Basilica of Mongomo

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Mongomo is a domed church consecrated in 2011 on a scale entirely out of proportion to the town around it, seating about a thousand and finished in marble and gilt, the second largest Catholic church in Africa after Yamoussoukro. It stands on an open plaza with the forest of the eastern interior behind. The town it serves has only a few thousand residents. Mongomo lies close to the Gabonese border and the road to it runs through forest for most of the way from the coast.

What to look for

• The dome - the church's scale, second in Africa only to Yamoussoukro.
• The interior - marble and gilt finishing throughout.
• The plaza - the open ground the basilica stands on.
• The contrast - a cathedral-scale building in a small forest town.

When to go

December to February is the drier season and the roads are better. The basilica is open outside service times. Services take priority.

Practical notes

The drive from Bata takes around five hours. Photography of buildings needs care in this country and permits are required for many subjects. There is little else in the town.

Nearby

Ebebiyín is north, and Altos de Nsork is southwest.