Overland Gabon Travel

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West Africa > Gabon Currency to display:

Visiting Gabon

Gabon is a spectacularly beautiful and friendly country to visit. Much of Gabon has been set aside as National Park, so there is a huge amount of wilderness to explore, and wildlife to see.

Entering Gabon with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: March 2017

Travel Visa for Gabon

The travel visa for Gabon is easy to get, with virtually everyone who travels South getting it in Lomé, Togo. A one month visa costs FCFA50,000.00 XAF. A two month visa is twice as much, and a three month is triple. The visa can normally be collected the day after you apply, though you can pay an extra FCFA15,000.00 XAF to pick it up the same day.

Coming from the South, you can get the visa in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo for $110.00 USD

Required Paperwork

(no copies are required, unless crossing near Bitam where passport photocopy is needed)

Process at border

  • Get yourself stamped in at Immigration.
  • Go to Douane to get a temporary import for the vehicle. Using the vehicle registration the officer will write out a Passavant, valid for one month.
  • If you have a Carnet de Passage, you don't need the Passavant.
  • If you arrive at borders that are North or West of Bitam then you'll need a printed hotel reservation. They phone the hotel to check the reservation. They write a fiche and instruct you to visit immigration in Bitam where a passport photo copy and fiche are handed over to get your passport stamped.

Cost of entry

Entry with a Carnet de Passage is free, the passavant costs CFA10,000.00 XOF

Permitted length of stay

With a passavant it's one month.

Extension of stay

Unknown

Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

Exiting with a vehicle

  • Get yourself stamped out at Immigration.
  • Get your Carnet de Passage stamped out if you have one.

All should be free, do not pay for this.

Driving in Gabon

Recommended books for Overlanding in Gabon

Overland Travel Essentials: West Africa: Myths, Miscon...
Overland Travel Essentials: West Africa: Myths, Miscon...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary (lonely P...
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary (lonely P...
by Lonely Planet
From $3.74 on Amazon
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
Work Less To Live Your Dreams: A Practical Guide To Sa...
by Dan Grec
From $click on Amazon
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
Overlanders' Handbook: Worldwide Route And Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $22.49 on Amazon
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: A Route & Planning Gu...
by Chris Scott
From $click on Amazon

Travel insurance for Gabon

World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.

Vehicle insurance requirements

Insurance does not seem to be required, Police never seem to ask for it for people just transiting through, though you might want to have something to show anyone looking for a bribe.

Cost of vehicle insurance

Unknown.

Where to purchase vehicle insurance

Unknown within Gabon

Driving license

Anything from your home country will be accepted.

Driving side of road

Right.
RHD vehicles are allowed without problem.

Mandatory items in vehicle

You probably need two safety triangles, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher.

Roads

General Road quality

Gabon has a mix of excellent tarmac and horribly potholed roads. The main highway from North to south is excellent, as good as anything in the world. Off that highway many roads are good dirt, though they can get very bad during heavy rain.

Road signs

Gabon has pretty good road signs, especially showing distances to the next town, and major towns further away.

Toll roads

As far as I know, there are no tolls in Gabon.

Bribery in Gabon

Bribery can be common, you might encounter officers at checkpoints directly asking for money or a gift. Maybe they will invent a story about why you must pay. Be polite, and don’t pay

See the bribery tips page for general advice.

Checkpoints

There are checkpoints and random stops where Police will check all your paperwork. Don't pay. Stay friendly and polite. Never use your mobile phone or camera at check points.

Traveling with pets

List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.

Gas price in Gabon and Diesel price in Gabon

Last updated: March 2017 (only for unleaded)

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Unleaded FCFA655.00 XAF per Liter
Diesel FCFA510.00 XAF per Liter

Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

Most towns have stations, and they usually have both gasoline and diesel. Both are also available in small containers on the side of the road. Quality is likely very bad when bought like that. Distances are further than you think, fill up when you can!

Gas and Diesel Quality

Probably not bad - better than Cameroon or Nigeria. Diesel is likely high sulphur content.

Safety and Security Considerations

Driving at night

Driving at night is not recommended out of towns and cities due to poor lighting, poor road conditions and increased police checks after 6pm in the evening. Also watch out for cars without lights.

Vehicle parking

Cars can be parked but watch out for the tow zones in major cities and also pay and display. Vehicles can be parked on the streets and usually are safe. At night try to park in compounds or other known safe zones

Special driving considerations

Like all of West Africa, expect the unexpected! The paved roads are excellent, however, with almost no potholes or speed bumps.

Security advisories and information

Camping in Gabon

Paid Camping is not at all common in Gabon.
Wildcamping is very possible, and many people wildcamp every night they are in Gabon. Locals are very friendly, and you should ask permission if there are people around. Almost always they will just want to shake hands then will leave you alone.

Camping guide books

List and link to books specifically for camping.

Drinking water

It's not recommended to drink tap water - filter it or buy bottles.

Navigation

Paper maps

Reise Know-How are among the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Gabon

Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea 1:1,300,000 Travel ...
Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea 1:1,300,000 Travel ...
by Reise Knowhow
From $12.95 on Amazon
Africa Classic [laminated] (national Geographic Refere...
Africa Classic [laminated] (national Geographic Refere...
by National Geographic Maps - Reference
From $14.95 on Amazon
Cameroon 1:1,500,000 And Gabon 1:950,000 Travel Map (i...
Cameroon 1:1,500,000 And Gabon 1:950,000 Travel Map (i...
by ITM Canada
From $4.99 on Amazon
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary
by Lonely Planet, Michael Janes, Jean-Bernard Carille...
From $3.96 on Amazon

GPS Maps of Gabon

  • Garmin Open Street Maps has excellent coverage of all roads - highways and cities.
  • Tracks4Africa is an SD Card for Garmin GPS, and contain Routable turn-by-turn maps with 809,000 kms of roads and over 129,000 points of interest.
Gps Map Of Africa
Gps Map Of Africa
From $click on Amazon

GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Gabon

  • iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.

Special Overland Travel interests

  • Lopé National Park has the possibility to see Gorillas extremely cheaply. - see iOverlander
  • Getting into Loango National Park (and Lodge) is an adventure and supremely beautiful!

Vehicle Maintenance

Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Gabon

Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle. List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.

Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'

References

Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.


Helpful External links

Add any helpful external links here.