Gabon · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Gabon
These are the places worth your time in Gabon, from Libreville's markets and seafront to the turtle beaches of Pongara, Lambaréné's lakes, Lopé's mandrills and Loango's wild coast. Classics sit beside lesser-known corners, so every kind of traveller finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Libreville
Arts and Culture
- Musée National des Arts, Rites et Traditions du Gabon (Centre ville)
The best introduction to Gabon's peoples, with masks and ritual objects from across the country. - Église Saint-Michel de Nkembo (Nkembo)
A church famous for its carved wooden columns telling Bible stories in a Gabonese style. - Cathédrale Sainte-Marie (Centre ville)
The city's historic cathedral, tied to the mission that shaped early Libreville. - Institut Français du Gabon (Centre ville)
Concerts, films, exhibitions and talks that bring together Gabonese and visiting artists. - Quartier Glass (Glass)
One of the oldest districts in the city, with port views and colonial era traces.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché de Mont-Bouët (Mont-Bouët)
The city's biggest market, a crowded maze of food, fabric and everyday life. - Marché de Nkembo (Nkembo)
A busy neighbourhood market for fresh produce, smoked fish and spices. - Marché d'Akébé (Akébé)
A local market well away from the tourist trail, good for seeing daily routines. - Centre Commercial Mbolo (Centre ville)
A long running shopping centre for supplies, pharmacies and air conditioned browsing.
Things to Do
- Bord de Mer promenade (Centre ville)
The seafront boulevard for evening walks, ocean breezes and sunsets over the estuary. - Boulevard Triomphal (Centre ville)
The grand avenue of monuments and ministries that shows off the capital's ambitions. - Gare d'Owendo (Owendo)
The Transgabonais railway station, starting point for the train journey to Lopé. - Port Môle (Centre ville)
The boat landing where crossings to Pointe-Denis begin. - Gare routière de PK8 (PK8)
The main bus station for trips south to Lambaréné and beyond. - Stade de l'Amitié (Angondjé)
The national stadium, where a Panthers football match is a lively day out.
Nature and Outdoors
- Akanda National Park (Akanda)
Mangroves and mudflats on the city's edge, rich in migrating birds. - Raponda Walker Arboretum (La Sablière)
Protected coastal forest and beach within easy reach of the city. - Cap Estérias (Cap Estérias)
Rocky coves, seafood and calm afternoons an hour north of the city. - Cap Santa Clara (Cap Santa Clara)
A quiet cape with a historic lighthouse and wild beaches. - Plage de La Sablière (La Sablière)
A city beach where Libreville families relax at weekends.
Bars and Nightlife
- Quartier Louis (Quartier Louis)
The classic nightlife district of terraces, bars and live music. - Maquis of Quartier Louis (Quartier Louis)
Simple open air spots for cold Régab and grilled food until late.
Restaurants
- Grilled fish stalls of Louis (Quartier Louis)
Poisson braisé straight off the coals, the authentic Libreville dinner.
Stays
- Radisson Blu Okoumé Palace (Centre ville)
A large seafront hotel with pool and estuary views, central for first-time visitors. - Onomo Hotel Libreville (Near the airport)
A modern, practical hotel close to the airport for arrivals and departures.
Events
- Independence Day celebrations (Boulevard Triomphal)
Parades and festivities around 17 August each year. - La Tropicale Amissa Bongo (City wide)
Africa's best known cycling race, which often passes through or finishes in Libreville. - Fête de la Musique (City wide)
Free music across the city every 21 June.
Places to Visit in Pointe-Denis
Nature and Outdoors
- Pongara National Park (Pongara)
Mangroves, forest and some of the world's key leatherback turtle nesting beaches. - Leatherback turtle nesting beaches (Pongara)
Watch giant turtles lay eggs at night with a guide in the nesting season. - Estuary beach at Pointe-Denis (Pointe-Denis)
Calm water and soft sand for swimming and lazing about. - Ocean beach at Pointe-Denis (Pointe-Denis)
Wild, empty Atlantic sand perfect for long walks.
Things to Do
- Boat crossing from Libreville (Komo estuary)
The short crossing is a mini adventure with views back to the city. - Pongara mangrove boat trip (Pongara)
Glide through mangrove channels looking for birds and monkeys. - Guided forest walk in Pongara (Pongara)
Look for tracks of elephants and red river hogs with a park guide. - Sunset over the Komo estuary (Pointe-Denis)
Watch the sun set over the water with Libreville's lights on the horizon.
Restaurants
- Beach grills of Pointe-Denis (Pointe-Denis)
Fresh grilled fish and plantain served right on the sand.
Events
- Turtle hatching season (Pongara)
Hatchlings scramble to the sea in the months after the nesting season.
Places to Visit in Lambaréné
Arts and Culture
- Albert Schweitzer Hospital Museum (Andendé)
The preserved home, wards and piano of the Nobel Peace Prize winning doctor. - Graves of Albert and Hélène Schweitzer (Andendé)
A quiet riverside resting place within the hospital grounds. - Andendé Protestant Mission (Andendé)
The old mission where Schweitzer first set up his practice. - Catholic Mission of Lambaréné (Lambaréné)
A historic mission that shaped education along the Ogooué.
Things to Do
- Pirogue trip on the Ogooué (Lambaréné)
See river life from a dugout canoe on Gabon's greatest river. - Lambaréné bridges (Lambaréné)
Walk the bridges for wide views up and down the river.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Zilé (Lambaréné)
A calm lake of fishing villages, water birds and floating plants. - Lake Evaro (Lambaréné)
A peaceful lake trip with kingfishers, herons and village life. - Lake Onangué (Lambaréné)
A large wild lake where hippos are sometimes seen.
Shopping and Markets
- Marché de Lambaréné (Lambaréné)
Smoked fish, cassava and spices from the river and forest.
Restaurants
- Smoked fish and nyembwe eateries by the market (Lambaréné)
Simple places serving river fish in palm nut sauce with bâton de manioc.
Places to Visit in Lopé
Nature and Outdoors
- Lopé National Park (Lopé)
Savannah meets rainforest in Gabon's UNESCO listed park. - Mandrill tracking (Lopé)
Search for huge groups of the world's most colourful monkey. - Lopé savannah drives (Lopé)
Open grasslands with elephants, buffalo and wide valley views. - Ogooué riverbank at Lopé (Lopé village)
Quiet evenings by the river as birds fly home to roost.
Arts and Culture
- Elarmékora rock engravings (Lopé)
Ancient carvings of circles and spirals above the river valley. - Lopé-Okanda archaeological sites (Lopé)
Traces of thousands of years of human life along the Ogooué. - SEGC research station (Lopé)
The long running research station behind decades of gorilla and mandrill science.
Things to Do
- Transgabonais train to Lopé (Owendo to Lopé)
A long, memorable rail journey through the rainforest. - Lopé station (Lopé village)
The little station where the train delivers you into the park. - Lopé village (Lopé)
A small village for a feel of daily life in the interior.
Places to Visit in Loango
Nature and Outdoors
- Loango National Park (Loango)
Beaches where elephants, hippos and buffalo roam beside the rainforest. - Iguéla lagoon (Loango)
Boat safaris among hippos, fish eagles and mangroves. - Loango beach game drives (Loango)
Watch forest elephants and buffalo on the sand. - Sette Cama (Sette Cama)
A remote village at the southern edge of the park, gateway to wild coast. - Ndogo lagoon (Sette Cama)
A wild lagoon of forest islands and rich birdlife. - Fernan Vaz lagoon (Fernan Vaz)
A wide lagoon of villages, islands and calm water.
Events
- Humpback whale season (Loango)
Whales breach offshore in the dry season months. - Turtle nesting season in Loango (Loango)
Leatherback and olive ridley turtles nest on the beaches.
Things to Do
- Omboué (Fernan Vaz)
The small lagoon town that is the gateway to the park.
Arts and Culture
- Sainte-Anne Mission (Fernan Vaz)
A historic church on the Fernan Vaz lagoon with an iron frame linked to Eiffel's era.
Places to Visit in Port-Gentil
Nature and Outdoors
- Cap Lopez (Cap Lopez)
The sandy cape where the Ogooué meets the Atlantic, with long beaches. - Plages of Mandji Island (Mandji Island)
Long beaches on the island Port-Gentil stands on.
Arts and Culture
- Cap Lopez lighthouse (Cap Lopez)
A historic lighthouse guarding the entrance to the oil capital.
Shopping and Markets
- Grand Marché de Port-Gentil (Centre)
The town's main market for fish, produce and fabrics. - Marché du Grand Village (Grand Village)
A lively local market in one of the oldest districts.
Things to Do
- Port-Gentil seafront (Centre)
An easy evening stroll along the waterfront. - Boat to the Ogooué delta (Port-Gentil)
Explore the maze of channels and mangroves of the river delta. - Port-Gentil International Airport (Port-Gentil)
The jumping off point for onward boats and flights towards Loango National Park.
Restaurants
- Seafood grills of the port (Centre)
Fresh fish grilled the Port-Gentil way, just in from the boats.
Places to Visit in Ivindo
Nature and Outdoors
- Kongou Falls (Ivindo National Park)
Spectacular falls on the Ivindo river deep in the rainforest. - Langoué Baï (Ivindo National Park)
A forest clearing where elephants and gorillas come to feed.
Things to Do
- Makokou (Makokou)
The river town gateway to Ivindo National Park.
Places to Visit in Monts de Cristal
Nature and Outdoors
- Monts de Cristal National Park (Monts de Cristal)
Misty hills with extraordinary orchids and begonias. - Kinguélé Falls (Kinguélé)
Waterfalls on the Mbei river in the Crystal Mountains.
Places to Visit in Franceville
Nature and Outdoors
- Poubara Falls (Poubara)
Falls on the Ogooué with a traditional liana bridge nearby. - Batéké Plateau National Park (Batéké Plateau)
Rolling grassland and gallery forest unlike anywhere else in Gabon. - Parc de la Lékédi (Bakoumba)
A wildlife park in the south east with primates and savannah animals. - Lékoni Canyons (Lékoni)
Red earth canyons that glow at sunset on the Batéké Plateau.
Places to Visit in Lastoursville
Nature and Outdoors
- Lastoursville Caves (Lastoursville)
Limestone caves near the Ogooué for adventurous explorers.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Marché de Louis (Quartier Louis, Libreville)
A handy market for fruit, snacks and local ingredients near the nightlife district. - Artisan stalls for Mbigou soapstone and masks (Centre ville, Libreville)
Where to find carved masks and the famous soapstone figures from Mbigou. - Jardin Botanique de Libreville (Centre ville, Libreville)
A small green space for a shaded walk among tropical plants. - Seafront bars on the Bord de Mer (Centre ville, Libreville)
Sundowner terraces where you can watch the lights come on across the estuary. - La Dolce Vita (La Sablière, Libreville)
A beachside restaurant for seafood with your feet almost in the sand. - Restaurant L'Odika (Quartier Louis, Libreville)
A good place to try odika and other Gabonese sauces. - Pâtisserie Pélisson (Centre ville, Libreville)
A French style bakery for croissants, coffee and cakes. - Boulangeries of the centre ville (Centre ville, Libreville)
Fresh baguettes and coffee for an easy breakfast before exploring. - Hôtel Le Nomad (Quartier Louis, Libreville)
A boutique stay close to the restaurants and bars of Louis. - Hôtel Re-Ndama (Centre ville, Libreville)
A seafront hotel convenient for walks along the Bord de Mer. - Gabao Hip Hop Festival (City wide, Libreville)
A festival that has showcased Gabon's strong rap and urban music scene. - Pongara Lodge (Pointe-Denis, Pointe-Denis)
A beach lodge close to the turtle beaches for a quiet escape. - Beach bungalows of Pointe-Denis (Pointe-Denis, Pointe-Denis)
Simple bungalows where weekends are spent between beach and table. - Aventures Sans Frontières turtle programme (Pongara, Pointe-Denis)
A conservation group whose turtle work you can learn about on guided walks. - Ngomo (Lambaréné, Lambaréné)
A historic river mission village reached by boat on the Ogooué. - Hôtel Ogooué Palace (Lambaréné, Lambaréné)
A long standing hotel with a pool, convenient for exploring the town. - Schweitzer Hospital guest rooms (Andendé, Lambaréné)
Simple rooms linked to the hospital for a stay steeped in history. - Mont Brazza viewpoint (Lopé, Lopé)
A hilltop view over the Ogooué valley named after the explorer. - Lopé Hotel (Lopé village, Lopé)
A hotel overlooking the Ogooué and the usual base for park trips. - Mikongo Camp (Lopé, Lopé)
A forest camp in the southern part of the park. - Fernan Vaz Gorilla Project (Fernan Vaz, Loango)
Gorilla rehabilitation work on islands in the lagoon. - Loango Lodge (Iguéla, Loango)
A lodge on the Iguéla lagoon long used as the base for park safaris. - Akaka Camp (Loango, Loango)
A remote riverside camp deep in the park. - Cathédrale Saint-Louis (Centre, Port-Gentil)
The town's main church, a landmark of the centre. - Waterfront bars of Port-Gentil (Centre, Port-Gentil)
Sundowners in the town where the oil workers unwind. - Hôtel Le Ranch (Centre, Port-Gentil)
A practical base before boat transfers to Loango.