Merely moving around Gabon is exciting due to generally needing a 4x4 outside the big cities or the possiblity of travelling up the Ogooue River by boat. That is without mentioning trains and planes.

Before detailing the features of the country that await, a little bit of Gabon's history will be explained as the events that formed the place you are visiting should help you gain a better insight into the country as it is today.

Contact with other nations not haveing been confirmed, it seems that it was the Portugeuse in the 15th century that reached and had an appreciable impact on the area - naming it after a word in their own language, gabao, an item of clothing similar in shape to the estuary of the Komo river. Traders followed, slaves being one of the commodities. Opinions changed and the French released the people on a slave ship, who went on to call where the settled Libreville. This is now the capital of Gabon. French explores veneture a long way into gabon's jungles and although there was a French presence from 1839, Gabon did not undergo adminstration until 1903. 1910 saw the incorporation of Gabon into French Equatorial Africa that lasted until 1959, with independence being gained in 1960. A number of political systems struggled for long-term stability which were followed with demonstrations that were unfortunately violent in 1990. Elections, suspicious deaths,attempted coups and internal and external accusations of irregularities bring us to the present. Despite all this intrigue, President Bongo has been in control since 1967, making him the longest serving African Head of State.

The political scene now set, the attractions of the country shall be expounded. The Gabonese government annonced in 2002 that 10% of its land will be assigned as National Parks in order to protect flora and fauna long-term. This is amongst the largest conservation projects in the world. This means that is is possible to see the spectacular beauty of such creature as gorillas, elephants and hippos. The climate is generally hot and humid with June to September being slightly cooler. This will probably be attractive to those visitors whose countries tend to be rather cold. Libreville has the rather different chalk hite buildings and the Isle of Nadji is an option for those wishing to experience Gabonese nightlife...

Submitted by: Pip Bennett http://www.unearthtravel.com/guide/gabon