Port-Gentil
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At a glance
- Country
- Gabon
- Region
- Ogooué-Maritime
- Population
- 140,000
- Best time to go
- June to September
- Main airport
- Port-Gentil International (POG)
- Coordinates
- 0.72°S, 8.78°E
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Overview
Port-Gentil is Gabon's second city and the centre of its oil and timber industries. It sits on an island at the mouth of the Ogooué River, with no road connection to Libreville, so most people arrive by plane or boat.
It is a working town rather than a tourist destination, but it has a relaxed seafront, good seafood and easy access to beaches and the vast river delta. It is also a starting point for trips south towards Loango National Park.
Things to see
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Photo: United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Public domain Cap Lopez
The headland north of town, with long beaches and a lighthouse facing the Atlantic.
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Seafront
Walk the waterfront road in the late afternoon, when the breeze picks up and the town comes out.
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Photo: Susi4, CC BY-SA 3.0 Ogooué delta
A huge maze of channels, mangroves and forested islands where Gabon's great river meets the sea.
Things to do
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Boat trip into the delta
Head into the river channels to see birds, fishing villages and mangrove forest.
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Photo: Barada-nikto, CC BY-SA 4.0 Eat fresh seafood
Grilled fish and prawns are the local speciality, best eaten at simple places near the water.
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Photo: Kurt Dundy at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 Trip to Loango National Park
Beaches, lagoons and forest where elephants, hippos and buffalo sometimes wander onto the sand.
Where to stay
Town centre
Business hotels close to restaurants and the waterfront.
Hotels in Town centreCap Lopez road
A few quieter hotels near the beaches north of town.
Hotels in Cap Lopez road
Getting around
Taxis are the easiest way to get around town and out to the beaches.
Flights from Libreville take under an hour, and boats run between the two cities.
When to go
The dry season from June to September is cooler and cloudier, with less rain. The rest of the year is hot and humid, with the heaviest rain from October to May.
Plan your trip to Port-Gentil
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.