High Commission of Gabon in Pretoria, South Africa; address Francis Baard Street 921, 0007, Pretoria; phone +27123424377. Head of mission: Andre William…
Head of mission: Andre William Anguile, Ambassador (as listed in the diplomatic list of Mozambique, 27 Nov 2024)
Also accredited to: Mauritius, Mozambique
Gabon offers a unique blend of natural beauty and emerging cultural attractions, making it an intriguing option for a segment of South Africa's 60 million residents. However, its status as a lesser-known destination presents both opportunities and challenges in attracting visitors.
Gabon is generally considered safer for tourists compared to South Africa. According to the Global Peace Index, Gabon ranks 116th out of 160 countries, while South Africa is ranked 125th. Although specific murder rates for Gabon are not available, South Africa has a high murder rate of 41.9 per 100,000 people. In terms of organized crime, Gabon's indices are significantly lower than those of South Africa. For instance, Gabon scores 1.0 for mafia groups compared to South Africa's 7.0, indicating a much lower presence of organized crime. Other crime-related indices also show Gabon performing better in areas such as arms trafficking (Gabon 4.5 vs. South Africa 8.0) and the heroin trade (Gabon 2.5 vs. South Africa 7.5). Overall, while no destination is without risks, Gabon appears to offer a safer environment for tourists from South Africa.