Rules for overlanding in Gabon
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 14 July 2026.
Which licence you need
- All vehicles — An Italian EU-model licence or an international permit is what the ministry lists. Check what applies to the licence you hold.
An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.
At the wheel
- Carnet de passages — A carnet de passages en douane is required for a vehicle imported temporarily.
- Rainy season needs 4x4 — From October to mid-December and from mid-February to May, in the rainy season, many roads can only be driven with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
- Avoid driving at night — The ministry advises against travelling at night because many roads have no lighting.
- Traffic — Pay maximum attention on the road: speeds are high and the rules are widely ignored. There is no public transport in the capital and local taxis are described as unreliable.
- Police stops — In some cases police conduct falls short of professional standards, with money demanded over alleged breaches of the traffic code or of local law. Always carry a valid identity document.
What catches travellers out
- Drugs — Possessing or using any narcotic is prohibited and offenders face severe penalties.
- Photography — Do not photograph public places or people without asking permission first. Keep the camera away from airports, ports, bridges, public buildings and anything military or strategic, real or assumed.
- Taking currency out — There is no limit on bringing foreign currency in, but taking it out is only allowed up to the equivalent of 200,000 CFA francs. Cards are often accepted, mostly in the capital.
- Local laws — In Gabon homosexuality is a criminal offence.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 14 July 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Gabon before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 14 July 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.