Bordered by the forest and the sea, Gabon is a jewel of nature where elephants roam, whales swim in the ocean and hippos swim off sandy beaches. One of the most biodiverse nations on earth, and the most carbon positive, this central African state is a sanctuary for wildlife.
Gabon’s rainforest is its most valuable asset and contributes significantly to the balance of bio-diversity on which our world depends. It is part of the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest after the Amazon. The country lies on the equator, and around 88% of its land is covered with tropical forest. Forest cover is the main ecosystem of the country, with a rich and varied fauna. Gabon’s forest elephant herd is the largest in the world, with an estimated 95,000 individuals of this critically endangered species. It is also home to as many as 18,000 gorillas and chimpanzees. There are about 10,000 plant species recorded in Gabon. This is more than the total diversity of all countries in West Africa, with 15 percent of plants in the country unique to Gabon. Visited by the Southern Hemisphere’s largest population of humpback whales, who each year nurse their young there before migrating south,overall Gabon’s marine waters host over 20 species of whales and dolphins, including the critically endangered Atlantic humpback. Each year the world’s largest populations of leatherback and olive-ridley turtles come to Gabon to nest. Dancing, singing, mythology, and poetry are all important elements of life in Gabon. Traditional crafts are an ancient tradition and can be seen in the creation of masks, musical instruments and sculptures.
Gabon is composed of about fifty ethnic groups, each with its own language and beliefs. This cultural diversity makes Gabon a jewel of spirituality and tradition. Visitors can soak up this richness by attending customary rites, visiting traditional villages.
Gabonese culture is traditionally highly spiritual, with a focus on worship and the afterlife. This traditional beliefs focus around the veneration of ancestors, based on the notion of a continuity between living and deceased relatives. Each of the country’s ethnic groups have their own ways of showing this veneration through ceremonies that, depending on the group, are known variously as bwiti, bwété or byeri.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
POPULATION: 2,17 millions, with 85%urbanisation across the principal cities of Libreville, Port-Gentil and Franceville. CURRENCY: The national currency is the central african cfa. it has a fixed parity with euro, ensuring monetary stability in the country.
ECONOMY: The country is a world-leader in the practice of sustainable forestry and the economy is also based on the extraction and export of natural resources, particularly manganese, oil, and timber. Tourism and agriculture are becoming increasingly important in Gabon’s growing economy. Safety and security Unlike other countries in the sub-region Gabon enjoys unprecedented political and security stability, which makes it one of the safest countries to visit in Africa.
LANGUAGE: French and local dialects. Over the last decade English has also become more widespread as increasing numbers of students are though the language in schools.
RELIGION: Gabon is a secular country and the constitution ensures freedom of religion. Christianity is the predominant religion in Gabon, with significant minorities of the adherant of Islam and faiths.
