Top Things to Do in Gabon | Best Places to Visit for Tourists

Gabon, a Central African country, has rainforests covering 80% of the country, gorillas, untouched natural wonders, French colonial charm, and raw wilderness. There are several interesting things to do in Gabon which are uncommon in other countries.

This article highlights 12 best places in Gabon, and things to do there, along with local tips to make your trip unforgettable, being away from mass crowds.

Gabon is committed to conservation of its natural landscapes, and so they have low tourists yearly. But your multi-week journey here from jungles to beaches will be an unforgettable experience.

With our SimCorner's Gabon eSIM and SIM card options, you can get high-speed data even in the remote places. You can do hotel bookings, get important notifications, and share photos of your adventure without paying any hidden roaming fees.

Keep reading to know in detail why Gabon is an ideal for both adventurous and nature lovers.

Lopé National Park

Located in Central Gabon, this park is the heaven for gorilla watching. This is a UNESCO heritage site and is one of the best places to visit in Gabon. You can see many other wild animals just by trekking or simply walking and exploring. Besides these, you will see a savanna-forest transition zone, and canopy walkway suspension bridges there.

So do not miss this place, when you are searching for “Gabon what to see”, as you can do several things here only among many things to do in Gabon.

The main activities to do here are catching gorillas along with forest elephants and chimpanzees. To see these animals, you need to trek on some elevated wooden platforms and then you will see habituated western lowland gorilla families roaming around. You can find elephants walking on grassy clearings, and the chimpanzees are usually found calling at dawn.

Don’t forget to wear comfortable yet solid boots for walking and trekking as it’ll be a long 4 to 6 hours of trekking. So bring sunscreen and water bottles too. Be careful of treetop monkeys. Don’t try to feed anything to any animals.

June to October are the peak time to visit here. That's because it’s their dry season and so trails firm up, leeches retreat, and gorillas come down to fruiting fig groves. Try to avoid November to May months as during the rainy season, you’ll find muddy slogs.

Primatologist Dr. Magdalena Bermejo, talked about this place as,

"Gabon's Lopé represents Africa's most successful gorilla habituation model, blending pristine savanna-forest mosaics with thriving primate populations unseen elsewhere"

Loango National Park

Located in western Gabon, this park will give you a surreal experience with hippos along with a natural beauty like Lagoon, and beaches. This is known as Africa's last coastal Eden where the Atlantic ocean has met the jungle. So this is one of the top rated “Gabon tourist spots”. Here you will find different animals like whales, 400+ species of birds, buffaloes, elephants, and turtles.

In your Gabon travel guide, this park definitely should be a top on your “things to do in Gabon”. You can do zodiac safaris to spot buffalo herds on beach sands. To see the hippos surfing on the ocean, visit the Djena Lagoon. You will find elephants roaming around while you are chilling at the beaches. You will also get to see humpback whales offshore during their migration time. If you do drives at night, you can experience beautiful glowing plankton beaches.

July till October are the ideal time for visiting there. That is when you will get the whale season and turtle nesting. Take a French-speaking guided tour when visiting remote places of the jungle. Stay cautious from malaria, so bring sprays.

Gabon's Minister of Forests and former Wildlife Conservation Society director Dr. Lee White, complimented this place as,

"Loango is one of the last great coastal wildernesses where marine and terrestrial ecosystems collide spectacularly—Africa's true Last Eden"

Ivindo National Park

Situated in the east-central part of the country, the park is a beautiful natural wonder of Gabon. It is surrounded by low, forested hills and 2 waterfalls around the Ivindo river. It is a protected site by UNESCO because of its rich biodiversity and untouched tropical forest ecosystem.

Here you can do both hiking and water activities. This is why the park is one of the Gabon tourist attractions for both hikers and water lovers when they search for things to do in Gabon to do both types of activities. .

You will have to do a trekking of 3 to 4 hours in the rainforest to get some stunning views of the surroundings. You can also swim under the 60m long crystal-clear waterfalls. You will spot some funny and interesting colobus monkeys around the vines. For more adventure, you can arrange for campings.

It is best to visit there from June to September as hiking becomes easily accessible due to low waters. But you'll still have slippery trails and roads so be careful with that. Wear proper water gears. You can take guided tour packages from the capital to there.

Fernan-Vaz Lagoon

This is a large lagoon, situated at the Atlantic coast of Gabon. It has an area of 600 sq km and offers various opportunities to explore and have fun around there. It is one of the top spots in Gabon and it is mainly famous for seeing authentic Gabonese coastal culture, fishing, kayaking, and seeing bioluminescent night paddles lighting mangrove tunnels.

Best activities here can be done with the locals. So visit the villages of the Myene people, interact with them to have local foods and full local experience.

If you are looking for water things to do in Gabon, then this is a perfect place. You can do dugout canoe races during local festivals, multi-days of kayaking, collecting sea creatures like oysters, see fish eagles etc.

During May to November you will have calmer seas, and so this is the best time to visit there for enjoying the water activities smoothly. But keep seasickness medicines with you if needed. You will get to see crowds during festivals, otherwise not many people usually visit there.

Libreville

This is the capital city of Gabon and it is the country's cultural hub. The city feels vibrant because of their French-African influence around everywhere. So you will see here an interesting combo of colonial buildings and tribal culture. The city is also the gateway to all Gabon parks. The city is one of the must see in Gabon as you can do many things at one place from you “things to do in Gabon” list.

This is a chaotic and lively city where you will find vendors and colorful markets’ sellers shouting and selling things like spices, handicrafts etc. You need to bargain a lot like the locals before buying anything. So walk through the city to experience the market and local life.

You can visit different French style churches and attend church choirs on Sundays. You can also go to art galleries and museums to see Gabon’s culture and history. Finally, you can do scenic ferry rides to the Pointe-Denis, play volleyball at the beach, or just relax and enjoy the beautiful sunsets.

You can visit here year-round but it is more ideal during the dry seasons that are from May to September. A local tip is try to go to the markets during early mornings because that is when you will get less crowds and so enough time and peace to bargain.

Lambaréné

This is a town situated 250km southeast from Libreville. It is famous for preserving 1952 Peace Nobel laureate Albert Schweitzer's ancient jungle hospital campus. You will find his original tin-roof chapel still existing there. Visitors can see his legacy by exploring through hospital wards, and attending weekly concerts, and can also pass time reflecting on his activities and overall serene environment.

This is one of the popular Gabon tourism places for history lovers and those who have studied or have interest in Botany, and are looking for things to do in Gabon.

You can take a guided 90-minute heritage walk, and the tour guide will show and explain to you the whole campus, traditional pharmacy tours, and significance or meaning of the instruments that he used, and names and works of 200+ of medicinal plants etc. You can also enjoy piano/organ concerts standing underneath palm trees. This is arranged weekly, every Saturday at 4 PM.

You can come here all year-round but it is best to visit during the dry season so that you can enjoy stargazing in the evening or nights directly from the hospital gardens. There is no entry fee but you can happily give donations. You can take 5 hour long riverboats to reach there, so if you want you can even spend overnight on the boats.

Akanda National Park

The park is situated 30km north from Libreville, and has 5 interconnected lagoons. It is a famous and “must see in Gabon” spot for hosting 235 different rare and unique bird species. You can do little trekkings too here to get stunning viewpoints of the area. So do not forget to have a good quality camera with long lenses. Among things to do in Gabon, here only you can have many activities.

During the dawn, you will hear a chorus of around 70 species of birds all together. The sounds and looks of such a scene feel surreal and magical. By hiking up the elevated observation towers, you can see more clearly of such views. You can also take guided mangrove boardwalks to identify and learn about different plants and species. Because there are lagoons, you will also find fish catching birds. Finally, under palm nut trees, you can do morning picnics or breakfast.

The best time to visit here is during December to March. This is when many of the seasonal birds have their peak times. So you can get to see some rare birds even.

Ogooué River

It is a river that flows through east-central Gabon's Ogooué-Ivindo Province. The river is top visited spot for having Class III-IV rapids through jungle canyons which pass through gold mining villages. There, in the village, you will see grumpy hippo groups guarding the mid-river channels. This place is mainly ideal for kayaking. So when you look for “Gabon what to see” or “things to do in Gabon”, this place will be recommended by many.

You can do half or full-day whitewater rafting sections, but Level 3 kayaking experiences are preferred. You can have gold mining village tours with a local or just by walking and exploring on your own. If you are feeling adventurous, you can swim beneath the rapids.

The place is most visited during July to September, because that is when the water levels are optimal for kayaking. The weather is also suitable there to enjoy nature.

Chaillu Massif

This is a place for hikers who search for “things to do in Gabon”. The place is situated 400km southeast from the capital and has several big rocky hills, tall granite mountains surrounded by thick rainforests. Not many people even go there since it is located at such a remote place. But it is home to some unique and rare animals, along with beautiful greenery.

This is said to be one of the hardest places to visit in Gabon, so you will find very few crowds here. Going there is an adventurous and tiring journey as it takes around 2 days to reach there. It is one of the Gabon bucket list destinations for experienced intense trekkers.

You are expected to have 5 to 7 days of trek inside there. You will have to climb tops for seeing amazing green jungle and to find duiker deer, and not habituated gorillas. You will have to do camping by mountain streams.

It is best to go there from June to October. It's the dry season there so there will be less muddy or slippery paths. But take a tour guide with you for safety. Keep necessary things to avoid insect bites, solid boots, proper wears, and water bottles and sunscreen to beat the hot sun. Bring some cooked foods or stoves to cook, medicines, and a good stamina to endure all these.

Coastal Coral Gardens

As the name suggests, in these colourful underwater gardens, you will find beautiful reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. So this is one of the aesthetic Gabon best places. This is a secret good spot for diving into the world of sea creatures like turtles, lobsters, fish, and even big whale sharks. The water here is clean and because there is less crowd, you can enjoy a peaceful time here.

When Scuba divers look for things to do in Gabon, this place is recommended. You can take paid 2-tank morning dives, and get to swim and enjoy with turtles, fish, etc. You can even enjoy night dives. At night, the diving experience will give you glowing corals, and you can hunt octopuses.

To go there, you can go from the capital or from southwest coast areas. If you can not dive, then simply just enjoy at the beach having picnics or even eating fresh fish as lunch after fishing.

December to April are the ideal times for visiting here, because the water will be calmer and give you the best visibility. If you are going to dive, you need to show some real diving skills and experience certificates. Overall the vibe will be warm and chill, and very aesthetic.

Moukalaba-Doudou Park

Located in the southwest of the country, this park has around 800 elephants, pigs, hippos, and birds. So if you are looking for things to do in Gabon with kids, then this is an ideal place.

You can go there using jeeps, and walk and then start exploring the whole park to see the animals. June to October are the best visited times there. You can stay at night time too, camping, and have some more adventurous feelings. This is another fun ‘Gabon activities to do’.

Mayumba National Park

Mayuma is on the south coast and this park is also at the southwest of Gabon. This is best known for having the best whale nurseries in Africa. Here you will see how the big whales produce their babies, and you can even see turtles laying eggs on the beach. This is a must see in Gabon for those who like seeing how wildlife animals are there in their natural behaviour. You can take a 3hr boat ride and see the whales closely. You can do all sorts of beach activities along with simply walking or resting and counting numbers of turtles, crabs etc. So this place can be in your ‘things to do in Gabon’ itinerary easily. Best to visit here is during the dry season from June to September, when rainfall is least and wildlife viewing is most.

Stay Connected Digital During Your Gabon Best Places for Adventure

Because you will be travelling in many remote areas of the country, getting mobile networks can be a bit challenging. But, with our SimCorner's eSIM or regular SIM cards, you do not need to worry about it. The moment you land in the airport, you will just need the initial internet (airport WIFI for example), and then get activated with our high speed data. Now start doing the things to do in Gabon. Using our SimCorner’s reliable data, you can get notifications of peak times for animal and bird sightings. We will also give some local travel tips. You can download translator apps, and maps for finding paths when you get lost inside the jungles, or for interacting with locals. Finally, you can instantly share your pictures of the adventures to your mates.

So no need to worry about getting isolated. We are always with you at every Gabon’s best places.

Things to do in Gabon: FAQs

Is English spoken at Gabon tourist spots?

French is widely used across Gabon, but many tour guides, hotel staff, and city market vendors can speak basic English, especially in the popular spots. So you will not face problems in guided tours. For smoother interactions, you can use our eSIM to download translator apps. Try to learn some basic French to interact with the locals.

Do I need vaccinations for Gabon tourist attractions?

Yes, a yellow fever vaccine is mandatory for all Gabon entries. Also take vaccines for hepatitis A and B, and typhoid shots. Always keep anti-malaria medicines wherever you travel to in Gabon, especially for your trips in the rainforest areas like Lopé or Loango. Rabies risks also exist during wildlife safaris, so be prepared. Proper preparation ensures safe, and worry-free adventures in Gabon's pristine wilderness.

Are Gabon tourism places safe for family travel?

Even though it is an African country, Gabon boasts impressive security and safety by having low crime rates. Guided tours will cover all the major activities from your “Gabon travel guide”, from safaris to beaches, thus reducing risks. Families can travel confidently here, even you can do solo tours. Even petty thefts are rare. So enjoy Gabon's adventures without any worries.

What to do in Gabon as a tourist?

Mainly you will do trekkings of lush rainforests to track gorillas, forest elephants, rare birds, and whales. You can also dive in the crystal waters, kayak serene rivers, and just relax on stunning Atlantic beaches. Do boat or ferry rides along the coast to add thrill. Gabon offers unparalleled wildlife encounters and eco-escapes for unforgettable memories.

How can I stay connected in Gabon bucket list destinations?

Our SimCorner provides eSIMs or physical SIM cards for fast and reliable data across Gabon's remote spots. Stay digitally connected seamlessly during gorilla treks, beach relaxations, or safaris from just when you land in the country. Our Gabon SIM tips will guide you in finding routes, translating, alerting any necessary information, and sharing pictures perfect for your Gabon journey.