Experience the best of Libreville

Libreville lies on the north shore of the Komo estuary, almost on the equator, where the river mouth opens to the Atlantic. Freed slaves were settled here in 1849, and the name means Free Town. Today it is Gabon's capital and largest city, with a seafront boulevard, government buildings and the large Mont-Bouët market, where stalls sell cloth, spices, fish and household goods. The National Museum of Arts and Traditions holds masks and carvings of Gabon's forest peoples.

Sibang Arboretum, a patch of forest in the suburbs, and Akanda National Park, mangroves and mudflats north of the city where migratory birds gather, are both within a short drive. Boats cross the estuary to Pointe-Denis, a beach resort beside Pongara National Park, where leatherback turtles nest on the shore. Humpback whales pass offshore between July and October, and the beaches of Cap Estérias lie to the north.

Poulet nyembwe, chicken cooked in a thick palm-nut sauce, is Gabon's best-known dish, served with cassava or plantain, and grilled fish with chilli is sold along the shore. The climate is hot and humid all year. The long dry season from June to September is the most comfortable time, while rain is heavy from October to May, with a short drier break around the new year.