Who it's for
Is Gabon right for your trip?
Every country is somebody's favourite. The honest question is whether it is yours, and for this trip.
This is your trip if…
- You want locally guided nature and cultural context.
- You can spend several nights per base and allow weather buffers.
Think twice if…
- You expect frequent transport and mainland budget prices.
- You want guaranteed wildlife sightings or seamless remote connections.
Best time to visit
When is the best time to visit Gabon?
June–September for generally drier travel; wildlife timing varies by park and species. The main drier period is generally June–September, often with cloud rather than constant sunshine. Wetter periods make forest lush but can slow roads and boats. Wildlife seasons differ, so choose dates with the specific park operator.
- Good
Early year
January–February
A relative rainfall lull can suit some routes.
- Mixed
Wetter months
March–May
Heavy rain affects forest paths and road access.
- Best
Main dry season
June–September
Generally easier travel, with park-specific wildlife opportunities.
- Mixed
Returning rains
October–December
Build buffers around road, river and flight transfers.
Climate · monthly normals
Rounded NASA POWER 2001–2020 daily model averages near Libreville. Temperatures are mean daily highs/lows; rainfall is the mean monthly total. A coarse grid can smooth coastal and mountain differences; this is not a forecast.
Festivals and events
What is worth planning around?
Dates a plan should either aim for or steer clear of. Both are useful; the second saves more money.
17 August
Independence Day
Nationwide
Civic celebrations can affect transport and opening.
Dates vary
Local cultural programmes
Libreville
Check current public performances through local cultural hosts.
Where to go
Where should you go in Gabon?
The places that earn their nights, most important first, with how long each deserves. Nobody needs all of them on one trip.
City and local guides
6 worked-out stopsMap numbers match the local guide cards.
- 01
Libreville
Central Africa
city2 daysLibreville supplies cash, operator coordination and a cultural start. Use local transport between selected city clusters.
Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast
Explore Libreville - 02
Pongara
Central Africa
travel base2–3 daysPongara offers a nearby nature chapter only with confirmed park and boat arrangements. Treat wildlife encounters as uncertain and keep habitat disturbance low.
Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast
Explore Pongara - 03
Lopé
Central Africa
travel base3–4 daysLopé is more than a wildlife checklist: the forest–savanna landscape has archaeological and cultural depth. Spend several mornings with qualified guides.
Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast
Explore Lopé - 04
Loango
Central Africa
travel base4–6 daysLoango requires a lodge-led plan with realistic seasonal wildlife targets. The famous beach scenes are possibilities, not promises.
Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast
Explore Loango - 05
Lambaréné
Central Africa
town2–3 daysThe Ogooué shapes the town and its historical institutions. Pair a museum visit with responsibly arranged river time.
Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast
Explore Lambaréné - 06
Mayumba
Central Africa
town3–5 daysMayumba is a substantial southern extension requiring confirmed accommodation and conservation-aware operators. Choose it for the appropriate season and enough time.
Best time: The locally drier months; conditions vary by coast
Explore Mayumba
Things to do
What should you do in Gabon?
Not a bucket list — the handful of things that make this country this country, with the timing catch that stops people doing them well.
- 01
Start in Libreville
Libreville
Libreville supplies cash, operator coordination and a cultural start. Use local transport between selected city clusters.
- 02
Visit Pongara responsibly
Pongara
Pongara offers a nearby nature chapter only with confirmed park and boat arrangements. Treat wildlife encounters as uncertain and keep habitat disturbance low.
- 03
Understand Lopé’s forest–savanna mosaic
Lopé
Lopé is more than a wildlife checklist: the forest–savanna landscape has archaeological and cultural depth. Spend several mornings with qualified guides.
- 04
Give Loango its own journey
Loango
Loango requires a lodge-led plan with realistic seasonal wildlife targets. The famous beach scenes are possibilities, not promises.
How to get around
How do you get around Gabon?
Use a reputable operator to connect Libreville with a limited number of park bases. Confirm road, rail, boat and any flight stages as one itinerary with return buffers.
Operator road transfers
Use appropriate vehicles and current road advice for park routes.
Lopé rail access
Confirm the current timetable, ticket and station pickup through the operator.
Park boats and specialist links
Lodges coordinate river, lagoon and any domestic air connections.
Travel tips
What should you know before you go?
The things locals assume you know. Most travellers learn them by getting one wrong on day two.
- Forest is a lived landscape
- Community rights and local knowledge belong at the centre of park travel.
- Lopé’s human history
- The landscape combines ecology with a long record of human presence.
- Wildlife is not guaranteed
- Responsible guides manage distance and habitat protection rather than promising encounters.
Travel basics
Visa, money, SIM cards and more
The boring section, which is why it is the one people skip and then regret at the airport.
visa
Check entry before buying flights
Check the official visa, entry-authorisation and onward-ticket requirements for your passport before booking. Confirm any vaccination documentation required by your arrival and transit route.
money
Central African CFA franc and payments
Carry local cash for small restaurants, markets and transport. Confirm card acceptance and ATM access with remote accommodation before leaving the main arrival town.
connectivity
Coverage and offline planning
Download maps, booking details and essential contacts before leaving Wi-Fi. Check roaming charges and local SIM registration requirements; remote routes may have no signal.
plugs
Type C/E sockets
220–230 V, 50 Hz; confirm the accommodation’s sockets.
safety
Remote access and wildlife distance
Check current travel and park advice, use authorised guides and carry evacuation cover. Never approach wildlife or assume a park road and lodge operate year-round.
health
Tropical and remote-travel preparation
Get route-specific travel-clinic advice before departure. Carry medication, mosquito protection and insurance covering remote evacuation and planned activities.
Trip costs
How much does a trip to Gabon cost?
A mid-range trip usually needs about €95–€230 per person per day, before long-haul flights. Specialist lodges, permits, guides and long transfers make Gabon expensive. Compare complete packages, including meals, park activities, boats and contingency nights, rather than room-only prices.
Simple
€€55–95
per person / day
- Stay
- Simple guesthouse or small apartment
- Food
- Markets, bakeries and simple local meals
- Transport
- Shared transport where available
Check that the low-cost route actually operates; an expensive transfer can outweigh a cheap room.
Mid-range
€€95–230
per person / day
- Stay
- Comfortable independent hotel or lodge
- Food
- Local lunches and a sit-down dinner
- Transport
- A mix of local transport and arranged transfers
Planning allowance per person sharing a room, excluding international flights.
Comfortable
€€230–390+
per person / day
- Stay
- Boutique hotel, private lodge or best-located room
- Food
- Destination restaurants and hosted meals
- Transport
- Private driver, guiding or boat charter
Specialist activities, domestic flights and private charters may add substantially more.
Sample itineraries
Starting points, not scripts
Each of these is a real request you could hand to Menta as written. Change the people, the month and the pace; the structure will hold.
One park done well
10 days- Libreville
- Pongara
- Lopé
Keep several park mornings and a final Libreville buffer.
Coastal wildlife focus
13 days- Libreville
- Loango
- Lambaréné
Use confirmed operator transfers and choose dates for realistic seasonal wildlife targets.
Common questions
Quick answers about travel in Gabon
Short answers to the questions people ask before they book. Use the full guide for the detail and trade-offs.
- When is the best time to visit Gabon?
- June–September for generally drier travel; wildlife timing varies by park and species. The main drier period is generally June–September, often with cloud rather than constant sunshine. Wetter periods make forest lush but can slow roads and boats. Wildlife seasons differ, so choose dates with the specific park operator.
- How much does a trip to Gabon cost?
- Plan about €95–€230 per person per day for a mid-range trip, before long-haul flights. Specialist lodges, permits, guides and long transfers make Gabon expensive. Compare complete packages, including meals, park activities, boats and contingency nights, rather than room-only prices.
- How do you get around Gabon?
- Use a reputable operator to connect Libreville with a limited number of park bases. Confirm road, rail, boat and any flight stages as one itinerary with return buffers.
More destinations
Where else?
- JapanA megacity, a thousand temples and trains that leave to the second.
- ChinaImperial capitals, fast trains, regional tables and landscapes at continental scale.
- ItalyThree civilisations' worth of cities, and lunch takes two hours.
- SpainEurope's longest high-speed rail, five cultures, and lunch at three.
- PortugalTwo hilly cities, a valley of port and a long Atlantic coast.
- GreeceAntiquity, two hundred inhabited islands and a ferry timetable to respect.
- IcelandOne road, no trains, and weather that rewrites the plan daily.
- ThailandStreet food, temples, two coasts and Asia's cheapest good hotel room.
- VietnamTwo capitals, one slow railway and the best street food in Asia.
- MoroccoMedinas, the High Atlas and the Sahara, a ferry ride from Europe.
- MexicoA 3,000-year-old civilisation, the best street food on earth, and two coastlines.
- Costa RicaCloud forest, two coasts, volcanoes and wildlife best seen slowly.
- The BahamasShallow banks, island towns and water-led journeys between cays.
- BarbadosCoral coasts, Bajan food and an island with several speeds.
- CubaLayered cities, karst valleys and a journey that needs patience.
- Dominican RepublicCaribbean cities, mountain interiors and coasts beyond the resort gate.
- JamaicaMusic, mountain rain, strong food and coasts with different rhythms.
- FranceGreat cities, long lunches, mountains and a coast for every mood.
- United KingdomHistoric cities, wild coastlines and weather worth planning around.
- GermanyBig culture, small cities, forests and trains with caveats.
- NetherlandsCanals, art, cycling and small cities that reward staying longer.
- CroatiaAdriatic islands, stone towns, clear water and a crowded August.
- TurkeyMosques, markets, ancient cities and coastlines on a huge scale.
- SwitzerlandAlps, lakes and trains that make the expensive route feel simple.
- AustriaImperial cities, Alpine lakes, music and excellent rail links.
- NorwayFjords, midnight light, coastal towns and beautiful long distances.
- SwedenArchipelagoes, forests, design and summer light that lasts.
- FinlandLakes, saunas, forests and a capital built for slow days.
- CzechiaBeautiful old towns, serious beer and an easy train route beyond Prague.
- PolandDeep history, lively cities, forests, lakes and mountain food.
- IrelandAtlantic cliffs, music-filled towns, green roads and weather in charge.
- AustraliaBig distances, old landscapes, city beaches and wildlife in the wild.
- New ZealandVolcanoes, fjords, coast roads and a country made for the outdoors.
- IndonesiaVolcanoes, rice fields, reefs and thousands of islands to choose from.
- South KoreaFast cities, quiet temples, mountain trails and food at every hour.
- United StatesHuge landscapes, distinct cities and a route that must respect the map.
- CanadaBig wilderness, thoughtful cities and distances that need their own plan.
- ArgentinaBig-city appetite, Andean wine country and Patagonia at full scale.
- BrazilAtlantic cities, living cultures and continental-scale nature.
- ChileDesert sky, Pacific cities, volcano lakes and Patagonian wind.
- ColombiaHighland cities, Caribbean history and coffee-country roads.
- PeruAndean cities, living food cultures and Amazon headwaters.
- IndiaMughal cities, desert forts, sacred rivers and a monsoon coast.
- Sri LankaTea hills, ancient cities and two coasts with opposite seasons.
- NepalHimalayan trails, Newar cities and lowland jungle in one country.
- MalaysiaHawker cities, tea hills, island coasts and Bornean rainforest.
- PhilippinesIsland archipelago where the flight map decides the trip.
- CambodiaAngkor's stone, the Mekong's rhythm and a country still healing.
- TaiwanNight markets, high-speed rail and a mountainous Pacific island.
- LaosSlow Mekong days, mountain roads and a new railway.
- United Arab EmiratesSeven emirates, two big cities and a mountain-and-desert hinterland.
- JordanPetra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea on one compact road.
- OmanForts, wadis, dunes and turtle beaches on the Arabian Sea.
- EgyptThe Nile corridor, Red Sea reefs and five thousand years in sequence.
- South AfricaTwo oceans, self-drive safari and cities with unfinished histories.
- KenyaSavannah, highlands and a Swahili coast, sequenced by rain.
- TanzaniaThe northern circuit, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, priced honestly.
- NamibiaSelf-drive desert, empty roads and Africa's darkest skies.
- BelgiumFlemish art cities, Brussels institutions and forested Ardennes valleys.
- DenmarkCopenhagen design, island villages and long Jutland beaches.
- HungaryThermal baths, Danube grandeur, wine hills and the Great Plain.
- SloveniaAlpine lakes, an emerald river, karst caves and a Venetian coast.
- GeorgiaCaucasus villages, eight-thousand-year wine and a serious table.
- MontenegroA fjord-like bay, limestone peaks and a short, crowded coast.
- AlbaniaOttoman towns, an Ionian riviera and a raw alpine north.
- RomaniaSaxon towns, Carpathian wilderness and Europe's largest wetland.
- BulgariaMonasteries, mountain villages and a working Black Sea coast.
- SlovakiaAlpine peaks, castle ruins and wooden churches on a rail spine.
- Bosnia and HerzegovinaOttoman bazaars, stone bridges and wild rivers between mountains.
- EstoniaMedieval Tallinn, bog boardwalks, island manors and long white nights.
- LatviaArt Nouveau Riga, castle valleys, a wooden spa coast and deep forest.
- LithuaniaBaroque Vilnius, a dune spit, lake castles and pine spa towns.
- MaltaLimestone capital, Neolithic temples, harbour ferries and Gozo's slow coast.
- CyprusDivided capital, mosaic coast, painted mountain churches and a wild peninsula.
- SingaporeA dense, humid city-state that rewards districts, not landmarks.
- MaldivesAtolls, reefs and two very different ways to stay.
- BhutanHimalayan valleys, dzongs and a daily fee that shapes everything.
- UzbekistanSilk Road cities linked by fast trains and desert roads.
- EthiopiaRock churches, highland monasteries and a distinct calendar.
- UgandaGorillas, chimpanzees, the Nile and crater-lake forests.
- RwandaGorilla volcanoes, tea hills and a compact, orderly country.
- BotswanaDelta floods, elephant rivers and empty Kalahari pans.
- ZambiaWalking safaris, wild rivers and the Zambian side of Victoria Falls.
- MadagascarLemurs, baobabs and an island that evolved apart.
- MauritiusLagoon coasts, a volcanic interior and a Creole, Indian and Chinese island.
- TunisiaCarthage, medinas, Roman arenas and the Saharan oases.
- GuatemalaMaya highlands, volcano lakes and a Petén forest of ruins.
- PanamaCanal city, Caribbean archipelagos and cloud-forest coffee.
- EcuadorVolcano avenue, cloud forest, Amazon edge and the Galápagos.
- BoliviaAltiplano salt, Aymara cities and a wide Amazon lowland.
- UruguayCalm capital, Atlantic beaches and slow wine country.
- FijiReef islands, village life and two big green mainlands.
- SerbiaDanube cities, monastery hills and long-table hospitality.
- North MacedoniaOhrid's lake, Ottoman bazaars and mountain villages in a small compass.
- KosovoEurope's youngest country: café capital, Ottoman Prizren and alpine valleys.
- MoldovaUnderground wine cities, cliff monasteries and Europe's least-visited country.
- ArmeniaStone monasteries, Ararat views and a capital that stays up late.
- AzerbaijanCaspian capital, mud volcanoes and Caucasus villages above the tea plains.
- LuxembourgFortress capital, Moselle wine and Ardennes castles by free bus.
- AndorraPyrenean principality of ski valleys, Romanesque chapels and thermal spas.
- Faroe IslandsEighteen basalt islands of sea cliffs, tunnels and turf-roofed villages.
- GreenlandIcebergs, ice sheet and Inuit towns reached only by air and sea.
- KazakhstanTian Shan foothills, steppe capital and canyon country by air.
- KyrgyzstanYurt stays, alpine lakes and horse treks in the Tian Shan.
- TajikistanPamir Highway, Wakhan villages and turquoise Fann lakes.
- PakistanMughal Lahore and the Karakoram, planned region by region.
- BangladeshRiver delta, mangrove tigers, tea gardens and Dhaka's old city.
- Hong KongVertical harbour city, outlying islands and surprising country parks.
- BruneiWater village, gilded mosques and untouched Borneo rainforest.
- Timor-LesteReef walls, mountain villages and a young nation's coastline.
- Saudi ArabiaNabataean tombs, Red Sea reefs and a fast-changing kingdom.
- QatarA compact Gulf peninsula built around one polished capital.
- GhanaAtlantic forts, Ashanti heritage and a warm, workable West Africa.
- SenegalDakar's music, Gorée's memory and delta and river landscapes.
- Cape VerdeTen Atlantic islands of morna, volcanoes and trade winds.
- SeychellesGranite islands, coral atolls and Creole ease in the Indian Ocean.
- MozambiqueIndian Ocean coast, dhow islands and a restored savanna.
- ZimbabweVictoria Falls, walking safaris and Africa's largest ancient stone city.
- MalawiA freshwater sea, restored parks and high plateaus in one small country.
- EswatiniA small kingdom of royal ceremony, rhino reserves and highveld hikes.
- LesothoThe mountain kingdom: pony treks, high passes and Basotho villages.
- BelizeBarrier reef, Maya cities and Garifuna coast in one small country.
- HondurasBay Islands diving, Copán's carved city and cloud-forest highlands.
- El SalvadorSurf coast, volcano towns and a small country in rapid change.
- NicaraguaColonial cities, twin-volcano island and two very different coasts.
- Trinidad and TobagoCarnival, ibis and doubles on Trinidad; reef and calm on Tobago.
- Saint LuciaThe Pitons, rainforest ridges and Kwéyòl villages on one green island.
- ParaguayRiver cities, Jesuit ruins and the enormous quiet of the Chaco.
- SamoaTwo volcanic islands, village fales and fa'a Samoa on its own terms.
- TongaA Polynesian kingdom of four island groups, whales and strict Sundays.
- VanuatuActive volcanoes, kastom villages and eighty islands of Melanesia.
- Cook IslandsRarotonga's ring road, Aitutaki's lagoon and atolls nobody reaches.
- MonacoA harbour principality of palace lanes, sea gardens and vertical streets.
- LiechtensteinRhine meadows, princely art and a small Alpine mountain world.
- San MarinoThree ridge-top towers and a small republic beyond the day-trip crowds.
- MongoliaOpen steppe, ger hospitality and journeys measured in driving days.
- BahrainPearling lanes, Dilmun archaeology and a compact Gulf island culture.
- KuwaitA working Gulf city of souq lanes, modern culture and a long corniche.
- DominicaRainforest trails, volcanic pools and a Caribbean island built for walking.
- GrenadaSpice gardens, a handsome harbour and islands with their own pace.
- Antigua and BarbudaDockyard heritage, sheltered bays and Barbuda’s separate island rhythm.
- Saint Kitts and NevisTwo volcanic islands, a fortress coast and a quieter Nevis stay.
- Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesA green volcanic main island and a chain of small sailing worlds.
- GuyanaKaieteur, rainforest lodges and savanna journeys with Indigenous hosts.
- SurinameTimber Paramaribo, plantation rivers and rainforest stays with local hosts.
- AlgeriaMediterranean cities, Roman stone and a Sahara that needs its own journey.
- BeninRoyal history, Vodun heritage and lake communities along a southern route.
- TogoLomé markets, green hill country and Batammariba architecture.
- Côte d’IvoireAbidjan’s lagoon city, Grand-Bassam heritage and a rich southern circuit.
- The GambiaAtlantic beach bases and a river journey into birdlife and history.
- Sierra LeoneFreetown history, forest-backed beaches and locally guided island stays.
- LiberiaMonrovia’s complex history, surf at Robertsport and a working Atlantic coast.
- Guinea-BissauBissau’s riverfront and the tide-shaped world of the Bijagós.
- São Tomé and PríncipeCocoa roças, rainforest walks and two islands with distinct rhythms.
- ComorosLava-stone medinas, volcanic slopes and quieter island communities.
- PalauRock Islands, reef diving and a country where conservation shapes the visit.
- Marshall IslandsLow atolls, lagoon communities and journeys that follow rare connections.
- Federated States of MicronesiaFour island states, deep ocean distances and distinct local traditions.
- KiribatiLow atolls, maneaba hospitality and a country spanning the date line.
- TuvaluFunafuti’s narrow atoll and outer islands that follow the sea schedule.
- Solomon IslandsLagoon stays, community hosts and islands with a deep wartime history.
- AngolaAtlantic cities, giant waterfalls and the highland road south.
- CameroonA southern route of cities, coastal waterfalls and western cultural towns.
- Republic of the CongoRiver cities, coastal forest and specialist rainforest stays.
- Equatorial GuineaBioko’s volcanic coast and a separately planned mainland chapter.
- GuineaCoastal communities and the green highlands of the Fouta Djallon.
- MauritaniaAtlantic birdlife and ancient desert towns on a carefully checked route.
- DjiboutiSalt landscapes, volcanic plains and a compact Red Sea gateway.
- EritreaA heritage and access overview of Asmara and the Red Sea landscape.
- TurkmenistanSilk Road cities and desert landscapes through a current sponsored route.
- Papua New GuineaCommunity-led culture, volcanic coasts and a few well-supported bases.
- NauruA small raised-coral island with a history larger than its road loop.
- BermudaPastel villages, a historic harbour and a North Atlantic island rhythm.
- ArubaDry-island landscapes, easy west-coast stays and a strong local town culture.
- CuraçaoWillemstad’s harbour quarters and a dry island beyond the postcard.
- Sint MaartenA Dutch-Caribbean gateway with several distinct coastal districts.
- Saint-MartinFrench-Caribbean villages, food-led stays and a shared-island geography.
- Saint BarthélemySmall bays, village traditions and an island best explored slowly.
- AnguillaLow island shores, village food and a stay shaped by the right bay.
- MontserratNorthern communities, forest trails and an active volcanic history.
- British Virgin IslandsA few island bases and sailing routes with time for the sea.
- US Virgin IslandsThree main islands with distinct town, park and coastal rhythms.
- Cayman IslandsA main-island base and two smaller islands with different paces.
- Turks and Caicos IslandsLow cays, a few island bases and marine plans with room for weather.
- Puerto RicoOld San Juan, forested hills and island chapters beyond one beach base.
- GuadeloupeTwo main islands and smaller neighbours with distinct Creole identities.
- MartiniqueCreole towns, volcanic north and southern bays with different rhythms.
- Caribbean NetherlandsBonaire, Statia and Saba: three islands that need separate journeys.
- French PolynesiaA few island stays across a much larger Polynesian ocean.
- New CaledoniaLagoon city life, Kanak cultural landscapes and carefully checked island stays.
- NiueRaised-coral coasts, village hosts and a week that follows the sea.
- American SamoaTutuila’s harbour villages and outer islands with their own access plan.
- GuamChamorro heritage, a practical beach base and a southern island road.
- Northern Mariana IslandsSaipan’s different coasts and two separately planned island stays.
- Wallis and FutunaThree customary kingdoms and two island chapters far from a resort circuit.
- French GuianaA French-Amazonian coast of cultural towns, wetlands and supported forest stays.
- Saint Pierre and MiquelonFrench harbour life and a separate North Atlantic nature island.
- RéunionVolcanic cirques, Creole towns and a west-coast lagoon base.
- MayotteA lagoon territory with village, nature and current-access planning.
- Isle of ManHarbour towns, Manx heritage and a hill-and-coast week at a slower pace.
- JerseyGranite harbours, tidal coasts and village days beyond one beach stay.
- GuernseyA harbour island and smaller neighbours that deserve separate stays.
- GibraltarA compact harbour town, limestone heights and several distinct walking districts.
- Åland IslandsA Swedish-speaking Finnish archipelago of ferries, red granite and quiet stays.
- SvalbardAn Arctic community and operator-led fjord journeys under strict nature rules.
- Falkland IslandsSouth Atlantic wildlife, working farms and small-island stays arranged around the weather.
- Saint HelenaA remote Atlantic community of Georgian streets, volcanic walks and endemic cloud forest.
- Christmas IslandAn Indian Ocean rainforest island shaped by red crabs and a multicultural community.
- Cocos (Keeling) IslandsTwo inhabited islands, Cocos Malay culture and an Indian Ocean lagoon explored with care.
- Norfolk IslandNorfolk pines, a layered community history and green coastal walking.
- Pitcairn IslandsA remote Pacific community reached by a planned sea passage, with volcanic walks and dark skies.
Gabon is a good trip. Make it your trip.
Everything on this page is context Menta already has. Add the people going, the dates and what you actually care about, and the plan starts smarter than a blank chat.
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Start planning GabonGuide last reviewed 2026-10. Check visa rules against your own passport before you book.