©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Gabon% POP 1,738,500 / 241 Includes ¨ Why Go? Libreville......................271 With an impressive 11.25% of the country proclaimed as na- Pointe Denis ............... 275 tional parkland, Gabon offers a spectacular array of wildlife Port-Gentil ................. 276 in its dense rainforests and open savannah to enthral nature Omboué & enthusiasts. Add to that superb white-sand beaches, rushing Fernan Vaz Lagoon .... 277 rivers and ethereal landscapes, and you have an Eden-like travel experience in an unexplored part of Africa. Loango National Park ............. 278 Gabon is the region’s most progressive and traveller- friendly destination, although tourism remains extreme- Setté Cama ................ 279 ly DIY. You’ll either have to put yourself into the hands Mayumba of a travel agency, or negotiate the poor roads, infrequent National Park ............. 279 transport options and the almost total lack of reliable infra- Lambaréné .................280 structure yourself. Outside the cosmopolitan Libreville and Lopé National Park .....281 Port-Gentil, the country’s largest cities, Gabon is an undis- Ivindo National Park ...281 covered wonderland not to be missed. Understand Gabon ....282 Survival Guide ............284 When to Go Best Places to Eat Libreville ¨ L’Odika (p273) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 ¨ Le Bistrot (p277) 20/500 16/400 ¨ La Dolce Vita (p271) 30/86 ¨ 12/300 Le Voilier (p274) 20/68 8/200 10/50 4/100 Best Places 0/32 0 to Sleep J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨ Loango Lodge (p279) May–Sep The dry Jul–Sep Have a Nov–Jan Spot ¨ Pongara Lodge (p276) season makes close encounter turtles coming overland transport with a whale swim- ashore to lay ¨ L’Hôtellerie de l’Hôpital faster and wildlife ming off Gabon’s their eggs on the Albert Schweitzer (p280) easier to see. coastline. beaches. ¨ Le Leet Dorian (p271) 270 C A M E R O O N Ambam Kom River Ntem River Minvoul Ebebiyin Bitam N2 Bata Mt Minkébé Nouna (937m) Mongomo Oyem R E P U B L I C River O F C O N G O E Q U A T O R I A L Minkébé G U I N E A NP Acalayong ) Cogo Bélinga Cocobeach N4 Mékambo Cap Monts de Mitzic Akanda Malouma Cristal NP River Estérias NP Mikongo Makokou Ntoum N5 Mwagna LIBREVILLE Komo Lalara NP Pointe Denis Owendo Ivindo GABON GABON Pongara Lopé NP Booué NP Equator Nyonié Bifoun Ndjolé Makoghe er iv Lopé R ÎleGAB de National Park Mandji N3 Lastoursville Okondja Lambaréné (Bonda) Port-on N Ogooué g Masif du Chaillu Gentil o H Ogooué u Mt Mimongo n Mt Iboundji i (875m) ighlights Lake é (972m) Koulamoutou River Onangué Fougamou Fernan Vaz River Waka Lagoon NP Mt Birougou Moanda Léconi Omboué Evengué N1 (975m) Franceville Bongoville St Catherine's Poubara Falls Iguéla Mouila Birougou Bakoumba Ekouyi NP Tassi Moukalaba- Mbinda Kessala Akaka Loango Doudou NP National Park Bateke Plateaux N'Dendé NP Setté Cama Mourindi Doussala Gamba Igotchi Tchibanga R E P U B L I C O F C O N G O Loubomo Mt Mpélé (834m) A T L A N T I C Mayumba 0 100 km O C E A N Banio Lagoon 0 50 miles Mayumba National Park NP National Park Gabon Highlights 1 Loango National Park 3 Libreville (p271) Kicking 5 Lambaréné (p280) (p278) Following a troop of back in this cosmo politan city Exploring the charming, laid- wild gorillas. and taking a day trip to nearby back town made famous by 2 Lopé National Park Pointe Denis. the Nobel prize-winning Albert (p281) Coming across wild 4 Mayumba National Park Schweitzer. elephants amid spectacular (p279) Bodysurfing the waves scenery. while watching humpback whales breach in the distance..