- Fly via Paris on Air France, the easiest route from the UK
- Around 88% of Gabon is forest and 13 national parks protect it
- Loango is the headline park, famous for elephants and hippos on the beach
- British visitors usually apply for an eVisa before travel
- Airports
- Libreville Léon M'ba International (LBV)
- Flight time
- about 9-10h from London to Libreville with one stop, usually in Paris
- Best time to go
- June-September for dry weather and whales; January-February also good
- Currency
- Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Gabon is one of the greenest countries on earth, with rainforest covering most of its land and a network of 13 national parks set up in 2002 to protect it. Visitors come for the wildlife: forest elephants and buffalo wandering along empty Atlantic beaches at Loango, western lowland gorillas and mandrills in the forests, and humpback whales and leatherback turtles offshore.
Tourism is small-scale and expensive, but that keeps it special. Gabon is on West Africa Time (UTC+1), the same as the UK in summer and one hour ahead in winter. Plugs are the European two-pin type C, traffic drives on the right and French is the main language. This is one of our Africa destinations.
Where to go in Gabon
Loango National Park
The star of Gabon. Loango combines lagoons, savannah, forest and beach, so you can see elephants, buffalo, red river hogs and even hippos, which famously wander into the surf. Boat safaris on the Iguéla lagoon, whale watching between July and September and gorilla habituation trips at Ozouga are all possible from the park's lodges.
Lopé National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lopé mixes savannah and rainforest in the centre of the country. It is known for huge mandrill groups, sometimes hundreds strong, as well as ancient rock carvings. It can be reached by the Transgabonais railway from Libreville.
Libreville and Pongara
The capital sits on the Komo estuary, with seafront boulevards, the Saint-Michel church with its carved wooden columns and a good craft market. Across the estuary, Pongara National Park has beaches where leatherback turtles nest between November and February.
Ivindo National Park
In the north-east, Ivindo protects powerful waterfalls such as Kongou and the Langoué Bai forest clearing, where elephants and gorillas gather. It is remote and best visited with a specialist operator.
Akanda and the coast
Close to Libreville, Akanda National Park is a mangrove landscape important for migrating birds, easily visited by boat on a day trip.
Best time to visit Gabon
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Long dry season (June-September) | Cooler and cloudy but dry; whales offshore, best overall |
| Short rains (October-December) | Heavy showers; turtles begin nesting |
| Short dry season (January-February) | Hot with fewer rains; good for wildlife |
| Long rains (March-May) | Wettest period, some areas hard to reach |
Getting to Gabon from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK. Air France flies daily from Paris to Libreville, so the simplest route is a short hop from London to Paris and an onward flight of about seven hours. Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa are alternatives.
Entry requirements
British passport holders need a visa. Gabon runs an online eVisa system: you apply in advance and receive an authorisation, and the visa is completed on arrival in Libreville. Your passport should be valid for at least six months, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. Gabon has been under a transitional government since the 2023 coup, though daily life for visitors has largely continued normally. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.
Getting around
Roads outside Libreville are limited, so most travellers combine the Transgabonais train (Libreville to Franceville, via Lopé), charter flights and boat transfers. Loango is usually reached by a light aircraft or a long road and boat transfer via Port-Gentil or Omboué, arranged by your lodge. Independent travel is possible but slow and tricky; most people book a package.
Money and costs
Gabon is one of the most expensive countries in Africa to visit. The currency is the Central African CFA franc, pegged to the euro. Expect lodge stays in the national parks to cost several hundred pounds per person per night, including activities, with packages including transfers often the best value. In Libreville, mid-range hotels and restaurants cost similar to or more than Western Europe.
Time a Loango trip for July to September and you may see whales offshore on the same day as elephants on the beach.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see gorillas in Gabon?
Yes, though it is less established than gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda. Habituation programmes such as Ozouga in Loango offer small-group visits, with sightings likely but not guaranteed.
Is Gabon safe?
Gabon is one of the more stable countries in Central Africa, and petty crime is the main concern in Libreville. Check the latest FCDO advice before travel.
What language is spoken in Gabon?
French is the official language. English is spoken at the main lodges but rarely elsewhere.
Is Gabon worth the cost?
For wildlife lovers who want genuine wilderness without crowds, yes. It is one of the few places where you can see rainforest animals and ocean wildlife together.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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