Gabon: Various travel information
How do you get to Gabon?
Aircraft
direct flights to Libreville there from Paris and London. There are other international airports in Port-Gentil and Franceville.
Ship
Regular ferry services exist between Libreville and São Tomé. In some cases, passengers on cargo ships can also travel to Cameroon.
Car, bus
roads lead to Bitam and Ambam in Cameroon, Cocobeach and Bata in Equatorial Guinea and the Congo.
Travel in the country
Air connections
In addition to the three airports in the country, there are around 200 mostly smaller runways. Scheduled flights exist between Libreville and Franceville, Port-Gentil, Lambaréné, Tchibanga and Oyem.
Railway
The country’s route network covers around 800 km. Rail trains run from Libreville to Lastoursville, Booué and Franceville.
Bus
From Mouila there are bigger buses in different directions. Minibuses run between the rest of the country’s cities. Trucks are also used for passenger traffic.
Roads
The country’s road network covers around 7,500 km, of which only around 850 km are paved. Many of the roads are impassable, especially during the rainy season.
Rental
Cars An international driver’s license is recommended for rental cars, international insurance is compulsory.
Taxis
Larger towns in particular have shared taxis.
Ferry connections
Ferries operate along the country’s coast between Libreville and Port-Gentil. There is also shipping between Port Gentil and N’djolé via Lambaréné on the Ogoué River.
Traffic rules
In order to avoid trouble, drivers should strictly adhere to the traffic regulations in force in the country. Regardless of the information given here, it is advisable to obtain more detailed information from the ADAC, the AvD or the Gabuns Transport Club.
Top speeds
- Urban: In built-up areas there is a speed limit of 60 km/h.
- Country roads: There is a speed limit of 75/80 km/h on country roads.
In addition, it is of course necessary to pay attention to the current local speed limits, which are indicated by traffic signs.
Alcohol limit
The official alcohol limit in Gabon for drivers of motor vehicles is 0.8 alcohol.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Gabon is:
| G |
Tourist office
Agence de Tourisme
BP 20407
Libreville
Tel: 00241 – 768 686
Gabon: entry and exit regulations
Tourists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland need a valid passport, a visa and a return or onward ticket to enter Gabon.
Visa department of the Embassy of Gabun
Hohensteiner Strasse 16
14197 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 89 73 34 40
Email: [email protected]
www.botschaft-gabun.de
Issuing of visas in Austria and
Switzerland
See under Diplomatic missions
National currency, foreign exchange, souvenirs
The national currency of Gabon is the CFA Franc
1 CFA Franc = 100 Centimes
Gabon is part of the Central African Economic and Monetary Union. The ISO 4217 code of the Franc CFA is here XAF.
The CFA franc (Communanté Financiére Africaine) is the currency in 14 African countries that were usually French colonies in the past: Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoite, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. It is tied to the euro. The exchange rate of the euro and the CFA franc is therefore always the same as the CFA franc is pegged to the euro (it was pegged to the franc before the euro was introduced). For countries that belong to the Central African Economic and Monetary Union, the exchange rate is:
1 Euro (€) = 682.671 CFA francs (XAF)
- Local currencyThe import of the national currency is permitted without restriction, but there is a declaration requirement. Export is permitted up to the amount declared upon entry, but a maximum of 200,000 CFA francs may be exported.
- Foreign currenciesThe import of foreign currencies is permitted without restriction, but there is a declaration requirement. The export is limited to the amount declared upon entry.
Departure fee
There is no fee for leaving Gabon.
Importing and exporting goods
The following items can be imported into Gabon duty-free by people aged 17 and over: 200 cigarettes or cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco (women are only allowed to import cigarettes), 2 l alcoholic beverages, 50 g perfume and gifts up to one Value of 5,000 CFA Fr. The import of weapons is strictly prohibited.
Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs
Tourists in Gabon like to buy traditional wood carvings such as sculptures and masks, ceramic items and local musical instruments.
Gabon: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
Infectious Diseases
The following infectious diseases are to be expected in Gabon, which do not occur or rather rarely occur in Germany, Austria or Switzerland:
- Malaria: There is a high risk of malaria in the country nationwide and all year round. Over 95% of infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana.
- AIDS, HIV – HIV infections play an important and sad role in the country. You should therefore avoid any kind of sexual contact. Injections or even blood transfusions should be avoided at all costs.
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Schistosomiasis
- Cholera – but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella and worm infestation, as well as all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Ebola
- Filariasis
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Sleeping sickness
- Rabies – but only in contact with potential vector animals
- Typhoid – however, there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Tick bite fever
Vaccination recommendations
- Cholera – but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
- Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
When entering and staying in Gabon, all persons older than one year are required to provide evidence of valid vaccination protection against yellow fever. Gabon itself is one of the yellow fever infection areas designated by the WHO, for this reason alone a vaccination is urgently recommended.
Yellow fever vaccination of children
When vaccinated against yellow fever, there were a number of side effects, for example an occasional encephalitis. Around two thirds of those affected were children under 6 months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then be avoided as a travel destination. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers, which also issue the required vaccination certificate!
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Current warnings
Foreign Office (AA) of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizen Service
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Gabon embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
German representations in Gabon
Embassy in Libreville
Boulevard de l’Indépendance, Immeuble les Frangipaniers
Libreville, Gabon
Tel: 00241 – 760 188
00241 – 742 790
Email: [email protected]
http://www.libreville.diplo.de
The German Embassy in Gabon is still responsible for:
- Sao Tome and Principe
Representations of Gabon in Germany
Embassy in Berlin
Hohensteiner Strasse 16
14197 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 8973 3440
Email: [email protected]
www.botschaft-gabun.de
Honorary Consulate in Munich
Nymplenburger Strasse 118
80636 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 120 0861/62
Austrian representations in Gabon
The Federal Republic of Austria does not have a diplomatic representation in Gabon; the embassy is responsible in:
Embassy in Nigeria
Plot 9, Usuma Street
Maitama – Abuja
Tel: 00234 – 706 – 418 3226
Email: [email protected]
The Austrian Embassy in Nigeria is still responsible for:
- Equatorial Guinea
- Benin
- Ghana
- Cameroon
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Chad
- Togo
- Central African Republic
Representations of Gabon in Austria
Gbun does not have an embassy in Austria, but is represented by an honorary consulate. The embassy in Berlin is responsible.
Honorary Consulate of the in Vienna
Möllwaldplatz 2
1040 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1) – 503 8270
Swiss representation in Gabon
Switzerland has an embassy in Gabon, but is represented by a consulate general. The embassy is responsible for:
Embassy in the Democatic Republic of the Congo
654, Blvd Colonel Tshatshi
Commune de Gombe
Kinshasa
Democatic Republic of the Congo
Tel: 00243 – (0) 89 – 894 6800/01
Email: [email protected]
www.eda.admin.ch/ kinshasa
The Swiss embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still responsible for:
- Gabon
- Republic of the Congo
- Sao Tome and Principe
Consulate General of Switzerland
Immeuble Hollando, Boulevard du bord de mer, Entrée portique arrière, 2ème étage
Libreville
Gabon
Tel: 00241 – 765 354
00241 – 723 159
Email: [email protected]
Representations of Gabon in Switzerland
Gabon does not have a representation in Switzerland; the embassy in Paris is responsible:
Embassy of the Republic of Gabon in Paris
Avenue Raphaël 26 to
75016 Paris
Tel: 0033 – (0) 1 – 7270 0150
