What animals live in Gabon?

Gabon is packed with wild creatures! Forest elephants push through the thick jungle, western lowland gorillas build nests in the trees, and hippos wade in the rivers near the coast. Gabon has some of the largest untouched rainforests in Africa, so animals have plenty of room to roam. You might also spot mandrills — those are the large monkeys with bright blue and red faces that live in big groups on the forest floor. Leatherback sea turtles come ashore on Gabon's beaches to lay their eggs, and the waters offshore are home to humpback whales. God packed a lot of variety into this one country!

What do kids eat in Gabon?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Gabon often eat cassava, which is a starchy root that gets pounded into a dough called 'fufu' or cooked into a thick porridge. It fills you up and gives you energy for a whole day of exploring the jungle. Rusty wants to add that fish is a big deal in Gabon, since the country sits right on the Atlantic Ocean and has lots of rivers too. Kids might also eat plantains — those are like bananas but starchier and usually cooked — along with peanut stews and sometimes bushmeat like antelope. Meals are often shared from one big pot with the whole family gathered around, which sounds like a pretty good way to eat dinner.

How do people say hello in Gabon?

Great question! In Gabon, the most widely spoken language is French, so you will hear people say 'Bonjour' (bon-ZHOOR), which means 'Good day' or 'Hello.' It is a warm and polite greeting used all through the country. But Gabon is home to more than 40 different people groups, each with their own languages too! The Fang people, one of the largest groups, might greet you with words from their own language. Missionaries who go to Gabon work hard to learn local greetings and languages — because when you speak someone's heart language, it helps them truly hear the good news about Jesus.

What sports or games do kids play in Gabon?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Gabon love football — what you might call soccer — more than just about anything else. You'll find them kicking a ball around in open fields, on dirt roads, or wherever there's enough space to run. It's the same game played by millions of kids across Africa, and Gabon has even produced players who compete professionally around the world. Rusty wants to add that kids in Gabon also enjoy track-and-field style running and jumping games, and traditional games passed down through families in the villages. Some children in rural areas play games using stones or seeds, similar to a game called mancala, which has been played across Africa for centuries. It's a good reminder that kids everywhere love to play — and missionaries who go to Gabon often find that playing games together is one of the best ways to build friendships and earn the chance to share about Jesus.

What's the weather like in Gabon?

Gabon sits right on the equator in Central Africa, so it is warm and humid nearly every single day of the year. Temperatures usually stay between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and rain falls a lot — sometimes in heavy, dramatic afternoon downpours. Because of all that warmth and rain, Gabon is covered in thick rainforest — some of the densest in all of Africa. The trees grow tall, the air feels heavy and wet, and the forest is loud with birds and insects. Missionaries who serve there have to be ready for that kind of heat every single day as they travel to share the gospel with the people living in villages tucked into those forests.

Tell me a fun fact about Gabon.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Gabon is one of the most forested countries in all of Africa — thick, green jungle covers most of the land, and forest elephants actually roam through it. These elephants are smaller than the ones you might picture from the savanna, and they use their tusks to dig up roots and minerals from the forest floor. Rusty wants to add this part: Gabon also sits right on the equator, which means it gets warm, heavy rain most of the year — and that keeps all that jungle alive and buzzing with life. The capital city, Libreville, sits on the Atlantic coast and is home to most of the country's people. It's a place where fishermen, students, and families all go about their days — and where missionaries have worked hard to share the good news of Jesus.

What is school like for kids in Gabon?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Gabon, children start school around age six, and classes are taught in French — the official language of the country. Schools in the capital city of Libreville tend to have better supplies and more teachers, but in villages deeper in the rainforest, a school might be just one room with few books to go around. Rusty wants to add that many kids in Gabon have to walk a long way just to reach their classroom each morning. Some families also find it hard to afford school fees or uniforms, which means not every child gets to finish their education. The good news is that some missionaries and local churches run schools and tutoring programs so that children can learn — and while they're at it, hear about Jesus, who cares about every single one of them.

Who are the unreached people in Gabon?

Great question — this is exactly the kind of thing explorers like us need to know! Gabon is a country in Central Africa along the Atlantic coast, and most people there follow a mix of Christianity and traditional African spirit worship, which means many have heard the name of Jesus but haven't truly understood or trusted Him as their only Savior. The Baka pygmy people who live deep in Gabon's forests are one of the least-reached groups — they have very few believers among them and little access to God's Word in their own language. There are also several Bantu people groups in Gabon, like the Babongo and the Seki, who have very small numbers of Christians and not enough churches or missionaries reaching them with the real gospel. Some of these groups still practice animism, which means they believe spirits live in objects and places and must be pleased or feared. They need to hear that Jesus has power over every spirit, and that real peace with God comes only through Him — not through rituals or fear.

How can I pray for the people of Gabon?

Gabon is a country in Central Africa where many people follow a mix of traditional spirit worship and Christianity — but often without really knowing who Jesus is or what He did for them. You can pray that God opens their eyes and hearts to the true gospel, and that real, saving faith in Jesus spreads across the country. Pray for the local Gabonese churches to grow strong and teach the Bible clearly and faithfully. Ask God to raise up bold Gabonese pastors and leaders who love Jesus and aren't afraid to tell their neighbors the truth about Him. And pray for any believers who face pressure from family or community when they follow Christ — that God gives them courage and holds them close.

What is a holiday or celebration in Gabon?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the biggest celebrations in Gabon is Independence Day on August 17th. That is the day in 1960 when Gabon became its own country, free from French rule. People gather in the streets, there is music, drumming, and colorful parades — it is a big, proud moment for the whole nation. Rusty wants to add that Gabon also has many traditional festivals tied to the Bwiti and other cultural practices of its many ethnic groups, like the Fang and the Myene people. Some of these involve elaborate masks, dancing, and ceremonies passed down for generations. This is actually one reason missionaries and local Christians work hard here — many people mix old spirit-based traditions with other beliefs, and they need to hear clearly that Jesus alone is the way to God. Pray that Gabonese families would find lasting joy not just in celebrations, but in knowing Jesus personally.

What language do people speak in Gabon?

Gabon's official language is French, left over from when France governed the country long ago. So if you walked into a school or government building in the capital city of Libreville, you would hear French being spoken. But French is really just the language people use in official places. At home and in villages, Gabonese people speak around 40 different local languages, like Fang, Myene, and Nzebi. That means missionaries who want to share the good news about Jesus sometimes have to learn more than one language to reach everyone — what an adventure that must be!

What's a famous place to visit in Gabon?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder at the map! One of the most well-known places in Gabon is Lopé National Park, a vast stretch of rainforest and ancient savanna right in the heart of the country. It is so old and unusual that scientists have found traces of early human life there, and it sits along the Ogooué River, one of the great rivers of Central Africa. Rusty wants to add that Lopé is home to forest elephants, gorillas, and mandrills — the most colorful monkeys in the world, with bright red and blue faces. But what strikes us most is that somewhere in those forests and river villages, there are real people with real families who need to hear about Jesus. Gabon has churches, but many smaller communities in remote areas still have very little access to God's Word. That is worth thinking about.

Gabon — Kids Missions Explorer

Western Lowland Gorilla

Gabon is home to roughly half the world's western lowland gorilla population, making its forests one of the last great refuges for these powerful, intelligent primates.

Forest Elephant

Smaller and darker than their savanna cousins, forest elephants carve paths through Gabon's dense jungles that other animals depend on for travel and food.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

The beaches of Gabon's coast host one of the largest leatherback sea turtle nesting sites in the world, where females come ashore at night to lay their eggs.

Poulet Nyembwe

Often called Gabon's national dish, this chicken stew is slow-cooked in rich palm nut sauce until the meat is deeply savory and tender.

Fufu

A soft, doughy staple made from pounded cassava or plantain, fufu is eaten by hand and used to scoop up soups and stews at most family meals.

Mbika

Ground pumpkin seeds cooked with greens and spices create this thick, nutty dish that is a comforting everyday food in many Gabonese homes.

Gabon

Things you should know about Gabon

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Gabon

Missions in Gabon

Pray for Gabon