General information:
Gabon covers an area of 267,670 km².
It lies on the equator and 85% of its land area is covered by dense forest.
It has an estimated population of 1,345,931 inhabitants, 95% of whom are Christian, consisting essentially of Bantus.
Most of the population lives in the two main towns: Libreville, the political capital founded in 1849 to receive liberated slaves, and Port-Gentil, the economic capital.
The production and sale of petrol accounts for 45% of the GNP.
Another of the great natural riches of Gabon is its immense tropical forest and its "okoumé" (Gabon mahogany) wood, exported as a raw material or transformed into secondary products, together with mahogany and ebony.
The official language is French, but the different communities speak various languages of Bantu origin (Fang, Batéké etc.).
The currency is the CFA Franc (XAF). 1 euro = 655.60 CFA
Euros can be exchanged with no problem. You should get traveller's cheques in euros. Credit card use is very limited.
Telephone:
From France to Gabon: 00 + 241 + the telephone number of the person you wish to contact.
From Gabon to France: 00 + 33 + the number of the person you wish to contact (without the 0 preceding the region code).
Electricity:
220V, 50Hz.
The climate is tropical, hot and very humid. There are two dry seasons: December-January and May-September, with temperatures between 26 and 32°C. There are also two rainy seasons: February-March and October-November, with temperatures between 22 and 26°C.
Duration of direct flights: Paris-Libreville: 6.5 hours
Time difference: 1 hour behind France
Formalities:
For all stays of less than three months, a visa can be obtained directly in Gabon (€54). For all stays of more than three months, you must obtain a visa from the Gabonese diplomatic authorities before travelling.
When crossing the border, you should present a currently valid passport, your return ticket and your vaccination documents (yellow fever vaccination obligatory). N.B.: Respecting these instructions does not guarantee you the right to enter Gabonese territory. If you experience problems on arrival, we recommend that you contact the French Consulate General in Libreville (74 34 20 / 74 34 21).
Health:
Obligatory vaccinations: yellow fever. Recommended vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid, viral hepatitis A and B. Prophylaxis against malaria is required. Drink only bottled water. Do not eat raw vegetables, salads or fruits washed with tap water and avoid ice cubes.
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