In this glorious country, with its abundant biodiversity and stunning natural beauty, massive conservation efforts and massive exploitation of natural resources coexist.

Gabon is a land of astonishing landscapes and insane biodiversity, much of which is still undiscovered. Almost 75 percent of Gabon is covered in dense tropical rainforest, but it also has white-sand beaches, cloud-tipped mountains and inselbergs, rocky plateaus and canyons, open , hilly savannahs, rushing rives and hidden lagoons – all of which shelter an amazing array of flora and fauna. The equator cuts straight across the country, so it is warm all year and scorching during the rainy season, which lasts intermittently from September to May.

Gabon is often hailed as an African success story, as its per capita income is almost four times that of most if its sub-Saharan neighbors. In part, this is due to a small population, abundant natural land mineral resources and considerable foreign support. Most of the country’s wealth comes from the oil discovered in the 1970s. Despite the fact that its massive revenue has lined the elite’s pockets, rather tan those of the populace, Gabon has escaped the desperate poverty of many of its neighbors.