Gabon requires a visa for most nationalities before arrival. The official visa information source is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and Gabonese embassies abroad. Electronic visa applications became available in 2021 through the government portal, though processing times vary by nationality. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry and border officials check certificates. The vaccine must be administered at least ten days before arrival.
The CFA franc (XAF) is Gabon's currency, shared with five other Central African nations. The exchange rate is fixed to the euro at 655.957 XAF per euro. Cash remains primary outside Libreville and Port-Gentil. ATMs exist in major cities but frequently run empty or malfunction. Credit cards work at international hotels and some restaurants in Libreville, rarely elsewhere. Ecobank, BGFI Bank, and Banque Gabonaise et Française Internationale have the most reliable machines. Carrying euros for exchange yields better rates than dollars in most locations.
French is the sole official language. Fang is spoken in northern provinces including Woleu-Ntem and Ogooué-Ivindo. Myene languages dominate Estuaire and Ogooué-Maritime provinces. Bantu language groups comprise over forty distinct languages across the country. English proficiency is limited to international hotel staff and some oil industry workers. Basic French phrases are necessary for travel outside Libreville.
Libreville Léon M'ba International Airport receives direct flights from Paris on Air France, with service from Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines and Casablanca on Royal Air Maroc. Regional connections operate through Douala, Yaoundé, and Kinshasa. Domestic flights connect Libreville to Port-Gentil, Franceville, Oyem, and Makokou through Afrijet and Nationale Regionale Transport. Road conditions deteriorate significantly outside urban centers. The Trans-Gabon Railway runs 670 kilometers from Owendo near Libreville to Franceville, completed in 1986, operating passenger service twice weekly in each direction with journey time around fourteen hours. Bush taxis operate on major routes but schedules depend on passenger loads.
Internet access in Libreville functions through fiber connections at hotels and cafes. Mobile data through Gabon Telecom and Airtel covers cities and the N1 highway corridor. Service drops completely in national parks and much of the interior. SIM cards require passport registration and cost between 1,000 and 5,000 XAF. Data packages run approximately 10,000 XAF for five gigabytes monthly. Electricity operates on 220 volts with European two-pin plugs. Power cuts occur regularly outside Libreville, more frequently in rainy seasons from October to May.
Malaria is endemic throughout Gabon. Prophylaxis is standard medical guidance for travelers. The Centre Hospitalier de Libreville serves as the primary referral facility. The Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, founded in 1913, continues operation with international medical partnerships. Dengue fever cases occur in coastal regions. Water in Libreville undergoes treatment but bottled water is widely available and costs 500 to 1,000 XAF per liter. Outside cities, water purification is necessary.
Accommodations in Libreville range from 30,000 XAF for basic hotels to 150,000 XAF for international properties like Radisson Blu. Port-Gentil pricing matches Libreville due to oil industry presence. Franceville and Lambaréné offer guesthouses from 15,000 to 40,000 XAF. National park lodges including those at Loango and Lopé charge 80,000 to 200,000 XAF, typically including meals and guided activities. Camping is permitted in some parks with advance authorization from the National Agency for National Parks, established in 2002.
Restaurant meals in Libreville cost 5,000 to 15,000 XAF for local dishes, 15,000 to 30,000 XAF at establishments serving French cuisine. Street food including brochettes and grilled fish runs 1,000 to 3,000 XAF. Markets sell produce at variable prices depending on supply. Port-Gentil costs match or exceed Libreville. Smaller cities offer lower prices but less variety. Imported goods carry significant markups due to transport costs and tariffs.
The equator passes through Gabon slightly north of Lambaréné. Climate remains equatorial with high humidity year-round. Two rainy seasons occur from February to April and October to December. Dry seasons run June to September and January. Temperatures in Libreville average 26 degrees Celsius with minimal variation. Interior regions experience slightly greater temperature swings but remain consistently warm. Rainfall exceeds 2,000 millimeters annually on the coast, reaching 3,000 millimeters in some interior areas.
São Tomé and Príncipe lie 250 kilometers west in the Gulf of Guinea. These volcanic islands share colonial Portuguese history distinct from Gabon's French background. STP Airways previously operated connections from Libreville but service has been irregular since 2020. The islands offer beach tourism and cacao plantation history.