|
OUR TOURISM
ATTRACTIONS
GEOGRAPHY PLUS
Did you know that we are truly
located exactly at the center of the world! Look on the map,
and you will see that where 0º
longitude/latitude/Greenwich meantime all meet, is located
right outside Libreville, in the town of Booue.
TOURISM
Straddling the Equator, Gabon is
three -quarters tropical rain forests, crisscrossed by an
extensive network of navigable rivers. From Libreville, our
Atlantic coastline stretches on for miles, a serene paradise
of unspoiled beaches and secluded coves.
Other attractions include wildlife
preserves and jungle expeditions, modern cities and urban
facilities, lively night life and thrilling casinos,
deep-sea fishing and diving, friendly people and some of
West Africa's most creative cultures and prolific
artisans.
NATURE
We are home to more than 70,000
forest elephants (more than one tenth of the entire African
population!), who are protected both politically and
naturally by dense foliage. Our forests and jungles are
alive with animals: chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys,
buffaloes, hippos, antelopes, lemurs, and too many species
of tropical birds to count!
The Réserve de la Lopé
is not far from Libreville &endash; a mosaic of forests and
savannas, mountains and waterfalls that offer a quick
sampling of our wildlife and natural splendors.
NOBEL PEACE
In Lamberene, Albert Schweitzer
(missionary, physician, philosopher,ex-theologian, and Nobel
Peace Prize winner) settled and established the hospital
that still bears his name. He made his extraordinary
humanitarian dream come true by providing health care for
the Gabonese people. Visitors are inspired by the
combination of his devotion to the country, and imagination
and ingenuity in building his home and hospital.
SHOPPING
We are most renowned for our
traditional masks and soapstone sculptures, all inspired by
centuries of ethnic history and tribal cultures. The masks
range from carved wooden replicas of the face to large head
dresses and helmets covering the entire head. Three of the
most famous types are the heart-shaped, red, white or black
painted Fang masks, expressing serenity or caricatures; the
abstract and symmetrical Bakota masks, decorated with animal
or leopard spotted designs; and the Bateke masks, which
depict the face using flat, square shapes with rounded edges
or design-covered, circular shapes.
The M'Bigou sculptures are
exquisitely carved small statues or heads from the soft
grey, green and brown tinted soapstone of the M'Biguo
region. They take their form from traditional Bakwele and
Bandjabi carvings. (You just might need to buy another
suitcase in Libreville!)
MINDING OUR OWN
BUSINESS
On board any of our flights, one will
find any number of business travelers. Not surprising. We
are fast growing into an important business destination and
a promising place for investors.
Gabon is:
- One of Africa's most credit-worthy
nations
- A major producer of oil and timber
(including ebony, mahogany, and Okoume)
- The world's third-largest producer
of manganese
(with one quarter of the planet's
reserves in Gabon)
- The fourth largest producer of
uranium
Gabon has:
- Attractive investment
opportunities
- Favorable economic
climate
- Far-reaching development
projects
- Large- and small-market
economies
- Sub-Saharan Africa's highest per
capita income
- Advanced telecommunications
systems
|
