August 17, 2009
(Gabon)- Today is Gabon's Independence Day in central West Africa. Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa, a federation that survived until 1959. The territories became independent in 1960 as the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), and Gabon. In the early 1990s, Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions. The small population (1.5 million), together with abundant natural resources and foreign private investment, have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in the region.XXX
XXXIn Gabon, you might just find yourself landing on an airstrip full of goats, dodging forest elephants on the stroll home from the bar, or wandering into a celebration of starkly painted dancers that harkens back hundreds of years. Outside the Westernized capital Libreville, just about everything in Gabon is so newly accessible that just by being there you’re already off the beaten path and in the middle of a whole new world. And if you happen to be traveling with a 4WD, mechanic, cash to burn and a French dictionary, you’re bound to have the adventure of a lifetime. Lack of infrastructure and transportation will lead you on long, bumpy journeys, but you’ll be stunned by what is shaping up to be Africa’s next best ecotourism destination. About 10% of the country’s land has been designated as national parks – closing it down to loggers and miners and opening it up to travelers, conservationists and ecotourists – it’s now possible to explore endless white-sand beaches, primate-filled tropical rainforests, surfing hippos, elephants, rolling savannahs and estuaries. Nature and wildlife fanatics will not be disappointed: long days of trekking will be rewarded with seeing wild creatures in their own pristine environment. The experience will transport you back to a time when Mother Earth – not humans – ruled the land.
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XXXAlmost all Gabonese are of Bantu origin. Gabon has at least 40 ethnic groups, with separate languages and cultures. The largest is the Fang (about 30%). Ethnic group boundaries are less sharply drawn in Gabon than elsewhere in Africa. French, the official language, is a unifying force, and France is the predominant foreign cultural and commercial influence. (from lonelyplanet.com and state.gov)
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