed slaves. In 1910 Gabon became part of the Federation of French Equatorial Africa. The Federation broke up in later years and in 1960 Gabon gained its independence. |
| Flora and fauna |
| Although boasting magnificent beaches on its Atlantic seaboard, Gabon’s major attractions are its rainforest, vast variety of birds, and many species of primate. The rainforest is rich in wildlife and contains more than 8,000 species of plant and 600 species of bird. The forest, the savannah, swamps and rivers provide an ideal habitat for elephant, buffalo, panther, anthelope, hippopotami, crocodile, gorilla, chimpanzee, brilliant butterflies and colorful birds, including the gray parrot, emblem of Air Gabon. The many rivers and lagoons are teaming with fish and the long Atlantic seaboard makes Gabon a paradise for deep-sea fishing. It is said that Gabon is home to four fifths of Africa’s gorilla’s and chimpanzees. Although numerous, these shy primates are not used to tourists so sightings may be fleeting and unpredictable. |
| Country Overview |
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