The natural glories of Gabon
The small nation is cloaked in forest but 'rewards are huge' for those who go exploring

Sandwiched between Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo on Africa's west coast, Gabon has long been promoted to tourists as the continent's "last Eden" – and not without justification, says Mike Carter in the FT. This equatorial country is half the size of France, its former colonial power, but home to only 2.2 million people, most of whom live in the coastal cities of Libreville (the capital) and Port-Gentil.
Almost nine-tenths of the rest is cloaked in forest, much of it never significantly disturbed by human activity, and more than 10% of it strictly protected. There's little infrastructure, and only 40,000 tourists visit each year. But for the adventurous few, the rewards are huge, including the chance to see western lowland gorillas, forest elephants, and a vast amount of other spectacular fauna.
The dictator Ali Bongo Ondimba (a keen conservationist) was deposed in a coup d'état last year, but the situation has since been calm. Roads are "hideously rutted", but you can also cover long distances by river boat, and there are some pleasant lodges, such as Ndola and Pongara. To see gorillas, you must tag along with scientific researchers.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The apes' favourite habitat is a swamp, where you might sit and watch an eight-strong family relaxing in a clearing, "bathed in a celestial glow as if stage-lit". Also "thrilling" is the chance to track a 1,000-strong troop of mandrills – the world's largest monkeys, and most likely its biggest primate group – which set the whole forest "vibrating" as they fly through the canopy. You might also see hippos, crocodiles, leopards, manatees, pythons, forest buffalo and plenty of beautiful birds.
And there is much of cultural interest too, not least the shamanic ceremonies of the Bwiti religion, during which participants holding fiery torches perform ecstatic dances to the music of drums and antelope-horn trumpets. They also take iboga, a natural hallucinogen that I found "wild but not unpleasant", but which can have seriously adverse psychiatric or medical effects in some people.
Journeys by Design has trips from $2,000 per night.
Sign up for The Week's Travel newsletter for destination inspiration and the latest news and trends.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
‘A legacy news brand brings a visibility of its own’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
8 of the best ‘cozy crime’ series of all time
The Week Recommends Murder mysteries don’t necessarily have to make us miserable, and these shows have perfected a feel-good crime formula
-
Youth revolts rattle Morocco as calls against corruption grow louder
THE EXPLAINER Snowballing controversy over World Cup construction and civic services has become a serious threat to Morocco’s political stability
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetime
Feature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Book reviews: ‘We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution’ and ‘Will There Ever Be Another You’
Feature The many attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution and Patricia Lockwood’s struggle with long Covid
-
Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens
Feature A permanent new museum
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipe
The Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
Susie Dent picks her favourite books
The Week Recommends The lexicographer and etymologist shares works by Jane Goodall, Noel Streatfeild and Madeleine Pelling
-
6 incredible homes under $1 million
Feature Featuring a home in the National Historic Landmark District of Virginia and a renovated mid-century modern house in Washington
-
The Harder They Come: ‘triumphant’ adaptation of cinema classic
The Week Recommends ‘Uniformly excellent’ cast follow an aspiring musician facing the ‘corruption’ of Kingston, Jamaica
-
House of Guinness: ‘rip-roaring’ Dublin brewing dynasty period drama
The Week Recommends The Irish series mixes the family tangles of ‘Downton’ and ‘Succession’ for a ‘dark’ and ‘quaffable’ watch