Most visitors to Gabon arrive in Libreville on business, and those who come for nature head to Loango National Park, where the forest meets the Atlantic, or to Lopé for gorillas and mandrills, often on the Transgabonais railway. Gabon is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM pays its operator's roaming rates there.
Key facts for Gabon
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Airtel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 1722 or 177; ambulance and SOS Médecins 1300 (none is reliable)
- Embassies: in Libreville
Libreville
Coverage is good in Libreville and Port-Gentil. Robberies, armed attacks and rapes have been reported, so be careful on quiet or isolated beaches around Libreville and stay away from beaches after dusk. Taxi passengers have been assaulted and robbed, so use licensed taxis and ask to book the taxi for yourself, so that it does not pick up other passengers. Carjackings have happened in Libreville, and card fraud is common outside the major hotel chains.
Politics and checkpoints
Since the military takeover of August 2023, the authorities have watched visitors more closely, and tourists were held and questioned after it. Avoid rallies and crowds, follow any curfew, and expect more police checks during periods of unrest. At checkpoints, you must show your passport, driving licence and vehicle papers.
Parks and transport
In Loango, Lopé and the other parks, coverage is limited or absent away from the lodges, so download maps and bookings in advance. Avoid road travel at night, as many roads are unlit, and in the rainy season many roads are passable only by four-wheel drive. UK government staff avoid domestic flights run by Gabonese airlines unless there is no alternative, and pirates have attacked shipping in the Gulf of Guinea.
Laws to know
Possessing drugs is a serious offence that can lead to prison. Photographing government and military buildings or airports is illegal and can lead to arrest, and you must be able to show ID if asked. Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal, but same-sex marriage is not recognised.
Paying
The currency is the Central African CFA franc. Cash machines in the main towns dispense francs, but cards are accepted at only a few major hotels and card fraud is common, so use cards sparingly and carry enough cash for the parks.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up before departure connects when you land in Libreville, and your home SIM stays available for texts and bank codes. An Africa plan also covers Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo.
Gabonese SIM cards from Airtel or Moov Africa are sold in Libreville, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Gabon
- The US lists 1722 for the police and 1300 for an ambulance, and the UK lists 177 for the police; SOS Médecins also answers on 0174 or 0880, depending on your network. None of these numbers can be relied on, and operators may only speak French, so keep the numbers of your hotel and a private clinic to hand.
- Embassies are in Libreville. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If your EU country is not represented in Gabon, any other EU country's embassy must help you as it would its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in French, the official language, ready to show on screen.
Questions travellers ask about Gabon
Does my EU plan work in Gabon?
No. Gabon is outside Roam Like at Home, so your operator's own roaming rates apply.
Is there signal in Loango and Lopé?
Mostly at the lodges. Download maps and documents before you set off.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Gabon?
Airtel, with 4G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
1722 or 177 for the police and 1300 for an ambulance, although none can be relied on.
The short version
Have the eSIM ready before you fly, book taxis for yourself only, stay off isolated beaches after dusk and the roads after dark, use cards sparingly, and save 1722 and 1300.
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