Culture - Research Africa > West of Africa > Gabon - - Afran Studies - AFRAN Study and Research Institute (Africa & Iran)

Culture 0 690 reads

1) General culture

Education

Adjusted savings: education expenditure > % of GNI	3.29 % of GNI	[111st of 168]
Children out of school, primary	46,307	[54th of 126]
Children out of school, primary, female	23,169	[49th of 117]
Children out of school, primary, male	23,138	[49th of 117]
Duration of compulsory education	11 years	[30th of 171]
Duration of education > Primary level	6	[110th of 181]
Duration of education > Secondary level	7	[57th of 181]
Education enrolment by level > Primary level	279,816	[118th of 189]
Education enrolment by level > Secondary level	105,191	[115th of 171]
Education enrolment by level > Tertiary level	7,473	[103rd of 150]
Education enrolment by level, percentage girls > Primary level	49.45%	[14th of 179]
Education enrolment by level, percentage girls > Secondary level	46.33%	[118th of 162]
Education enrolment by level, percentage girls > Tertiary level	35.69%	[92nd of 126]
Education enrolment ratio, net, primary level	78%	[112nd of 160]
Education enrolment ratio, net, primary level > Men	78%	[108th of 160]
Education enrolment ratio, net, primary level > Women	78%	[106th of 160]
Education expenditure of government > As percentage of GNI	4.6%	[55th of 127]
Education spending (% of GDP)	3.9%	[85th of 132]
Education, percentage of pupils starting grade 1 reaching grade 5	55.5%	[97th of 112]
Education, percentage of pupils starting grade 1 reaching grade 5 > Men	53.7%	[92nd of 101]
Education, percentage of pupils starting grade 1 reaching grade 5 > Women	57.4%	[88th of 101]
Education, primary completion rate	66	[121st of 148]
Education, primary completion rate > Men	65	[119th of 145]
Education, primary completion rate > Women	68	[112nd of 145]
Female enrolment share > Primary level	49.6%	[10th of 176]
Female enrolment share > Secondary level	48.3%	[110th of 170]
Geographical aptitude results	73.376	[73rd of 191]
Girls to boys ratio, primary level enrolment	0.99	[75th of 183]
Girls to boys ratio, secondary level enrolment	0.86	[124th of 172]
Girls to boys ratio, tertiary level enrolment	0.54	[99th of 139]
Gross intake rate in grade 1, female > % of relevant age group	94.18 %	[114th of 156]
Gross intake rate in grade 1, male > % of relevant age group	94.29 %	[124th of 156]
Gross intake rate in grade 1, total > % of relevant age group	94.23 %	[122nd of 157]
Literacy rates, aged 15-24	96.2%	[18th of 138]
Literacy rates, aged 15-24 > Men	97.3%	[17th of 138]
Literacy rates, aged 15-24 > Women	95.1%	[20th of 138]
Persistence to grade 5, female > % of cohort	70.75 %	[59th of 83]
Persistence to grade 5, male > % of cohort	67.9 %	[65th of 83]
Persistence to grade 5, total > % of cohort	69.32 %	[65th of 92]
Primary completion rate, female > % of relevant age group	67.6 %	[105th of 138]
Primary completion rate, male > % of relevant age group	64.79 %	[114th of 138]
Primary completion rate, total > % of relevant age group	66.19 %	[112nd of 141]
Primary education, duration > years	6 years	[64th of 197]
Primary education, pupils	281,371	[113rd of 176]
Primary education, pupils > % female	49.44 % female	[13th of 175]
Primary education, teachers	7,807	[103rd of 159]
Primary education, teachers > % female	44.65 % female	[117th of 153]
Private school enrolment > Primary level	28.2	[25th of 148]
Private school enrolment > Secondary level	29.3	[34th of 131]
Public spending on education, total > % of GDP	3.93 %	[72nd of 136]
Public spending on education, total > % of government expenditure	9.61 %	[38th of 103]
Public spending per student > Primary level	4.6	[114th of 126]
Public spending per student > Secondary level	18.5	[70th of 123]
Public spending per student > Tertiary level	50.9	[55th of 123]
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary	36.04	[31st of 159]
Pupils reaching grade 5	59.3	[97th of 108]
Pupils-teacher ratio > primary level	49.2	[16th of 175]
Pupils-teacher ratio > secondary level	28.1	[20th of 121]
Ratio of female to male enrollments in tertiary education	53.82	[99th of 137]
Ratio of female to male primary enrollment	99.47	[50th of 174]
Ratio of female to male secondary enrollment	86.09	[114th of 162]
Ratio of girls to boys in primary and secondary education > %	94.04 %	[104th of 157]
Repetition rate, primary > % of total enrollment	34.41 %	[1st of 128]
Repetition rate, primary, female > % of total enrollment	33.66 %	[1st of 125]
Repetition rate, primary, male > % of total enrollment	35.13 %	[1st of 125]
Repitition rate > Primary level	36.9	[1st of 143]
Repitition rate > Secondary level	22	[3rd of 82]
School enrollment, preprimary > % gross	13.86 % gross	[124th of 159]
School enrollment, preprimary, female > % gross	13.99 % gross	[119th of 153]
School enrollment, preprimary, male > % gross	13.74 % gross	[119th of 153]
School enrollment, primary > % gross	129.55 % gross	[8th of 176]
School enrollment, primary > % net	76.75 % net	[109th of 139]
School enrollment, primary, female > % gross	129.2 % gross	[7th of 174]
School enrollment, primary, female > % net	76.51 % net	[103rd of 137]
School enrollment, primary, male > % gross	129.89 % gross	[8th of 174]
School enrollment, primary, male > % net	77 % net	[105th of 136]
School enrollment, primary, private > % of total primary	29.32 %	[25th of 139]
School enrollment, secondary > % gross	50.09 % gross	[121st of 164]
School enrollment, secondary, female > % gross	41.92 % gross	[107th of 162]
School enrollment, secondary, male > % gross	48.69 % gross	[108th of 162]
School enrollment, secondary, private > % of total secondary	29.82 %	[24th of 124]
School enrollment, tertiary > % gross	6.55 % gross	[95th of 141]
School enrollment, tertiary, female > % gross	4.61 % gross	[91st of 137]
School enrollment, tertiary, male > % gross	8.56 % gross	[88th of 137]
Scientific and technical journal articles	20	[111st of 175]
Secondary education, general pupils	97,604	[124th of 183]
Secondary education, pupils	105,191	[115th of 166]
Secondary education, pupils > % female	2.44 % female	[146th of 153]
Secondary education, teachers	3,078	[98th of 141]
Secondary education, teachers > % female	16.28 % female	[99th of 131]
Secondary education, vocational pupils	7,587	[101st of 163]
Tertiary enrollment	8%	[102nd of 151]
Trained teachers in primary education > % of total teachers	100 %	[7th of 61]
Trained teachers in primary education, female > % of female teachers	100 %	[5th of 56]
Trained teachers in primary education, male > % of male teachers	100 %	[4th of 56]
Unemployment with primary education > % of total unemployment	70.2 %	[5th of 78]
Unemployment with primary education, female > % of female unemployment	73.4 %	[3rd of 72]
Unemployment with primary education, male > % of male unemployment	68 %	[8th of 72]
Unemployment with secondary education > % of total unemployment	8.8 %	[47th of 77]
Women to men parity index, as ratio of literacy rates, aged 15-24	0.98	[24th of 138]
World Organization of the Scout Movement > Members > Admits Boys/Girls	both

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database; UNESCO; Source: UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics; United Nations Human Development Programme; The Geography Zone; Wikipedia: List of World Organization of the Scout Movement members

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

Health

% immunized 1-year-old children > DPT3	38	[184th of 187]
% immunized 1-year-old children > Measles	55	[167th of 186]
% immunized 1-year-old children > Polio3	31	[186th of 187]
% immunized 1-year-old children > TB	89	[101st of 153]
% immunized pregnant women tetanus	50	[31st of 54]
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities > Rural	43	[100th of 140]
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities > Total	53	[111st of 144]
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities > Urban	55	[130th of 141]
% of population using improved drinking water sources > Rural	47	[117th of 146]
% of population using improved drinking water sources > Total	86	[74th of 150]
% of population using improved drinking water sources > Urban	95	[70th of 147]
% of routine EPI vaccines financed by government > Total	100	[33rd of 133]
% under-fives with ARI --	13	[30th of 79]
% under-fives with ARI taken to health provider	48	[47th of 80]
Abortion law > National laws > Physical Health	No
Access to sanitation	98%	[32nd of 129]
Adolescent fertility rate > births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	102.4 births	[29th of 184]
ARI treatment > % of children under 5 taken to a health provider	48 %	[30th of 52]
Birth rate, crude > per 1,000 people	29.9 per 1,000 people	[48th of 195]
Births attended by skilled health staff > % of total	85.5 %	[36th of 76]
Births with health staff	86%	[54th of 116]
Contraception	33%	[57th of 89]
Contraceptive prevalence > % of women ages 15-49	32.7 %	[30th of 57]
Dependency ratio per 100	82	[40th of 166]
Diarrhea treatment > % of children under 5 receiving oral rehydration and continued feeding	43.7 %	[16th of 47]
Drinking water availability %	86%	[71st of 147]
Drug access	0%	[157th of 163]
expenditure per capita > current US$	231.3 $	[71st of 186]
expenditure, private > % of GDP	1.4 %	[147th of 187]
expenditure, public > % of GDP	3.1 %	[101st of 187]
expenditure, total > % of GDP	4.5 %	[140th of 187]
External resources for health > % of total expenditure on health	1.3 %	[102nd of 141]
External resources for health as % of total expenditure on health	2.8%	[83rd of 179]
Female adults with HIV > % of population ages 15+ with HIV	58.93 %	[21st of 112]
Fertility rate, total > births per woman	3.73 births per woman	[51st of 194]
Healthy life expectancy at birth, years > Females	52.6	[139th of 186]
Healthy life expectancy at birth, years > Males	50.2	[141st of 186]
Healthy life expectancy at birth, years > Total population	51.4	[141st of 186]
HIVAIDS > children orphaned by AIDS 0-14 years,	9,000	[55th of 82]
Hospital beds > per 1,000 people	3.19 per 1,000 people	[69th of 149]
Immunization, DPT > % of children ages 12-23 months	38 %	[185th of 190]
Immunization, measles > % of children ages 12-23 months	55 %	[179th of 190]
Improved sanitation facilities > % of population with access	36 %	[136th of 167]
Improved sanitation facilities, rural > % of rural population with access	30 %	[127th of 167]
Improved sanitation facilities, urban > % of urban population with access	37 %	[167th of 173]
Improved water source > % of population with access	88 %	[87th of 176]
Improved water source, rural > % of rural population with access	47 %	[149th of 174]
Improved water source, urban > % of urban population with access	95 %	[112nd of 181]
Incidence of tuberculosis > per 100,000 people	307.54 per 100,000 people	[26th of 200]
Infant mortality rate	54.34	[48th of 179]
Intestinal diseases death rate	32.39%	[31st of 141]
life expectancy > Date of information	2006 est.
Life expectancy at birth, female > years	54.31 years	[150th of 194]
Life expectancy at birth, male > years	53.36 years	[147th of 194]
Life expectancy at birth, total > years	53.83 years	[149th of 194]
Life expectancy at birth, years > Females	60	[147th of 186]
Life expectancy at birth, years > Males	55	[149th of 186]
Life expectancy at birth, years > Total population	58	[147th of 186]
Major infectious diseases > Degree of risk	very high
Major infectious diseases > Food or waterborne diseases bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Malaria cases > per 100,000	2,148	[32nd of 94]
Malnutrition prevalence, height for age > % of children under 5	20.7 %	[12th of 52]
Malnutrition prevalence, weight for age > % of children under 5	11.9 %	[16th of 63]
Maternal mortality	520 per 100,000	[23rd of 136]
Measles immunization	55	[150th of 168]
Nutrition > % of children who are still breastfeeding 20-23 months	9	[100th of 105]
Nutrition > % of children who are � exclusively breastfed 6 months	6	[119th of 125]
Nutrition > % of households consuming iodized salt	15	[102nd of 112]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from stunting moderate & severe	21	[75th of 132]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from underweight moderate & severe	12	[82nd of 137]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from underweight severe	2	[75th of 104]
Nutrition > % of under-fives suffering from wasting moderate & severe	3	[96th of 128]
Nutrition > Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate 6-59 months	89	[29th of 57]
Out-of-pocket expenditure as % of private health expenditure	100%	[42nd of 185]
Out-of-pocket health expenditure > % of private expenditure on health	100 %	[15th of 185]
Per capita government expenditure on health in international dollars	102	[114th of 185]
Per capita total expenditure on health in international dollars	248	[100th of 185]
Physicians > per 1,000 people	0.29 per 1,000 people	[30th of 148]
Population suffering from undernourishment in 1990-1992	10 %	[78th of 106]
Population suffering from undernourishment in 2001-2003	5 %	[86th of 108]
Pregnant women receiving prenatal care > %	94.4 %	[12th of 62]
Prevalence of HIV, total > % of population ages 15-49	7.88 %	[11th of 148]
Prevalence of undernourishment > % of population	5 %	[106th of 172]
Private expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health	58.7%	[41st of 185]
Probability of dying before 5 > Females	109 per 1,000 people	[42nd of 187]
Probability of not reaching 40	32%	[33rd of 111]
Probability of reaching 65 > Female	48.7%	[125th of 159]
Probability of reaching 65 > Male	43.5%	[124th of 159]
Respiratory disease child death rate	202.51 (est)
Spending > Per person	122	[65th of 133]
Spending > Private	1	[124th of 141]
Spending > Public	2.1%
Tobacco > Cigarette consumption	487	[79th of 106]
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP	4.3%	[153rd of 185]
Total fertility rate	3.9	[57th of 166]
Tuberculosis cases > Per 100,000	187	[29th of 165]
Tuberculosis cases detected under DOTS > %	57.48 %	[98th of 178]
Tuberculosis immunisation	89%	[85th of 134]
Tuberculosis treatment success rate > % of registered cases	40.29 %	[167th of 171]
Unmet need for contraception > % of married women ages 15-49	28 %	[6th of 13]
Water availability	133,333 cubic meters	[8th of 169]

SOURCES
UNICEF; Wikipedia: Abortion law ; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; World Development Indicators database; WHO 2002a; UN (United Nations). 2002. United Nations Population Division Database on Contraceptive Use. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. January. New York; World Health Organization; World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report and updates provided by UNICEF to the United Nations Millennium Indicator Database; WHO (World Health Organization). 2001. Correspondence on access to essential drugs. Department of Essential Drugs and Medecines Policy. February. Geneva; CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; World Health Organisation. 1997-1999 World Health Statistics Annual. Geneva: WHO, 2000; Wikipedia: List of countries by life expectancy ; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; UNHDR; UNICEF (United Nations Children?s Fund). 2002. Official Summary: The State of the World's Children 2002. New York: Oxford University Press.; UNICEF; Wikipedia: List of countries by percentage of population suffering from undernourishment ; The World Health Report 2001; UN 2001 via backone.pdf; UN (United Nations). 2001. World Population Prospects 1950-2050: The 2000 Revision. Database. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. New York.; UN (United Nations). 2001. World Population Prospects 1950-2050: The 2000 Revision. Database. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. New York; World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC; ; World Health Organization

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

Sports

African Cup of Nations > Most tournaments hosted > Hosts	1 time
FIFA World Ranking > Men	455	[100th of 198]
FIFA World Ranking > Women	1,023	[109th of 117]

SOURCES
Wikipedia: African Cup of Nations ; Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA); FIFA Official Website, December 2005

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

Food

beverages and tobacco > % of value added in manufacturing	45.77 %	[11th of 103]
exports > % of merchandise exports	1.25 %	[123rd of 156]

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

Language

French speakers	37,500	[9th of 31]
French status The only language of formal education. Official language. Bible 1530-1986.
Languages of the African Union > Illiteracy > Literacy rate	71	[129th of 174]

SOURCES
Ethnologue; Wikipedia: Languages of the African Union

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

2) Religion

Catholic > Diocesan priests	55	[99th of 143]
Catholic > Dioceses	6	[85th of 150]
Catholic > Parishes	54	[100th of 149]
Catholic > Religious Priests	66	[91st of 148]
Catholic > Total Priests	121	[96th of 149]
Catholics	873,000	[74th of 140]
Catholics as percentage	50.17	[45th of 150]
Islam > Percentage Muslim	1%	[124th of 168]
Islam > Population	13,892	[138th of 165]
Islam in Africa > Islamic population in Africa and population percentage > Population	1 %	[42nd of 45]
Jehovahs Witnesses	2,818	[94th of 178]
Protestantism > By country > Protestants	277,840	[91st of 167]
Protestantism > By country > Protestants > % Protestant	20 %	[55th of 163]
Religions > All Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Roman Catholicism > By country > Roman Catholicism > % Catholic	50.17 %	[48th of 170]
Roman Catholicism > By country > Roman Catholicism > Catholic total	696,962	[83rd of 170]
Seventh-day Adventist Membership	2,662	[122nd of 232]

SOURCES
Catholic Hierarchy.org; International Religious Freedom Report 2004, U.S. State Department; CIA World Factbook; Wikipedia: Islam in Africa ; watchtower.org - 2002 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide; Wikipedia: Protestantism by country ; CIA World Factbook, 22 August 2006 ; Wikipedia: Roman Catholicism by country ; adventiststatistics.org 2004 Annual Report 31 December 2004

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

3) Media

Average cost of local call	0.15	[13th of 151]
Computer, communications and other services > % of commercial service exports	15.93 %	[100th of 153]
Computer, communications and other services > % of commercial service imports	37.45 %	[41st of 155]
DVD region	5	[55th of 171]
E-Government rating	32	[166th of 182]
Fax machines	0.41 per 1,000 people	[81st of 103]
Fixed line and mobile phone subscribers > per 1,000 people	497.84 per 1,000 people	[80th of 193]
HAM radio prefixes	TRA - TRZ
Households with television > %	53.85 %	[86th of 160]
International dialling code	241
International voice traffic > out and in, minutes	83,767,790 min.	[63rd of 164]
Investment in telecoms with private participation > current US$	9,000,000 $	[78th of 101]
Investment in telecoms with private participation > current US$ (per $ GDP)	1.811 $ per $1,000 of GDP	[104th of 130]
Mobile phone subscribers	649,807	[114th of 198]
Newspapers and periodicals > Circulation > Daily	35,000	[74th of 90]
Newspapers and periodicals > Number of titles > Daily	2	[95th of 106]
Number of PCs	40	[131st of 169]
Number of PCs (per $ GDP)	0.05 per $10 million of GDP	[112nd of 144]
Personal computers	45,000	[45th of 164]
Phone subscribers	234.01	[94th of 178]
Population covered by mobile telephony > %	78 %	[56th of 108]
Price basket for mobile > US$ per month	14.65 $/month	[53rd of 185]
Price basket for residential fixed line > US$ per month	32.44 $/month	[10th of 151]
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4
Radio receivers	208,000	[159th of 188]
Radios	208,000	[158th of 221]
Telecommunications investment > % of revenue	27.6 %	[18th of 165]
Telecommunications investment > current LCU	28014000000
Telecommunications revenue > % GDP	1.82 % GDP	[72nd of 167]
Telecommunications revenue > current LCU	77458910000
Telephone average cost of call to US > US$ per three minutes	2.77 $	[3rd of 142]
Telephone average cost of call to US > US$ per three minutes (per $ GDP)	343.866 $ per $1 trillion of GD	[2nd of 174]
Telephone employees, total	2,165	[70th of 194]
Telephone faults > per 100 mainlines	45 per 100 mainlines	[11th of 134]
Telephone mainlines	39,128	[125th of 202]
Telephone subscribers	688,935	[108th of 199]
Telephone subscribers per employee	243.89	[75th of 191]
Telephone system > Regulation	2000
Television broadcast stations	4	[18th of 89]
Television receivers	63,000	[144th of 185]
Television standard > VHF	SECAM K1
Televisions	63,000	[150th of 215]

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database; Amazon.com; report presents the second annual update on global e-government, i.e., the delivery of public sector information and online services through the Internet. This report studies the features that are available online at national government websites. Using a detailed analysis of 1.197 government websites in 198 different nations, it measures the information and services that are online, chart the variations that exist across countries, and discuss how e-government sites vary by region of the world. In order to see how the 198 nations ranked overall, the E-Government Ranking 2002 created a 0 to 100 point index and applied it to each nation's websites based on the availability of contact information, publications, databases, portals, and number of online services. (2002); The Information for Development Program; hamcity.com; Source: UNESCO UIS Data | UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ITU; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; ITU-BDT Telecommunications Regulatory Database; Tenlab May 2002

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

Internet

Broadband subscribers	1,515	[97th of 117]
Country code	.ga
Hosts	88	[191st of 228]
International Internet bandwidth > Mbps	200 Mbps	[46th of 167]
International Internet bandwidth > Mbps (per $ GDP)	24.828 Mbps per $1 trillion of	[40th of 184]
Internet Service Providers	1	[216th of 229]
ISP	1	[31st of 162]
Livejournal users	24	[201st of 226]
Price basket for Internet > US$ per month	40.08 $/month	[39th of 180]
Secure Internet servers	7	[125th of 183]
TLD	.ga
Users	145,000	[116th of 190]

SOURCES
World Development Indicators database; IANA: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; CIA World Factbook, December 2003; LiveJournal

ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Gabon, Gabonese Republic, Republique Gabonaise

4) Tourism

Right Now
Gabon’s tourism industry is still in its infancy stage, but beautiful weather all year round, there is almost never a bad time to explore Gabon. The bigger cities like Libreville and Port-Gentil are full of restaurants, bars, and casinos, but we particularly like the country’s parks and beaches, so be sure to check out our top recommendations. Gabon’s various ecosystems include everything from pristine coastal beaches to lush rain forests, and the country's biodiversity and low population ensure that the savanna and forests are teeming with a huge variety of wildlife—not tourists. Pack your camera; the natural wonders of Gabon are worth remembering for a lifetime. Making everyone at home jealous with your photos is just a fringe benefit.

The Top 10: What to Do in Gabon
1. Lopé National Park: If you are looking for perfect photo spots in Gabon, it’s worth your while to include Lopé National Park on your itinerary. The protected rain forest and savanna areas of the park are home to elephants, buffalo, and hogs. Keep your eyes peeled for the colorful and sometimes intimidating mandrills, too. We recommend staying the night at the Lopé Hotel before touring the park.
2. Mayumba: It is not easy to get to, but the rewards are rich for those who find Mayumba, located near the Congolese border. With its white, serene beaches, Mayumba is a premier resort area in Gabon. From July to September, you can see thousands of humpback whales swimming in the sea and leatherback turtles nesting in the sand, and you can feast on freshly caught fish every day.
3. Cirque de Léconi: While you are near the border with Congo, you should also check out the Cirque de Léconi, a beautiful, circular, red rock canyon. The best way to enjoy the canyon is to rent camping equipment and spend the night. The view of the canyon in the waning sunlight is unforgettable.
4. Bateke Plateau National Park: Covering 790 square miles in the southeastern part of Gabon, Bateke Plateau National Park is hard to reach but an amazing site to visit. The ancient volcanic area is full of elephants, buffalo, lions, gorillas, and other animals. Take a walk through the park and cross the large bridges that span the rivers. If you’re going to make an excursion to the park, plan to spend a few days in the area.
5. National Museum of Arts and Tradition: When in Libreville, we recommend visiting the National Museum of Arts and Tradition (known in French as the Musée des Arts et Traditions du Gabon) for a few hours. A walk through the halls of the museum, which include sections on statues and masks, will introduce you to the traditions and art of Gabon.
6. Cathedral of St. Michael: Another worthwhile site in Libreville is the Cathedral of St. Michael. The cathedral has 31 carved wooden columns that depict various biblical scenes. (It’s said that a blind craftsman carved the columns.)
7. Mont-Bouët Market: It’s time to go shopping. The Mont-Bouët market is Libreville’s largest, and exploring it makes for a fun day. Check out the fruit stands early in the morning, and spend the rest of the day admiring fabrics, jewelry, and other goods. One word of caution: the market (or marché, as it’s called in Gabon) is a favorite place for pickpockets. Keep your belongings close to you.
8. Presidential Palace: Built in 1970, the Presidential Palace in Libreville is a magnificent building that rises from the low-lying landscape of the city. There is usually a crowd outside admiring the ornate building. It’s illegal to take pictures of the building, so be careful if you try to sneak a shot.
9. Cap Estérias: For a quieter beach experience, you can travel an hour north of Libreville to the Cap Estérias, a perfect spot for water sports or plain relaxation. The route to the beach can be a bit confusing, so we recommend hiring a driver for the day to take you to the Cap Estérias.
10. Pointe Denis Beach: We love this beach for its versatility: you can remain outdoors from day to night and set up a tent under the stars for an overnight stay. (Hotels are available for those who feel less than comfortable camping.) During the day, hop on a boat to tour the beach’s estuary.

When to Go
Gabon is hot year-round, but it has also has an extensive rainy season. If you are looking for heat and sun, then January, December, and May through September are the best times to visit. For whale watching, note that the humpbacks migrate from July to October, and the beaches of Loango National Park are the most active with wildlife from November through March.

Items by the same author

Other articles in this category
Gabon at a glance
Geography
History
Culture
Economy (1)
Economy (2)
Politics
Military