Things to do in Gabon

Observe the famous 'surfing hippos' that frolic in the Atlantic waves along Loango's remote beaches.

Trek through ancient rainforest and savannah mosaics to find forest elephants and buffalo in one of Central Africa’s most accessible wildlife reserves.

Trek deep into Ivindo National Park to witness the monumental Kongou Falls, a 3-kilometer-wide wall of water plunging 56 meters into the forest.

Follow primatologists into the forest to see the world’s largest mandrill gatherings.

Step into the Nobel laureate’s 1913 jungle hospital, now a museum, to learn about humanitarian medicine and Schweitzer’s complex legacy on the Ogooué River.

Escape Libreville’s bustle by taking a short boat ride to Pointe Denis, where golden sands meet calm waters perfect for swimming and sundowners.

Immerse yourself in Libreville’s largest market, a lively maze of colourful textiles, traditional medicines, fresh produce, and street food aromas.

Admire Gabon’s finest collection of ancestral masks, reliquary figures, and musical instruments that narrate the spiritual depth of the Bantu and Pygmy civilisations.

Track habituated western lowland gorillas through dense, remote rainforest in one of the few places where you can sit meters away from a silverback.

Marvel at a prefabricated iron church attributed to Gustave Eiffel, standing incongruously beside a peaceful lagoon with a poignant missionary history.

Walk moonlit beaches during nesting season (November–March) as giant leatherback turtles haul themselves ashore to lay eggs just across the estuary from Libreville.

Paddle silently through tannin-dark waters fringed by mangrove tunnels, spotting kingfishers, herons, and the occasional West African manatee.

With permission and respectful guidance, observe a night-long Fang Bwiti spiritual ritual, using ancestral harp music and iboga root to connect with the unseen.

Summit the isolated peak named after explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, offering panoramic views of savannah and forest near the Congo border.

Stroll Libreville’s seafront promenade to view the striking modern Presidential Palace and its immaculate gardens, a symbol of Gabonese statehood.

Dine on grilled barracuda, lobster, or crevettes at a beachside maquis, where the ocean breeze meets warm Gabonese hospitality.

Visit artisan workshops in Mbigou to watch Punu sculptors carving distinctive thin-lipped masks and figurines from the region’s famous soft stone.

Wander streets lined with faded wooden colonnades and 1920s oil-boom architecture, capturing the atmosphere where the Ogooué meets the Atlantic.

Board the overnight train from Libreville to Franceville, slicing through steaming rainforests, logging towns, and remote villages accessible only by rail.

Scan the calm lagoon waters from a pirogue to glimpse West African manatees surfacing among the lily pads of this protected sanctuary.

Explore a subterranean labyrinth of limestone caverns and tunnels, once used by ancestors and now sheltering bats and unique invertebrates.

Embark on a guided hike into the misty Chaillu Mountains, home to the rare sun-tailed monkey, a shy primate discovered only in 1988.

Catch a live show of traditional mvet music or contemporary Afropop dance in this dynamic cultural hub that draws local and international artists.

Step inside this imposing twin-towered cathedral, an architectural landmark blending European stained-glass artistry with Gabonese Christian heritage.

Cast into rich Gulf of Guinea waters around the Cap Lopez peninsula, chasing trophy tarpon and jack crevalle with seasoned local guides.