Oyem
The main town of northern Gabon, in the Fang cocoa country near the Cameroon border.
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Oyem is the main town of the Woleu-Ntem in the far north, the heartland of the Fang, and the country around it is cocoa and coffee farming rather than the forest and oil that dominate elsewhere. It sits on the road running north to the Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea borders, which makes it a crossing point and a market town. A cathedral and a lively central market are the town's landmarks.
What you actually see
- The market - the central trading ground for the surrounding farming country.
- The cocoa country - the plantations across the Woleu-Ntem around the town.
- The cathedral - the main church at the centre of the town.
- The border position - the road running north towards two frontiers.
When to go
June to September is the drier season. Rain is heavy for much of the year in the north. Market days bring the town to life.
Honest expectations
There is little for visitors and half a day covers it. Facilities are basic. The road north from Libreville is long and in variable condition.
Nearby
Minkébé National Park is east, and Libreville is south.
What to pack for Oyem
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.