Travel Smart
Honest, sourced guidance so you travel confident. Most of any country is calmer than the headlines suggest.
Safety
Countrywide advisory (Government of Canada)
Exercise increased cautionExercise a high degree of caution
Source: Government of Canada · Verified 2026-07-26
Libreville and Port-Gentil
Exercise normal precautionsMajor cities are relatively safe and orderly. Street crime is less common than in other Central African capitals. Standard precautions required at night.
Avoid: Certain suburbs at night; unmarked areas.
Common scams: Taxi overcharging, minor pickpocketing.
Source: US State Department · Verified 2026-07-06
National parks and interior
Exercise normal precautionsParks are safe for organized tourism; wildlife is the main concern, not crime. Travel with licensed guides.
Avoid: Remote unmarked areas; travel only with organized expeditions.
Source: US State Department · Verified 2026-07-06
3 zones rated separately against Government of Canada, US State Department. Oldest check on this page: 6 July 2026.
Emergency Contacts
Police Nationale
police
The police number published by UK FCDO, which cautions that none of the Gabonese emergency numbers is guaranteed to be reliable and that help can be limited in places that are hard to reach. The number 17 is not what the Foreign Office gives.
SourceAmbulance and SOS Medecins
ambulance
UK FCDO gives 117 for an ambulance and adds that, depending on your mobile network, SOS Medecins is reached on 1300, 0174 or 0880. The British Embassy medical list separately gives a toll-free SAMU line on 1488. Try more than one, since the Foreign Office says none is guaranteed reliable.
SourceCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Libreville (CHUL)
hospital · Libreville
The main public teaching hospital in the capital, from the British Embassy list of medical providers in Libreville. The Hopital d'Instruction des Armees Omar Bongo Ondimba on +241 (0)11 79 00 00 is the military hospital on the same list and is generally better equipped.
SourcePolyclinique El-Rapha
hospital · Libreville
One of the private polycliniques on the same British Embassy list and a common choice for visitors. Polyclinique Chambrier on +241 (0)11 76 14 68 is another. Every facility on the list is in Libreville or Akanda, so if you are heading for Loango or Lope, plan on the assumption that serious care means getting back to the capital.
Source