Public transportation in Libreville

the public transport in Gabon are not at all ..... will builds the most common is the taxi you have taxi sedans are the safest and they can t take no matter where you take either one course (you ride alone the taxi, in general that's what the few expat who take a taxi here)

The taxi-bus is a great experience not to attempt every morning, especially when one is pressed them they have specific routes. But stop every 20 meters lol

if you rent a car if it's for a long stay ...

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\bye

Hi kevinolestat!

Thanks for your help

Armand

If you want to stay for a longer period get yourself a car with airbags. Taxis are the main means of transport but unsafe for two major reasons.

a - most of the drivers (often illegal immigrants from West Africa)are not aware of any trafic rules, neither will many of them have a proper driving license. There are two sorts of taxis: firstly Red-white one and blue white ones of Libreville and Owendo, secondly the clanos, which are either painted yellow or recognisable by their broken windscreen. The fares are the same.


b - pickpockets

There is a slightly improved bus service of the SOGATRA but it is still underdeveloped. For intermediate distance rides they are fine.

Taxi fares are either a "course" meaning you hire the car on your own and the driver brings you where you want - be prepared to offer between 1000 and 1500 depending on the hours for a ride of 8-10 km ---  or you share a taxi, which is very cheap once you know the names of the places where you want to go. Ask the other people waiting for the prices. They will give you an accurate answer because they don't need new-arrivers to destroy the established price structure.

Once you own your car you will have survived 2 near-hit accidents per day, and you will know how to avoid the biggest mistakes. You will, for instance, no longer start at once when your traqfic light turns green....you will await the five or six cars that cross after their light turned red.

Avoid driving at night, espacially out of town.

Here is another view of the Gabonese transport system in Libreville:
Note:amouts are in USDollar

Taxi (color "white and red"); They are very cheap, a ride can go from 100-2000 CFA franc = $21 cents - $4.23
Option 1: regular trip | price: 100-800 CFA = $21 cents to $1.68 US Dollar. You will share the cab with 4 other people (sometimes 5). You tell the cab where you're going and the price you want to pay to get there.
Option 2: "course" | price: 1000-3000 CFA = $2.10-$6.29 | You will not share the cab with anyone else
Option 3: "louer a l'heure" | price 3000CFA -4000 = $6.29-8.38| you have the taxi & driver for you for an hour
Option 4: "abonnement" | price: varies | you tell the cab to pick you up and drop you off on a daily basis kinda like a subscription. You usually pay at the end of the mouth.
tip: try to become friend with one of them so that when you want to go out at night you have one or two you trust to call

Taxi Bus: same color as taxi but vehicles are mini vans. Rare, at night. Price 100 CFA (fixed). They drive the same path (which is why local also call it the Metro). Their are over dozens of difference paths in Libreville

Bus (sogatra): color: "blue and white". Same as taxi bus (price, path) but way more crowded and less regular. The bus offers longer distances though.

Clando: aka clandestin they usually work like Taxi Bus (price & path) but serves places where cabs don't go since it's too far. Safe during the day or apply tip from taxi.

Car Rentals: two options here
Option 1: independent companies or "hustles" are usually cheaper that companies like Hertz. They are safe and usually have neat cars. To find one you'll have to ask someone.
Option 2: Hertz, and other big names out there.


John with J'♥Lbv