Bradt's Gabon remains the only English-language guide dedicated exclusively to what is considered by many to be 'Africa's last Eden' thanks to its sparse population and perhaps the highest percentage of forest cover of any country in the world. This new edition has been fully updated and covers all recent developments, including those in the national parks. Several new maps have been added (taking the total to 32) and most sketch maps have been upgraded. Also covered is the discovery of the extraordinary orange-coloured crocodiles living in the Abanda cave system. Full background, natural history, conservation, practical and health information is accompanied by a nine-chapter regional breakdown of the country, covering each of Gabon's provinces: Libreville and Estuaire, Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Ogooué-Maritime, Nyanga, Woleu-Ntem, Ogooué-Ivindo, Haut-Ogooué and Ogooué-Lolo. Visitors to Gabon will come face to face with nature in its rawest, wildest, most untouched form: from the impenetrable forests of the interior to the grassy plateauxs of Haut-Ogooué and the windblown white-sand beaches of the coast the latter known worldwide for the gorilla, buffalo, and elephant that come to wander the sandy shores and the 'surfing hippo' that astonishingly come to play in the frothy surf. Gabon is more than just nature, however, and culture lovers will be taken with one of the region's finest carving traditions (in both wood and soapstone) mbigou, floored by the furious tempos played on the mongongo mouth bow, and transported to another place entirely by the all-night drums, dance and fire ofa traditional Bwiti ceremony. Bradt's Gabon offers the most thorough and up-to-date information available and is an ideal companion for wildlife enthusiasts, Africa aficionados and completists and overlanders travelling along Africa's west coast.

Vorwort
. The only dedicated English-language guide . Fully updated with new and improved maps . Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, Africa aficionados and completists, and overlanders travelling along Africa's west coast About Bradt Travel Guides . Founded in 1974, Bradt is now the largest independent guidebook publisher in the UK with over 200 titles in print . WINNER of the Gold award for Best Guidebook Series in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2018 . Bradt guides are written by authors who really know their destinations. Many are resident there, or have been visiting regularly over a number of years. . Each new Bradt guide is backed by a dedicated press and social media campaign

Autorentext

By Sean Connolly

Klappentext

Bradt’s Gabon remains the only English-language guide dedicated exclusively to what is considered by many to be ‘Africa’s last Eden’ thanks to its sparse population and perhaps the highest percentage of forest cover of any country in the world. This new edition has been fully updated and covers all recent developments, including in the national parks. Several new maps have been added (taking the total to 31) and most sketch maps have been upgraded. Also covered is the discovery of the extraordinary orange-coloured crocodiles living in the Abanda cave system.

Full background, natural history, conservation, practical and health information is accompanied by a nine-chapter regional breakdown of the country, from Libreville and L'Estuaire to Moyen Ogooué, Ngounié, Ogooué Maritime and Nyanga, as well as Woleu-Ntem, Ogooué-Ivindo, Haut Ogooué and Ogooué-Lolo.

Visitors to Gabon will come face-to-face with nature in its rawest, wildest, most untouched form, from the impenetrable forests of the interior to the grassy plateaus of Haut-Ogooué and the windblown white-sand beaches of the coast – the latter known worldwide for the gorilla, buffalo, and elephant that come to wander the sandy shores and the ‘surfing hippo’ that – astonishingly – come to play in the frothy surf.

Gabon is more than just nature, however, and culture lovers will be taken with one of the region’s finest carving traditions (in both wood and soapstone), floored by the furious tempos played on the moungongo mouth-harp, and transported to another place entirely by the all-night drums, dance, fire, and faith of the traditional Bwiti rites.

Bradt’s Gabon offers the most thorough and up-to-date information available and is an ideal companion for wildlife enthusiasts, Africa aficionados and completists, and overlanders travelling along Africa’s west coast.

Zusammenfassung
Gabon Travel Guide - Expert information and travel advice including Libreville, national parks, wildlife, gorilla tracking in Loango National Park and mandrill tracking in Lopé National Park. Also covers traditional culture, Bwiti ceremonies, Lake Oguemoué, Abanda Caves and crocodiles, rainforest pirogue trips, birdwatching and Koungou Falls.

Inhalt

PART 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

Chapter 1 Background Information

Geography, Climate, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Culture

Chapter 2 Natural History and Conservation 

Habitats and vegetation, Conservation, Wildlife

Chapter 3 Practical Information

When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tourist information, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies, Getting there and away, Safety, Women travellers, Gay travellers, Travellers with disabilities, Travelling with children, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and events, Shopping, Media and communications, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively 

Chapter 4 Health

Preparations, In Gabon

PART 2 THE GUIDE

Chapter 5 Libreville and L'Estuaire

Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Tourist information and local tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Libreville and L’Estuaire

Chapter 6 Moyen Ogooué

Lambaréné, Ndjolé

Chapter 7 Ngounié

Mouila, Sindara, Fougamou, Ndende, Massif du Chaillu

Chapter 8 Ogooué Maritime

Port Gentil, Fernan Vaz Lagoon, Loango National Park, Gamba

Chapter 9 Nyanga

Tchibanga, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Mayumba

Chapter 10 Woleu-Ntem

Oyem, Bitam, North of Bitam, Mitzic, Minkébé National Park

Chapter 11 Ogooué-Ivindo

Lopé National Park, Makokou, Ivindo National Park 

Chapter 12 Haut Ogooué

Franceville, Moanda, Mounana, Bakoumba and Lékédi Park, The Batéké Plateau, Léconi

Chapter 13 Ogooué-Lolo

Koulamoutou, Lastoursville

Appendices 

Language

Further info

Index