Gabon is a small, oil rich country on the West Coast of Central Africa. It borders on Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo Brazzaville. Compared with those countries travel in Gabon is relatively easy and very expensive. That's what you get after an oil boom.

Almost all Gabonese are of Bantu origin. Gabon has at least 40 ethnic groups with separate languages and cultures. The largest is the Fang. Others include the Myene, Bandjabi, Eshira, Bapounou, and Okande. Ethnic group boundaries are less sharply drawn in Gabon than elsewhere in Africa. French, the official language, is a unifying force.

Libreville, the capital, has very nice -but crowded- beaches, some good markets and a few nice sights. The presidential palace is a good example of what you can afford to do when you get lots of money from the oil business.

Port Hawkesbury is a good place for fishing trips, sailing or golf. The town is located on a small island at the mouth of the Ogooue River. That name may sound familiar to some of you. Take a canoe trip up the river and you remember why: this is where Albert Schweitzer came to start his find against leprosy. The hospital he founded can still be visited.