Why Gabon is the Last Eden in Africa?

When considering a visit to Africa, few people think of Gabon. Exactly, this is the advantage of one of the most beautiful, eco-friendly, and sophisticated destinations with wildlife not found in other parts of the continent. The tourist visa is free now.

The government of Gabon has announced the introduction of a free electronic tourist visa (e-Visa) for international travellers visiting the country between July 1 and September 30, 2025.

The announcement was made during a press conference in Libreville on June 30, 2025, by Minister of Tourism Pascal Ogowe Siffon and Minister of the Interior Hermann Immongault.

The initiative forms part of the second edition of Gabon’s Caravane Touristique programme, which aims to attract global visitors through simplified travel access and a national showcase of Gabon’s eco-tourism assets. Gabon is one of the best places in Africa to visit. The country has 2.17 million people, 80% are in the Libreville area.

DISCOVER GABON, The Last Eden

Bordered by the forest and the sea, Gabon is a jewel of nature where elephants roam, whales swim in the ocean and hippos swim off sandy beaches. One of the most biodiverse nations on earth, and the most carbon positive, this central African state is a sanctuary for wildlife.

Bordered by the forest and the sea, Gabon is a natural jewel where elephants roam, whales swim in the ocean, and hippos swim off sandy beaches. One of the most biodiverse nations on Earth, and the most carbon-positive, this central African state is a wildlife sanctuary. With a coastline stretching for almost 1,000km, come and relax by the sea, live life in the forest, or dance the night away in Gabon’s capital, Libreville.

Rainforests

Gabon’s rainforest is its most valuable asset and contributes significantly to the balance of biodiversity on which our world depends. It is part of the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest after the Amazon. The country lies on the equator, and around 88% of its land is covered with tropical forest.

Forest cover is the main ecosystem of the country, with a rich and varied fauna. Gabon’s forest elephant herd is the largest in the world, with an estimated 95,000 individuals of this critically endangered species. Gabon is also home to as many as 18,000 gorillas and chimpanzees. Approximately 10,000 plant species have been recorded in Gabon. This is more than the total diversity of all countries in West Africa, with 15 percent of plants in the country unique to Gabon.

Gabon is also visited by the Southern Hemisphere’s largest population of humpback whales, who each year nurse their young there before migrating south. Overall Gabon’s marine waters host over 20 species of whales and dolphins, including the critically endangered Atlantic humpback. Each year, the world’s largest populations of leatherback and olive-ridley turtles come to Gabon to nest.​

Culture

Gabon is a former French colony with a culture influenced not just by France but also by its ethnic background and proximity to other West African nations. Dancing, singing, mythology, and poetry are all important elements of life in Gabon. Traditional crafts are an ancient tradition and can be seen in the creation of masks, musical instruments, and sculptures.

Gabon is composed of about fifty ethnic groups, each with its language and beliefs. This cultural diversity makes Gabon a jewel of spirituality and tradition. Visitors can soak up this richness by attending customary rites, visiting traditional villages, and letting themselves be guided by the warm welcome of the Gabonese.

Gabonese culture is traditionally highly spiritual, with a focus on worship and the afterlife. These traditional beliefs revolve around the veneration of ancestors, based on the notion of a continuity between living and deceased relatives. Each of the country’s ethnic groups has its ways of showing this veneration through ceremonies that, depending on the group, are known variously as bwiti, bwété, or byeri.

Traditional Gabonese instruments, such as the balafon, harp, mouth bow, drums, rattles, and bells, are believed to summon different spirits, and each instrument plays a crucial role in various Gabonese worship rituals. Each of the Gabonese ethnic groups has its unique traditions, incorporating masks, sculptures, music, songs, and dances, or a combination of these elements.

Ecotourism

Internationally recognised for its environmental and biodiversity preservation policies, Gabon has made the development of eco-tourism one of its national priorities. With high-level infrastructure that respects ecological standards, Last Eden offers tourists a setting that is as wild as it is comfortable.

Entirely crafted from local materials and respectful of the surrounding ecosystems, these structures provide an extraordinary immersion in the endemic fauna and flora of the Gabonese equatorial rainforest, offering a unique and eco-responsible experience.

Libreville

With its museums, historical centers, craft workshops, and popular bars and nightclubs, Libreville, the capital of Gabon, is the country’s cultural hub. Here you will find world-class hotels, gastronomic restaurants blending African and French cuisine, and bars offering a welcoming beer after you visit the rainforest.

Port Gentil and the Beaches

Port-Gentil is the economic capital of Gabon, situated on Mandji Island as part of a peninsula that extends into the Atlantic Ocean. White sandy beaches line the city and offer luxury hotel facilities, such as La Baie des Coquillages. Port-Gentil can also serve as a jumping-off point to visit the surrounding natural spots.

Lambaréné

Lambaréné is a small historical town located 250km southeast of Libreville on the Ogooué River. It is particularly known for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, established in 1913 by the doctor of the same name, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. Today, the hospital has a museum retracing the history of the doctor.