Oyem

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.

Background

In Fang the town is called Nkoum Ekiègn. It is the capital of the Woleu Department and of Woleu-Ntem Province, and its founding date is given as 1904; it became a commune in 1962. The town spreads over low hills, crests and small valleys at an average elevation of about 650 m, lying 272 km north-east of Libreville as the crow flies and about 373 km by road. The 2013 census counted 60,685 inhabitants, which places it fifth among Gabon's urban communes by population. The Ntem River rises on the plateau near Oyem, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oyem has its seat in the town.

Source: Wikipedia, "Oyem"

The main sights

• 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.

What to expect

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.

Key facts