12 Day Gabon Expedition - Africa's Off-The-Beaten-Track Garden of Eden

Straddling the equator on the west coast of Africa, this naturally stunning and prosperous sub-Saharan country is a mecca for adventurous nature lovers. With flat river plains and dense rainforests along the Atlantic coast, the Chaillu Mountains in the central highlands, and lush jungles in the eastern region, Gabon's terrain is rugged, wild, and teeming with African animals, including leopards, elephants, chimpanzees, and mountain gorillas. The nation is also idyllically endowed with an 800-kilometre-long stretch of coast dotted with isolated palm-fringed bays, exquisite hidden lagoons, and estuaries brimming with birdlife. With so much to see and do, Gabon has enough charm and diversity to appeal to travellers with a hearty sense of adventure. While its terrain can be challenging to navigate, the reward is certainly worth the effort.

Currency

The local currency is called the CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XAF; symbol CFA) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFA10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFA 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1.

Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday -Friday 07h30-11h30, 14h30-16h30.

American Express, MasterCard and Visa cards are not widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros.

The quickest route to Gabon from the UK or the USA is with Air France via Paris. Other options include flights with Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa, Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca, and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.

There is no road connection between the second-largest city of Port Gentil or any other part of the country. Checkpoints are common in Gabon and drivers are asked to show passports, driving licence or vehicle registration documents. Most of the country consists of impenetrable rainforest and the roads are generally of a poor standard. Road travel in the rainy season (October to mid-December and mid-February to May) is inadvisable.Cars may be hired from main hotels and airports, although they tend to be expensive. There are extensive share-taxis. There are bus services in Port Gentil and Masuku (Franceville), and share-taxis in other centres. Taxi rates vary.

The Trans-Gabon Railway is the only railway line in Gabon; it is 410 kilometres long and connects Libreville (Owendo station, 10kilometres from the city centre) with Franceville. Stops along the way include Ndjole and Moanda. Plans proposing an extension of the railway to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo regularly surface. Ferries run regularly along the coast from Libreville to Port Gentil (journey time – 4 hours).

Gabonese food is a distinctive and delicious blend of traditional African ingredients and French flavours, though it jostles for space on local menus with Senegalese, Cameroonian and Congolese dishes, which are commonly served here. Meals typically consist of meat or fish served with stewed vegetables and a sauce, generally sporting very hot chilli flavours. Having maintained strong links with France since independence, French staples such as croissants and baguettes can be found in the cities. In more rural areas of the country, dishes tend to be simpler, relying on cassava, rice or yams. Bush meat such as monkey and antelope has been a traditional part of the Gabonese diet.

All water should be regarded as potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

With regards to tipping a 10 to 15% tip is expected unless service is included in the bill.

Gabon is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, and to the east and south by the Congo. The 800 kilometre-long sandy coastal strip is a series of palm-fringed bays, lagoons, and estuaries. The lush tropical vegetation (which covers about 82% of the interior) gives way in parts to the savannah. There are many rivers and they remain the main communication routes along which settlements have grown.  Gabon has an equatorial climate with up to 80% humidity. The dry season is from June to August, and the main rainy season is from October to May. Average temperatures are 25°C (77°F).

Electrical sockets (outlets) in Gabon (the Gabonese Republic) are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The "Type C" Europlug and the "Type E" and "Type F" Schuko. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all three types.

Electrical sockets (outlets) in Gabon (the Gabonese Republic) usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220-240 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.