TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit accepted |
| Currency |
(XAF)
Africaine Franc |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 241, City Code Libreville 44+4D, Port Gentil 55+4D, Lastourville
64+4D, Kango 400+3D |
Time:
GMT + 1.
Electricity:
220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Telephone:
IDD is available. Country code: 241. No area codes required. Outgoing
international code: 00.
Climate:
Equatorial with high humidity. The dry season is from June to
August, and the main rainy season is from October to May.
Required
clothing: Lightweight tropical, with raincoats advised
during the rainy season.
Food
& Drink: Most hotels and restaurants serve French
and continental-style food and are expensive. Gabonese food is
distinctive and delicious, but not always readily available, as
most restaurants serve Senegalese, Cameroonian and Congolese food.
Licensing hours are similar to those in France.
Nightlife:
There are nightclubs in Libreville with music and bars. Food is
often served, although this can be expensive. There are also casinos
at several hotels.
Shopping:
In Libreville there are two bustling markets at Akebe-Plaine,
Nkembo and Mon-Bouet. Stone carvings can be bought on the outskirts
of both, fashioned by a group of carvers who have adapted traditional
skills for the tourist market. Crafts from local villages can
also be bought from stalls in the streets or from the villagers
themselves. African (Fang) mask carvings, figurines, clay pots
and traditional musical instruments can also be bought. Shopping
hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900. Some shops close Monday.
Currency:
CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) =
100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000,
2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100,
50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Cameroon is part of the French Monetary Area.
Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique
Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued
by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank
of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Currency
exchange: Gabon is part of the French Monetary Area.
Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique
Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued
by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank
of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Credit
& debit cards: Limited use of Visa, American Express
and MasterCard. In general, the use of credit cards in Gabon remains
relatively limited. Check with your credit or debit card company
for merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.
Tipping:
10 to 15 per cent unless service is included in the bill.
