In short: Léon-Mba International Airport is in the north of Libreville, 10 to 20 minutes from the city centre. Allow about 45 minutes for arrival formalities. The easiest way to reach your accommodation is the Gozem taxi station, open 24/7, with fixed prices: 4,000 to 8,000 XAF depending on the zone.
Léon-Mba International Airport is Gabon's main air gateway. It is run by GSEZ Airport and, according to its official website, serves around twenty destinations, including Paris, Casablanca, Addis Ababa, Istanbul, Douala and Abidjan. This guide brings together what you need to arrive smoothly and reach your accommodation.
01Before you fly: visa and vaccination
A visa is required to enter Gabon, along with a valid passport. There are three options: an electronic visa (e-visa), applied for online with a 72-hour processing time, a visa from a Gabonese embassy or consulate, or a visa issued on arrival after obtaining an entry authorisation.
For the e-visa, use only the official DGDI portal, evisa.dgdi.ga. Many intermediary websites offer the same service with extra fees.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. It must be done at least 10 days before departure, and your vaccination card is checked on arrival.
02On arrival, step by step
For international flights, the airport states an average of 45 minutes between leaving the aircraft and leaving the terminal.
- Leave the aircraft through one of the two jet bridges used for international flights.
- Health check: show your vaccination card (yellow fever).
- Border police: passport and visa. Pick the queue that matches your situation (Gabonese passport, residence card or visa).
- Baggage: two carousels, not linked to each other, may deliver your bags. Keep an eye on both.
- Customs: officers may ask you to account for some items. The information desk at the exit is open 24/7.
03Cash, phone and Wi-Fi
| Need | Where | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange money, withdraw XAF | BGFI Bank, opposite the terminal, drop-off side | Monday to Saturday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Buy a local SIM card | Airtel and Libertis (Gabon Telecom) counters in the terminal | Libertis: daily, 8 AM to 11 PM. Airtel: weekdays 8 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM, Sunday 12 PM to 5 PM |
| Get online | Free, unlimited Wi-Fi, network "AIRPORT_FREE_WIFI" | No sign-up |
If you land on a Sunday or in the evening, the bank is closed: make sure you can pay for your taxi on arrival.
04Getting to your accommodation: taxi, Gozem or car
The fixed-price Gozem taxi station
Since 23 April 2026, Gozem and GSEZ Airport have run a taxi station at the airport exit, on the drop-off lane. Cars are available 24/7, with or without the app, and the price is set in advance according to your destination zone, whatever the traffic.
| Zone | Areas covered (published list) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Alibandeng, Boulevard Triomphal, Gros Bouquet, Upper and Lower Gué-Gué, Louis, Ancienne Sobraga, Charbonnage, Camp de Gaulle, Sablière | 4,000 XAF |
| Zone 2 | Okala, Angondjé, Marseille 2, Premier Campement, Nzeng-Ayong, Nombakélé, Glass, Awendjé, Peyrie | 6,000 XAF |
| Zone 3 | Acaé, Pont Nomba, Mindoubé, Derrière la pédiatrie, Awoungou, Port of Owendo, IAI, PK, Bikélé | 8,000 XAF |
Destinations outside these zones are charged the normal fare, based on distance. Cité Marocaine in Akanda and the Cité Octra junction in Owendo are not in the published list: check the fare in the Gozem app before you get in.
Regular taxis
Recognisable by their red-and-white or purple-and-white colours, they wait in front of Terminal 1, across the drop-off lane. They have no meter: agree on the fare with the driver before getting in.
Car hire
Several rental companies have a counter on the ground floor of the terminal, but some desks rarely open. Book ahead and agree on a pick-up time.
Travel times from the airport
| Destination | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Akanda, Résidence Grace (Cité Marocaine) | 9 km | about 13 min |
| Libreville city centre | 10 to 20 min | |
| Owendo, opposite EPC School | 22 km | about 31 min |
| Owendo SETRAG station | 22 km | about 30 min |
Times measured on Google Maps on a Saturday evening with light traffic (city centre: official airport website). At rush hour, allow much more time, especially to Owendo.
05From the airport to Owendo station
Owendo station, terminus of the Trans-Gabon railway, is about thirty minutes from the airport without traffic. The train leaves four times a week: Tuesday at 10 PM, Thursday at 1:30 PM, Saturday at 1:30 PM and Sunday at 4 PM (timetable published by SETRAG).
If your flight lands on the day your train leaves, keep a wide margin: formalities, baggage and traffic can easily take two hours. A night near the station takes the stress out of it. Full details on trains, fares and baggage are in our SETRAG train guide from Owendo.
06The future Andeme airport
A new international airport is under construction at Andeme, north-east of Libreville. Work started in March 2025, and its budget was revised to 259 billion XAF in August 2026, according to Sika Finance. It is not yet in service: all flights still arrive at Léon-Mba.
07Where to stay near the airport
Our Akanda apartment is about 13 minutes from the airport, in a quiet residential area. In Owendo, our studios and apartment are five minutes from SETRAG station: handy if you are connecting from plane to train.
08Frequently asked questions
Where is Libreville airport?
Léon-Mba International Airport is in the north of Libreville, 10 to 20 minutes from the city centre depending on traffic, and about 13 minutes from Akanda.
How much is a taxi from Libreville airport?
At the Gozem station, the fare is fixed by zone: 4,000 XAF (zone 1), 6,000 XAF (zone 2) or 8,000 XAF (zone 3). Outside these zones, the fare depends on distance. Regular taxis have no meter: agree on the price before getting in.
Do I need a visa to enter Gabon?
Yes. You can apply online on the official portal evisa.dgdi.ga, with a 72-hour processing time, or through a Gabonese embassy. Yellow fever vaccination is also mandatory.
Where can I withdraw or exchange money at the airport?
At BGFI Bank, opposite the terminal on the drop-off side, Monday to Saturday from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. Outside these hours, make sure you can pay for your taxi.
How long does it take from the airport to Owendo?
About 30 minutes for 22 kilometres without traffic. At rush hour, the journey can take much longer.
Where can I check arrivals and flight times?
On the Arrivals page of the official airport website, libreville-aeroport.com, which shows live flight status.
Sources: official Léon-Mba International Airport website (On arrival, Access, Banks, Wi-Fi and Shops pages), Gabon Media Time (24 April 2026), Sika Finance (6 August 2026), Google Maps (measured 7 November 2026). For live flights: airport Arrivals page.