Gabon Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa
About Gabon
What is now Gabon has been inhabited for thousands of years, first by Pygmy hunter-gatherers and then starting perhaps as early as 1500 BC, various different Bantu tribes arrived in several waves. Portuguese explorers and traders were the first Europeans to arrive, in 1472. The nation's present name originates from "Gabão", Portuguese for "cloak", which is roughly the shape of the estuary of the Komo River close to the capital of Libreville. Soon, Europeans were trading for natural resources and slaves. In the 19th century, the French became ascendant in the area. The coast was colonized by the French in 1839, and the remainder of Gabon in 1885. Gabon gained independence on 17 August 1960. Since independence, Gabon has been one of the more stable African countries. Autocratic President Oma
Gabon Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 19 sections including: