88% Rainforest — Africa’s Green Superpower
Gabon is one of Africa’s most forested countries — approximately 88% of its land is covered by tropical rainforest, part of the Congo Basin. The country has protected 13% of its territory as national parks (a system established by President Omar Bongo in 2002 on the advice of Mike Fay’s “Megatransect”) and has some of central Africa’s best-preserved wildlife — forest elephants, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, and the unique Loango National Park scenes of elephants and gorillas on Atlantic beaches.
Gabon has been ruled by the Bongo family for over 56 years — Omar Bongo (1967-2009) succeeded by his son Ali Bongo (2009-2023). In August 2023, the military ousted Ali Bongo in a bloodless coup minutes after dubious election results declared him winner. The coup was broadly welcomed by Gabonese citizens frustrated with 56 years of dynasty.
The country has historically been wealthier than most of sub-Saharan Africa thanks to oil — it is OPEC member and has the region’s highest GDP per capita outside a handful of small states. But mismanagement and inequality have kept large portions of the population in poverty.
A Brief History
French colony (Gabon) from 1885. Independence in 1960. Omar Bongo ruled 1967-2009, his son Ali Bongo 2009-2023. August 2023 military coup. General Brice Oligui Nguema leads the transition.
Geography and Climate
Gabon covers 267,668 km². Atlantic coast, rainforest, equatorial. Climate: tropical, with high rainfall.
Culture, Language and Religion
French is official. Religion: approximately 75% Christian, 10% Muslim, with traditional African religions remaining influential. Major ethnic groups: Fang, Bapounou.
The Economy
Gabon has an upper-middle-income economy (~$21 billion GDP). Oil dominates (50% of GDP traditionally), alongside manganese, timber, and eco-tourism.
UNESCO Sites
Gabon has 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda and Ivindo National Park.
Travel Guide
Entry: E-visa available. Gabon’s parks are among central Africa’s best for wildlife viewing.
Surprising Facts
- Gabon is 88% forest — one of Africa’s most forested countries.
- Loango National Park is famous for forest elephants and lowland gorillas walking on Atlantic beaches.
- The Bongo family ruled Gabon for 56 years until the August 2023 coup.
- Gabon has the highest GDP per capita in sub-Saharan Africa outside Equatorial Guinea and small microstates.
- The Oklo natural nuclear reactor — in Gabon — is the only known natural nuclear fission reactor on Earth, operating ~2 billion years ago.
- Gabon’s rainforests are home to significant populations of forest elephants and western lowland gorillas.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.