Gabon Info
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
Home Country: gabon
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 Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:39 am Post subject: SHOPPING IN GABON / GABON SHOPPING GUIDE |
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SHOPPING IN GABON
In Libreville, there are two bustling markets at Akebe-Plaine, Nkembo and Mon-Bouet. Stone carvings can be bought on the outskirts of both, fashioned by a group of carvers who have adapted traditional skills for the tourist market. Crafts from local villages can also be bought from stalls in the streets or from the villagers themselves. African (Fang) mask carvings, figurines, clay pots and traditional musical instruments can also be bought.
Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900. Some shops close Monday.
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0730-1130, 1430-1630.
Currency
CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr or XAF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Only currency issued by the Banque des États de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Note: Libreville is one of the most expenisive cities in the world.
Currency exchange
Gabon is part of the French Monetary Area.
Credit & debit cards
American Express, MasterCard and Visa are not widely accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.
Traveller's cheques
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros.
Currency restrictions
The import of local and foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of local and foreign currency is limited to CFAfr200,000. |
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