Organize your stay Gabon
Money Gabon
In Gabon, the national currency is the CFA franc (FCFA), pegged to the euro. There are banknotes of 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500 FCFA, as well as coins of 500, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 FCFA. Note that this is not the same currency as in West Africa. The exchange rate in April 2024 is €1 for 655.9 FCFA.
In São Tomé and Príncipe, the currency is the new Santomean dobra (STN), since January1, 2018. The island has in fact undergone a major non-structural monetary reform in order to combat counterfeit currency and gain credibility with investors. Like the old Hexagon franc, the dobra has lost 3 zeros. The exchange rate remains the same (€1 = 24.5 STN) and is still pegged to the euro. There are 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 STN banknotes. There are also 50 centime, 1 and 2 STN coins, but you'll hardly ever see them. In the archipelago, only Visa cards are accepted.
Budget & Tips Gabon
In Gabon, your budget will depend above all on the way you travel and your individual requirements. In any case, Gabon remains a relatively expensive destination if you want to get around (by plane or 4x4 in certain areas) and discover the interior of the country. Safaris must be organized in advance. So it's often easier - and not always more expensive - to go through a travel agency or directly to the destination.
Small budget. Accommodation in missions or small hotels, meals in the bush, travel by public transport (city cab and bush cab). Allow around 50,000 FCFA (€75) per day per person.
Medium budget. Accommodation in a mid-range hotel, travel by taxi-brousse, boat or train, meals in restaurants or maquis. FCFA 60,000 to 120,000 (€90 to 180) per person per day.
Large budget. Accommodation in luxury hotels, meals in gourmet restaurants, travel by own means (car rental), by plane or through a travel agency that prepares an à la carte tour. Expect to pay between 150,000 and 300,000 FCFA (€228 to €450) per person per day.
In São Tomé and Príncipe, the local currency is weak, so a trip to the archipelago is not necessarily very expensive. It all depends on your choice of accommodation and activities, as there are also some luxury options.
Small budget. Lodging in small hotels or camping, eating in the village or on sandwiches, getting around on your own using public transport (motorcycle cabs and taxi-buses). Expect to pay around 500 STN (around €20) per person per day.
Medium budget. Lodging in a mid-range hotel, car rental, guide for a few excursions, meals in São Tomé restaurants. Allow around 4,000 STN (approx. €162) per person per day.
Large budget. Accommodation in top-of-the-range hotels, meals in hotel restaurants, car rental with guide, tours organized on your own or with a travel agency that prepares "à la carte" tours. Allow between 4,500 and 6,500 STN (€183 to €264) per day per person (for a couple).
Passport and visas Gabon
To enter Gabon , in addition to a passport valid for more than 6 months before the expiry date and proof of yellow fever vaccination, foreign nationals are required to have a visa, even for a tourist stay of less than 3 months. A visa costs 45,000 FCFA.
You can apply for a visa directly at the Gabonese diplomatic or consular representation in your country of residence. Allow at least two weeks between submission of the application and issuance of the visa. Please note: you must collect your visa in person.
e-Visa Gabon. An online visa service (https://evisa.dgdi.ga) is available. Simply fill in the online application form and, once you have received the confirmation e-mail, pay for the visa on arrival at the airport ("e-Visa" counter). As the waiting time for confirmation is unpredictable, we recommend that you book at least 15 days in advance.
If you go through a local agency, it will be able to obtain an entry permit from the DGDI. On arrival, you can obtain your visa at the same rate. Bring cash, FCFA (45,000 FCFA) or euros (70€). However, the wait may be a little longer than with e-visa.
Citizens of member countries of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), the European Union (including France), the United States of America and Canada holding a valid passport are exempt from the entry visa requirementfor stays of less than 15 days. However, you will need to show your yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival.
For stays of more than 15 days, entry to São Tomé and Príncipe requires a valid passport and a tourist visa. The latter can be obtained from consular offices. Visas can be obtained from Gabon via the São Tomé embassy in Libreville, on the seafront just before the governorate on the way out of town to the airport. It's not always easy to get in touch with the embassy, so it's best to go through an intermediary or use the online visa procedure. Please note: if you are travelling through Gabon to São Tomé and Príncipe, make sure you have a multiple-entry visa for Gabon (one for the Gabonese territory, before travelling to São Tomé and Príncipe, and a second for the return to Gabon, after your stay in São Tomé and Príncipe). If you were unable to obtain your multiple-entry visa, you can apply for a new single-entry visa for your return to Gabon, either online or at the Gabonese embassy in São Tomé. From other countries, you need to contact your country's embassy or consulate or, failing that, the nearest country with a diplomatic presence in São Tomé. In France, visas are issued by the Paris consulate (123, rue du Château, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt (✆ +33 1 41 10 08 54; e-mail: [email protected]) and the Marseille consulate (111, rue du Commandant-Rolland, 13008 Marseille (✆ +33 4 91 37 58 02) within a week.
eVisaST. This online visa application speeds up the tourist visa application process by bypassing the physical passage through an embassy or consulate. All you need to do is fill in the e-visa application form, which you can find at http://evisa.st/. Once completed and validated by the Migration and Borders Service, you will receive, within 7 days and if approved, an entry authorization to take with you and show on arrival on Santomean soil. Your visa will be issued on the spot, in less than 20 minutes. A 30-day visa costs around €20.
Driver's license Gabon
As France has signed an agreement with the Gabonese authorities, it is possible to drive on Gabonese territory with a French license for 3 months. After that, nationals must register their license with the Ministry of Transport. You should also be aware that Gabonese law requires drivers to carry a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, driver and vehicle papers, and proof that the vehicle has passed a technical inspection. You'll need to show these to officers at any roadside inspection. It's a good idea to have all your papers in order, as the police can be very greedy and intransigent, especially with white people.
Health Gabon
Although there are no major health risks in Gabon, you'll still need to take precautions, especially against certain diseases. First of all, against malaria. As the country is classified in zone 3, the risks exist all year round, whatever the season, with an upsurge in cases during the rainy season. The risks are lower in the city, in residential areas, but it is necessary to protect yourself, especially between dusk and early morning, when the peak of aggressiveness occurs between midnight and 2am. The best prevention is to protect yourself against insects (long sleeves and light-colored clothing, insecticides, mosquito nets). For short stays, it is imperative to take a suitable treatment. There are a number of prophylactic treatments available; contact the Institut Pasteur or a tropical medicine department, which will adapt the treatment to your individual needs.
There are very few cases of malaria in São Tomé and Príncipe, and in some years there have been no reported cases at all. Nevertheless, vigilance is essential, and prophylaxis is recommended. Also transmitted by mosquitoes, chikungunya, whose Bantu name means "that which curls up", also circulates in the country. There is no preventive treatment or vaccine, and the best protection remains mosquito repellent. As in all African countries, you'll need to protect yourself against HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
Mandatory vaccination Gabon
When entering Gabon and Santo Domingo, you'll need to show proof of vaccination against yellow fever. This vaccine is now valid for life, and does not require a booster.
Time difference Gabon
In Gabon, there is no time difference with France during winter time. During summer time, Gabon is one hour ahead of France. When it's 8pm in Paris, it's 7pm in Libreville.
In São Tomé and Príncipe, winter time is one hour shorter than in France. In summer, the time difference is 2 hours. When it's 8pm in Paris, it's 6pm in São Tomé.
Spoken languages Gabon
In Gabon, French and all ethnic languages are spoken, including Fang (around 30% of the population), Myéné, téké, Punu... In São Tomé and Príncipe, Portuguese and Santomean Creole are spoken. French is the most commonly learned foreign language, even before English, although it is not always well spoken.
Communication Gabon
In Gabon, several cell phone operators compete with each other, improving both service and rates. Three mobile operators: Moov (05) belongs to the Atlantique Télécom group, present in many African countries; Libertis (06 or 02), the national operator, belongs to the Gabon Télécom group; Airtel (07 or 04), whose coverage is currently the best in Gabon. Each operator offers different benefits, but these are constantly evolving as needs change. Numerous advertising signs keep you up to date with the latest offers. Libertis and Airtel now offer 3G/4G for improved Internet access. Here too, the price war rages on, once again to the consumer's benefit.
In São Tomé and Príncipe, the incumbent operator, CST, has good coverage in the cities. Since summer 2014, Unitel has been shaking up the monopoly, imposing lower call rates of interest to Santoméans and better network coverage in some places. 3G is following suit. However, it is still very difficult to access Santomean numbers from abroad. Don't hesitate to try again and again, at different times of the day.
To make calls in Gabon as well as in São Tomé, you need to buy top-ups: prepaid cards from different operators and an unlocked phone. You can unlock your phone on the spot, if you haven't already done so, or buy a low-cost one, ideally with two chips, to take advantage of the best network at the best price, depending on where you are. You'll also be able to convert your credit into Internet data, giving you access to WhatsApp, the instant messaging application.
If you want to keep your French plan, you'll need to activate the international option before you leave, which is generally free of charge, by calling your operator's customer service department. Who pays what? The rule is the same for all operators. When you use your French phone abroad, you pay for the call, whether you make it or receive it. In the case of an incoming call, your correspondent also pays, but only the price of a local call. All calls made to or from abroad are out of the bundle, including those to voicemail. And don't forget to deactivate your cellular data when abroad, otherwise your smartphone will automatically update itself using out-of-bundle 3G. Here too, the bill rises very quickly.
Electricity and measurements Gabon
In Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe, you won't need an adapter if you're coming from a European country, as the voltage used is 220 V. For weights and measures, the metric system is used.
Luggage Gabon
Gabon has a hot, very humid equatorial climate, with frequent rainfall. So it's important to pack wisely, in line with the climate. We therefore recommend : cotton linen, bathing suits, light-colored, short and light clothes for the beach, but dark-colored, long and covering clothes for walks in the forest, a waterproof windbreaker and walking shoes, a sweater if you're chilly, as some nights in the dry season are very chilly, camping gear for bivouacs, mosquito repellent, sun cream, hat, sunglasses, binoculars, flashlight or headlamp, batteries, knife, map of Gabon or São Tomé. Finally, a small first-aid kit containing an anti-malarial, an antipyretic, a painkiller, an antihistamine, an antidiarrheal, bandages and disinfectants, purifying tablets, scissors and tweezers.
For São Tomé and Príncipe, you'll need snorkeling gear, flippers, mask, snorkel and beach games, as well as what you'll need for hiking. You might also want to pack a few items of clothing you no longer wear, as well as stationery, to donate to associations that will group them together and distribute them once the right quantity has been collected, so as not to make anyone jealous during the distributions.
When it comes to excess baggage, airlines are now rather strict. They may leave you alone for 1 or 2 kg too much on certain destinations, but you won't have any margin on African destinations, as passenger demand is so high! If you travel light, don't be surprised to be accosted several times in the check-in hall by other travellers who want to take those kilos you're not using. The choice is yours, but this practice is forbidden, especially if you don't know what you're being asked to carry. Because it's true that once you've exceeded the weight limit, the axe comes down, and it comes down hard: around €30 per extra kilo on a long-haul flight with Air France, and around €120 per extra bag with British Airways. Note that airlines sometimes offer discounts of 20-30% if you pay for your excess baggage on their website before you get to the airport. If the cost is still too high, you still have the option of sending some of your belongings by post, if the destination allows.
On average, 16 out of 1,000 passengers don't find their luggage on the conveyor belt on arrival. If you're one of the unlucky ones, go to your airline's counter to declare your baggage missing. For your claim to be accepted, you must react within 21 days of the loss. The airline will provide you with a form, which you should return by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt to its customer service or baggage claims department. In most cases, you'll get your luggage back within a few days. In all cases, the airline is solely responsible and will have to compensate you if you do not see the color of your belongings again (or if some items are missing from your baggage). The reimbursement ceiling is set at €20 per kilo, or a flat-rate compensation of €1,200. If you consider that the value of your belongings exceeds these ceilings, you are strongly advised to inform your airline at check-in (the ceiling will be increased for a fee), or to take out baggage insurance. Please note that hand baggage is your responsibility, not that of the airline.
