Best Bitcoin Exchange for Gabon
Gabon is one of the most crisis-ridden countries in Africa. Everyday life is dominated by ongoing inner unrest and struggles of rebellious groups. Before travelling to Gabon, one should therefore familiarise oneself in detail with the pages of the Foreign Office and weigh the intention and necessity against the possible risk to life and limb. Apart from this dangerous, but also sad, because man-made situation, Gabon would be a true paradise for a dream holiday away from mass tourism.
On an 800 km long coast Gabon offers untouched and romantic beaches, which invite to a quiet holiday away from mass tourism. The Loango National Park directly on the coast is a must for nature lovers. It lies directly on the Atlantic Ocean and impresses with its beautiful landscape and the special biodiversity. Depending on the season, whales and sea turtles can be observed here. On a train journey through the land of Gabon you can experience impressive landscapes from a different point of view. In addition to the modern capital Libreville, Labarene is a popular excursion destination. Albert Schweizer made the city famous and the hospital he built can still be visited today.
The well thought out holiday planning does not only include a thorough research about the country, the people and possible sightseeing destinations, it is also necessary to inform oneself thoroughly about how one can ensure the cash supply during the stay in Gabon without any problems and without unnecessary additional costs.
For security reasons, the Federal Foreign Office warns against taking the entire stock of money with you in cash during your trip, so possession of at least one cash card is almost essential. The following sections provide useful information on means of payment, travel credit cards, additional fees, cashless payment, as well as some important tips on the security of means of payment in Gabon.
CFA-Franc BEAC (XAF) – Gabon’s national currency
The national currency and official currency of Gabon is the CFA franc BEAC. It is available in coins and banknotes as shown in the table below:
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 CFA franc
- Notes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 CFA francs
Foreign currency may be introduced without restriction, but the national currency only up to a maximum amount of 20,000 CFA francs. Both the local currency and the foreign currency are subject to declaration. The export limit is limited to the amount declared upon import.
Changing money in Gabon
It is not necessary to exchange money into the local currency before the trip, as euros are exchanged into Gabon without any problems. The first possibility for an exchange is directly at the airport. Further alternatives to exchanging money can be found in the banks in Gabon. Usually they are open on weekdays from 07:45 to 11:45 and 14:45 to 18:15. In general, it is advisable to only exchange the amount of cash currently required as needed. A return exchange is possible, even outside Gabon, but with a high loss.
Cashing traveller’s cheques in Gabon
Despite the worldwide return of traveller’s cheques, these are still accepted in Gabon. Traveller’s cheques, which should ideally be made out in euros, will only be accepted by a few banks in Libreville. It is advisable to take traveller’s cheques with you if necessary as a supplement to more suitable means of payment, as in the event of loss or theft, traveller’s cheques will be replaced immediately. A credit card is one of the most important and reliable pillars of a trip to Gabon. A combination of cash, credit card and traveller’s cheques makes sense. The advantage of traveller’s cheques is that they are replaced immediately in the event of loss.
Cashless payment in Gabon
Common credit cards such as Visa or Mastercard are accepted in Gabon by larger hotels. Whether the booked hotel accepts the card as a means of payment should be clarified at the time of booking. However, for cashless payments, please note the fees for using the EC card at a foreign ATM. This so-called foreign assignment fee is charged by the responsible bank for each withdrawal and usually amounts to 1 to 4% of the invoice amount. It may be cheaper to withdraw money with a credit card and pay the invoice in cash.
Withdraw money in Gabon
With an EC card it is not possible to withdraw money in Gabon. There are no suitable ATMs in the country for withdrawing money. It is therefore particularly important to take sufficient cash with you in advance. The EC card can nevertheless fulfil its purpose during the preparations for the trip to Gabon.
Cash can be withdrawn at suitable machines before the trip or on the way to Gabon using the EC card. In both cases, the fee for third-party use of the card, which the house bank charges to third-party banks abroad as well as domestically, must be observed. More information can be found in the relevant sections.
Withdrawing money in Gabon by credit card
Even owners of credit cards can save themselves the search for a suitable ATM in Gabon, they do not exist. In Gabon, there is not a single way to withdraw cash from an ATM using an ATM card. This in turn saves the foreign assignment fee that some credit card institutions charge when withdrawing money. However, a credit card can also be useful for travel arrangements or travel, especially since withdrawing money within the euro zone is free of charge.
However, the foreign assignment fee can be avoided completely by using one of the travel credit cards of the banks, which are compiled in the following link. With these travel credit cards it is possible to withdraw money around the globe free of charge. This service is not only valid worldwide, there is also no charge for the use of these cards at German foreign banks, which makes these cards an additional, cost-saving option for everyday use.
The application form is uncomplicated, filled out online and then printed out. With the help of the Post-Ident procedure, the identification process can be completed. There are no costs for the application. A processing time of up to two weeks from the date of application should be taken into account so that the new credit card can be used at the start of the journey.
Safety when withdrawing money in Gabon
Gabon is one of Africa’s politically unstable and therefore dangerous travel destinations. Ongoing internal unrest, particularly in the border regions with Congo and Southern Sudan, has led to the temporary closure of some of the borders. Attacks and thefts are unfortunately the order of the day in some areas. It is therefore indispensable during a stay in Gabon to always and consistently observe the necessary security measures.
If possible, valuables should be out of the sight of others, documents and unneeded cash can be deposited in the hotel safe or in the respective accommodation. Since money cards are useless in Gabon, they should also be kept in a safe place. Up-to-date information on the current situation in Gabon and the applicable security regulations can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.