Gabon can be combined with the islands of Sao Tome and Principe also featured by dmAFRICA, thus providing the opportunity for a wildlife and beach holiday which is so popular in East and South Africa.

Together with our partners we are in the process of developing tourist circuits suitable for our clients. In the meantime here is a précis of what you may expect.

Wildlife and National Parks
85% of the country is covered in tropical forest. This, along with savannah, mangroves, lagoons and beaches, makes it an ideal habitat for a variety of animals and reptiles, including 20,000 lowland gorillas and 60,000 forest elephants-the largest population in Africa-and 700 types of exotic birds.

There is a tourist development plan which aims to attract quality tourism and limit the numbers to no more than 100,000 visitors each year.

10% of the country’s land is given to 13 National Parks, of which the Loango National Park is probably the best known. It is situated between two lagoons and offers 1,550km of savannah, pristine beach, forest and mangrove. It offers the unique opportunity to see elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard and even gorillas venturing on to the white sand beach.

Game experiences are by 4 x 4vehicle, by boat and by walking safari.

Whale watching is offered between mid-July and mid-September

The Pongara National Park is close to Libreville and the Mouklaha Dou dou is the largest and also has beach front. The other ten parks are in the hinterland, of which the La Reserve de la Lope is the best known and has abundant forest elephant, monkeys and a good population of gorillas.

Accommodation
There is accommodation of good international standards in Libreville, and also in the new lodges planned for the parks.
At present we are providing safari accommodation in comfortable mobile tented camps.

Entertainment
There is international-style entertainment in sophisticated Libreville.
Gabonese music is less well-known than that of its neighbours Cameroon and Congo. Oliver Ngoma if the most famous son of Gabon. There is folk music and the popular instruments are the obala, the ngombi and traditional drums. Rumba, makossa and soukous are the popular dances

Visas
Most nationalities require a tourist visa.
You also require a full passport which is valid for at least 6 months from the date of your intended departure from Gabon.

Language
The official language is French, and there are two local languages, Fang and Myene. English is understood by most persons involved in tourism.

Money
The local currency is the Central African Franc. The €uro and US$ are the preferred foreign currency

Health
Malaria is widespread. Visitors are advised to consult a doctor before travelling to ensure they are prescribed the correct type of protection. Visitors must also be immunized against yellow fever

Water
Although there is no shortage of fresh water, we recommend you only drink bottled water and avoid ice and salads which may have been washed in contaminated water.

Time Difference
West African Time (WAT) is GMT +1during the European summer months and GMT during the winter months. There is no jet lag for visitors from western Europe

Here are a few things we recommend you include in a holiday to Gabon:-

• Visit Albert Schweitzer’s jungle hospital in the town of Lambarene, situated in Gabon’s Lake District


• Swim in the ocean and dine by the beach in the laid back resort of Mayumba in the south of the country near the border with Republic of the Congo


• Camping at the Cirque de Laconi, a spectacular red-rock canyon on the Plateaux Bateke in the south east


• Dine on paste manioc, a spicy rice dish and wash it down with an excellent Regab beer from the Sobraga brewery.


• See the film “The Great White Man of Lambarene” , a film about the life and work of Albert Schweitzer from an African perspective

There are regular flights by Air France, Lufthansa, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Royal Air Maroc to Libreville. From Libreville there are flights three times per week to Sao Tome for those seeking a two centre holiday, wildlife and beach holiday. Flying time to Paris is about 7 hours

We have a office in Libreville with staff speaking English and French. Our manager is French and holds an MBA in international management and has lived in Gabon for 6 years

For enquiries please contact sales@dmAFRICA.com