Gabon

Equatorial Atlantic country of dense rainforest, national parks, forest elephants, gorillas, and long rural distances.

Gabon is one of the most pristine and least-visited countries in Africa. Straddling the equator on Central Africa's Atlantic coast, nearly 90% of the country is covered in dense tropical rainforest, and almost 11% of its territory is protected in thirteen national parks. If you want to see forest elephants wandering on white-sand beaches, western lowland gorillas in jungle clearings, or leatherback turtles nesting by moonlight, this is where you come.

The country is wealthy by African standards, thanks to oil revenues, but that wealth is concentrated in Libreville and the oil town of Port-Gentil. Outside these two cities, Gabon feels deeply rural and remote. Infrastructure is limited, distances are long, and getting around requires patience. This is not a destination for those who need things to run on schedule.

Gabon gained independence from France in 1960 and was ruled by the Bongo family for over five decades, until a military coup in August 2023 ended the dynasty. The country remains in political transition, but daily life for travelers has been largely unaffected. French is the official language, and the cultural influence of France is everywhere, from the baguettes at breakfast to the bureaucracy you will encounter when arranging permits.

The highlight of any visit is the national parks. Loango National Park on the coast is famous for its surfing hippos and beach-roaming elephants. Ivindo National Park in the interior has thundering waterfalls and forest clearings where elephants and gorillas gather. Lope National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers the best chance of seeing enormous troops of mandrills. These parks are not easy or cheap to visit, but the wildlife encounters are extraordinary precisely because so few people make the effort.

Lambarene, a riverside town a few hours from Libreville, is known for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital and the beautiful lake system surrounding it. Franceville, connected to Libreville by the Trans-Gabon railway, is the gateway to the southeast and the Bateke Plateau.

Gabon is expensive. Libreville regularly ranks among the most costly cities in Africa. Budget travelers will find this a challenging destination, but those who come prepared are rewarded with some of the most unspoiled wilderness on the continent.