Libreville - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
4WD with tons of clearance. We have a Toyota 4 runner and it has served us extremely well, so much so that others covet it very much. Bad roads are common outside of downtown and flooding does happen. If you want to leave town (to head to beaches or parks) the roads get... interesting. I don't know of any instances of burglary/carjacking in the Embassy community. Don't bring a small sedan or anything of the sort. - Oct 2020
Bring a Toyota and you'll be fine. There are proper mechanics mainly in the industrial zone that have excellent facilities and can do a lot but they are expensive. There is a local equivalent to Auto Zone that had an okay selection of car parts and accessories. If you can bring spare oil filters, fuel filters, bulbs, belts, etc...better to bring if nothing else because of the cost. Four-wheel drive is necessary if you're going out of Libreville. - Jul 2014
Bring a Toyota or other common car and bring as many spare parts as you can. There is an area of town with mechanic shops that can do routine repairs, but they can be expensive. - Oct 2013
High clearance SUV. We have only used our 4 wheel drive maybe once, so it is not a must. - Apr 2012
Bring an older SUV, as fender-benders are common. Driving can be very aggressive. In the city a car would be fine, but as soon as you are off the major roads a 4 x 4 would be best. Reasonable mechanics are available but can be expensive. Gas is expensive, and fuel companies go on strike often, so keep your tank full. Imported cars are expensive, so people will line up to buy your vehicle. I have never heard of a carjacking, but foreigners are often blamed for accidents, even if they are not at fault. - Aug 2011
4x4.The Bord de Mer is fine, but once you get off the Bord you want something with robust tires and good clearance. - Jul 2010
