Gabon operates on West Africa Time (WAT), which is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1). The country does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset remains constant throughout the year.
All of Gabon follows the same timezone. Major cities including Libreville, Port-Gentil, Franceville, and Oyem all observe WAT. Libreville, the capital and largest city, is located on the Komo River near the Gulf of Guinea.
Gabon is one of Africa's most forested countries, with about 85% of its land covered by rainforest. The country has set aside 11% of its land for national parks, making it a leader in conservation. Lopé National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to gorillas, forest elephants, and chimpanzees.