By air is the only practical way for most visitors. Libreville's Leon Mba International Airport receives direct flights from Paris (Air France, several times weekly), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc), and various West and Central African capitals. From North America, you will almost certainly connect through Paris or Addis Ababa.
Flights from Paris take about six and a half hours. Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa is often cheaper but involves a longer journey. Regional carriers connect Libreville with Douala, Cotonou, Lagos, and Brazzaville, though schedules can be unreliable.
Port-Gentil also has an airport with limited international connections, mainly to regional destinations.
By land, Gabon shares borders with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Congo. Border crossings exist but are slow and bureaucratic. The road from Cameroon via Bitam and Oyem to Libreville is the most commonly used overland route, though road conditions are poor, especially in the rainy season. The crossing from Equatorial Guinea at Ebebiyin is straightforward. From Congo-Brazzaville, crossings are possible but remote and challenging.
By sea, occasional cargo boats and ferries connect Libreville and Port-Gentil with other Gulf of Guinea ports, but these are not reliable passenger services. A regular ferry runs between Libreville and Port-Gentil (about four hours, roughly $60-85), which is useful since there is no road connecting the two cities.
All visitors need a visa arranged in advance. Gabon has introduced an e-visa system, though processing times and requirements change frequently. Check current requirements before booking flights.