Gabon travel guide
Gabon could be the next big thing in African ecotourism: its forests are packed with chimpanzees, gorillas and more – you just need a bit of patience to see them
Set on the equator, in western Central Africa, Gabon is stunningly beautiful and has the potential to be one of the world’s top destinations for ecotourism.
Currently, its oil and mineral reserves, combined with a small population, have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthiest countries. But the late President Bongo realised his country was too dependent on its oil, so gave more than 10% of the country over to national parks in 2002, acknowledging that Gabon’s other natural resources could be key to its economic future.
This is a land of astonishing wildlife, including lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, while endangered turtles and whales ply its unspoilt Atlantic coast. It has fantastic potential for ecotourism and adventure travel, but still has a long way to go in terms of infrastructure.
Wanderlust recommends
- Visit Loango National Park for its mix of coast and rainforest: humpback whales and turtles can be seen in season; elephants and hippos patrol the beaches; gorillas and chimps are sometimes seen.
- Lopé National Park has thousands of gorillas, with a research station, Mikongo, where you can stay. It is also famous for its huge troops of mandrills, with several hundred sometimes seen together, particularly in July and August.
- Bais are forest clearings where wildlife congregate. One of the best known, especially for its gorilla sightings, is Langoue Bai in Ivindo National Park. The park also has the stunning Mingouli waterfalls.
Wanderlust tips
Ignore misleading articles and marketing materials that wax lyrical about surfing hippos, the gorillas and abundant wildlife. It is all there, lots of it, but you’re not guaranteed seeing any of it. The wildlife, like the people, have only been introduced to tourism recently, so a lot of patience is called for.