Port-Gentil
Gabon's oil capital on an island in the Ogooué delta, reached only by air or sea.
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Port-Gentil sits on Cape Lopez, an island in the Ogooué delta, and it is the centre of Gabon's oil industry and its second city, with a population that has grown on the back of offshore production since the 1950s. It has no road connection to the rest of the country: everything arrives by air or by sea. Beaches run along the ocean side, the town is laid out flat and low, and the atmosphere is more industrial than anything.
What you actually see
- The island position - a city on Cape Lopez with no road to the mainland.
- The oil industry - the offshore production that built and sustains the town.
- The ocean beaches - the sand running along the seaward side.
- The delta - the Ogooué mouth surrounding the island.
When to go
June to September is the long dry season. The rains from October are heavy. Flights from Libreville run daily.
Honest expectations
There is very little for visitors and the town is industrial. Prices are high because everything is flown or shipped in. There is no road access at all.
Nearby
Sette Cama is south, and Loango National Park is beyond it.
What to pack for Port-Gentil
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.