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Gabon

Also known as Gabonese Republic, République Gabonaise, ga, Republique Gabonaise, GAB

Gabon ( ; ), officially the Gabonese Republic (), is a country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, on the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. It has an area of and a population of million people. There are coastal plains, mountains (the Cristal Mountains and the Chaillu Massif in the centre), and a savanna in the east. Libreville is the country's capital and largest city.

AI overview

Gabon is a Central African country located on the Atlantic coast along the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, with a landscape featuring coastal plains, mountains, and eastern savanna. It matters as a significant nation in the region with its own distinct geography and political status as an independent state.

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Country

Capital: Libreville
Population: 2,469,296
Region: Africa · Middle Africa

Travel guide

Get in

thumb|375px|A map showing the visa requirements of Gabon, with countries in green having visa-free access. Countries in blue need an eVisa or Visa on arrival. Countries in yellow need an eVisa thumb|Gabon visa extension and exit stamp

Get around

The easiest way to get around outside of cities is by bus (typically 6- or 9-seater cars, but sometimes minibuses). There are many and they are very cheap (e.g., FCFA 7000 to go from Libreville to Lamberene). Within cities, taxis are plentiful and are very cheap. No fare should be more than FCFA 5000 for one person. Fares depend on distance (and whether the driver will be able to find more fares at your destination). A 2- or 3-minute drive will cost FCFA 100, and FCFA 2000 is plenty to go from Owendo train station to the centre of Libreville. Taxi prices typically double after 21:00.

See

thumb|View of Libreville Gabon's capital and main city, Libreville, has several interesting churches, including Cathédrale Sainte Marie, Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, and Church of St. Michael Nkembo. The National Museum of Gabon and National Museum of Arts and Traditions have intriguing collections of sculptures and other art.

The Ogooué is Gabon's longest river. Flowing 1,200 km through the interior of tropical forest, the river holds a variety of ecosystems, including the critically-endangered slender-snouted crocodile.

Do

Chez Beti - a small seaside safari camp near the village of Nyonie owned and operated by a French ex-pat. Clean, air-conditioned cottages and all-inclusive family style meals accompany the evening Landcruiser and sunrise walking safaris. Wildlife sightings can include elephants, buffalo, monkeys, parrots, hornbills and other local fauna. The camp is located just a few km south of the equator, along a pristine stretch of beach. Prices are very reasonable and include roundtrip transportation from the marina in Libreville; consisting of an hour long boat transit to a small landing in the mangroves, followed by a 45 minute 4x4 trip along jungle roads to the camp. Contact information: tel. 07 57 14 23 or 06 03 36 36, e-mail: castorene7@live.fr

Eat

The Balbool restaurant serves delicious western food with very cheap prices. Ask for the big Balbool soup.

Drink

~40 min read

Article

37 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Pre-colonisation
French rule and independence
M'ba rule
Bongo rule and PDG
Transitional government and RSDG
Bongo's re-election and rule
Boycott of elections and crisis
Death of Bongo and succession
2023 coup d'état
Politics
Foreign relations
Military
Administrative divisions
Geography
Wildlife
Economy
Energy
Manganese
Transport
Demographics
Ethnic groups
Population centres
Languages
Religion
Health
Education
Culture
Music
Media
Cuisine
Sports
See also
References
Bibliography
External links

Gabon (/ɡəˈbɒn/ gə-BON; French pronunciation: [ɡabɔ̃] ), officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République gabonaise), is a country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, on the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. It has an area of 270,000 square kilometres (100,000 sq mi) and a population of 2.3 million people. There are coastal plains, mountains (the Cristal Mountains and the Chaillu Massif in the centre), and a savanna in the east. Libreville is the country's capital and largest city.

Gabon's original inhabitants were the Bambenga. In the 14th century, Bantu migrants also began settling in the area. The Kingdom of Orungu was established around 1700. France colonised the region in the late 19th century. Since its independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had four presidents. In the 1990s, it introduced a multi-party system and a democratic constitution that aimed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed some governmental institutions. Despite this, the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) remained the dominant party until its removal from power during the 2023 Gabonese coup d'état.