Getting There & Getting About

International Airports

• Libreville (LBV): 12 km from the city.

• Full list of airports in Gabon with associated airport codes >

Internal Transport

Gabon has a total of nearly 200 airstrips, with regular internal flights from Libreville, Lambaréné, Mitzic, Oyem and other cities. There are also local airports at Franceville and Port Gentil.

The 410 km long Trans-Gabon railway connects Libreville (Owendo station, 10 km from the city centre) with Ndjole, Bootie and Franceville. Children aged from 4 to 11 years pay half fare, with children under the age of 4 travelling free.

Ferries run regularly along the coast from Libreville to Port Gentil, taking about 4 hours. Riverboats also sail the Ogoué River between Port Gentil and Lambaréné (taking 10 to 24 hours), with some boats continuing on to Ndjolé.

Although usually expensive, cars may be hired from airports and main hotels. Most of the country consists of impenetrable rainforest and the roads are generally of poor standard (less than 10% of the nation's 7,518km of roads are tarred), making road travel outside of the cities inadvisable during the rainy season. Check points are common and drivers should be prepared to show their passports, driving licence or vehicle registration documents. There is no road connection between Port Gentil or any other part of the country.

There is a minibus service that runs from the bus station near the central market in Libreville to Lambaréné, Mouila, Oyem and Bitam, with the latter two usually involving night stops. There are also bus services within Port Gentil and Franceville, and share-taxis in other centres.