Lastoursville

Lastoursville or Mandji is a city in the east, the central part of Gabon, located on the Ogooué River. It was founded as a slave depot called Mandji, renamed Maadiville in 1883, and finally took its current name François Rigail de Lastours in 1886. It developed around the production of palm oil. It is an administrative center, which soon became a major missionary center.

The town is also known for its caves. Occupying an area of 90 square kilometers, there are more than 40 identified caves located in the dense primeval rainforest near the town. Traces of human activity date back 7,000 years when caves were used in rituals.

The caves were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 20 October 2005 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category.

Location: East-central Gabon