Gabon

Interesting facts about Gabon include its diverse wildlife (Shutterstock) Fast facts Official name: Gabonese Republic Population: 2,284,912 Area: 267,667 sq km Capital city: Libreville Major languages: French, Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi Major religions: Roman Catholic 42.3%, Protestant 12.3%, other Christian 27.4%, Muslim 9.8% Time zone: UTC+1 (West Africa Time) – Source: Interesting facts about Gabon 1. Gabon is located on the west coast of – Source: 2. Archaeological evidence suggests Gabon has been inhabited for over 400,000 years from the Palaeolithic, through the Neolithic and Iron Age, to the present day Bantu and Pygmy peoples. – Source: 3. The name Gabon comes from the Portuguese word “gabao” meaning “cloak”. Early explorers thought the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville was the shape of a cloak. – Source: Libreville on the Komo River (Shutterstock) 4. Gabon’s first contact with Europeans began with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1472. The British, Dutch and French all followed and trafficked slaves as well as ivory and tropical wood. – Source: 5. Libreville, the capital city, was originally settled by freed slaves in 1849. Libreville means “free town” in French which imitates Freetown, the capital of – Source: 6. Gabon has a horizontally striped green, yellow and blue flag. The yellow represents the Equator, the green symbolizes the extensive forested area, and the blue reflects the Atlantic coast. – Source: Gabon’s flag (...

Gabon Gabon is a country in west central Africa. It shares borders with Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and Equatorial Guinea to the northwest. To the west is the Gulf of Guinea. Its area is 270,000 sq. km. and its population is 2,096,745. Libreville is its capital. There have been three presidents since the country’s independence from France on August 17, 1960. Gabon introduced a new constitution in the early 1990s with a more transparent multi-party system. Gabon’s small population and natural resources has made it one of the regions most prosperous countries. History The Pygmy people were the earliest inhabitants but were largely replaced by the Bantu. The first Europeans arrived in the 15th century. The country’s name comes from the Portuguese word for cloak, which is the shape of the Komo River’s estuary by Libreville. Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, a French explorer, led a mission to the area in 1875. He became a governor and founded the town Franceville. Gabon became part of French Equatorial Africa in 1910. The federation of four territories survived until 1959. On August 17, 1960, these territories became independent. Leon M’ba was the first president and was elected in 1961. Omar Bongo Ondimba was the vice president. French logging interest funded M’ba’s campaign to further their enterprises. Upon taking power, M’ba banned demonstrations, suppressed the media, excluded opposition parties, and lessened freedom of expression. M’...

Travel & Tourism 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. 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 nes...

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