Franceville
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At a glance
- Country
- Gabon
- Region
- Haut-Ogooué
- Population
- 110,000
- Best time to go
- June to September
- Main airport
- Franceville Mvengue (MVB)
- Coordinates
- 1.63°S, 13.58°E
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Overview
Franceville lies in the far south-east of Gabon, among green hills at the end of the Trans-Gabon railway. It is a quiet, spread-out provincial city, best known as a base for exploring the surrounding countryside.
Nearby are a waterfall crossed by a bridge made of lianas, the open grasslands and canyons of the Batéké plateau, and forest reserves with gorillas and mandrills. Facilities are simple, so plan with a local guide.
Things to see
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Poubara Falls
Rapids on the Ogooué River south of town, crossed by a traditional suspension bridge woven from lianas.
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Photo: Tony King, CC BY 4.0 Batéké Plateaux National Park
Rolling savannah and gallery forest on the border with Congo, very different from Gabon's rainforest.
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Lékoni canyons
Eroded red and white sandstone cliffs and gullies near the village of Lékoni.
Things to do
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Photo: Vincent.vaquin, CC BY-SA 3.0 Ride the Trans-Gabon railway
The long train journey from Libreville crosses forest and rivers before ending in Franceville.
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Lékédi Park
A reserve near Bakoumba, south of the city, with mandrills, chimpanzees and walks through forest and savannah.
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Photo: Tony King, CC BY 4.0 Explore the plateau
Drive out with a guide to the grasslands and canyons east of town.
Where to stay
Town centre
Simple hotels close to the market and restaurants.
Hotels in Town centreLodges near the parks
Basic camps and lodges for those spending nights in the reserves.
Hotels in Lodges near the parks
Getting around
Taxis cover the town, but you need a 4x4 and a driver for trips into the countryside.
Flights from Libreville land at Mvengue airport, about 30 minutes' drive away. The train takes most of a day or a night.
When to go
The dry season from June to September brings cooler, clearer days and better roads. The rainy season can make tracks difficult.
Plan your trip to Franceville
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.