Gabon
Libreville in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonWarm, humid and very wet.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics
Why May scores 7.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.9
- ✓Warm (31°C highs / 24°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 24.7°C)
- !Wet: ~246 mm rain, ~8 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~11 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Flood: ~8 heavy-rain days in an average May
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| May | Jul | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.4 Good | 8.5 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 31° / 24° | 28° / 22° |
| Rain | 246 mm | 5 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 25° | dew pt 22° |
| PM2.5 | 11 µg/m³ | 17 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Libreville weather-station normals. Rainfall: Libreville weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Eid al-Adha 15–17 May · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Labor Day (1 May) · Ascension Day (6 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore LibrevilleEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyLibreville is Gabon's coastal capital on the Komo estuary, with a seafront boulevard and lively markets. Travellers use it as a gateway to Gabon's rainforest national parks and nearby beaches.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Independence DayEvery year17 August every year
A national holiday marking independence from France in 1960.
Why go: Expect parades and closures around the holiday.
Where: Nationwide, with celebrations in Libreville
Pongara National Park
A park across the estuary with beaches, mangroves and forest, where sea turtles nest in season.
💡 Reach it by boat; turtle nesting is mainly from about November to February.
Akanda National Park
A mangrove and mudflat park north of the city, important for migratory birds.
💡 Go with a guide and plan around the tides.
Saint-Michel de Nkembo Church
A church known for its wooden columns carved with biblical scenes.
💡 Dress modestly and visit outside service times.
Mont-Bouët Market
The city's largest market, selling food, fabric and household goods.
💡 Keep belongings secure in the crowds.
Poulet nyembwe
Chicken cooked in a rich sauce made from palm nut pulp, Gabon's national dish.
💡 Local restaurants across the city.
Bâton de manioc
Fermented cassava paste wrapped in leaves, served alongside stews and grilled fish.
💡 Markets and local eateries.
Grilled fish
Freshly caught fish grilled with chilli and served with plantain or cassava.
💡 Beachside and street grills in the evening.
Mbigou stone carvings
Soapstone sculptures from the village of Mbigou in southern Gabon.
💡 Craft markets and art shops.
Punu-style masks
Carved white-faced masks in the style of the Punu people.
💡 Craft markets in the city.