Welcome to São Tomé and Príncipe

Africa's untouched Eden

Paradise does exist, and it’s located about 250 kilometres off the coast of west Africa. The remote two-island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest country in Africa (after Seychelles) and one of the smallest countries in the world. It’s also one of the least-visited countries in the world and is unknown to most people. Let’s be clear: They are missing out. CNN Travel voted São Tomé & Príncipe (often called “São Tomé” or STP for short) one of the 20 best places to visit in 2020, and no wonder.

It’s not only amazingly safe but also truly breathtaking, with soaring volcanic peaks and rich jungle forests that would look right at home in Jurassic Park. They teem with wildlife, incredible birds and endemic plants, including hundreds of species of orchids, that have earned them the nicknames of “Africa’s Eden” and the “African Galapagos”. The entire island of Príncipe is even a designated UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve.

Both islands are fringed by some of the most stunning beaches in the world. Golden or blinding-white sands beckon, many devoid of tourists, while warm, pristine waters offer great snorkelling and fishing, and the chance to see rare sea turtles at certain times of the year.

You can step back in time and visit a roça – one of the islands’ colonial-era plantations. The rich plantation history of STP revolves around coffee and cacao, so it means you’ll get a literal taste of history on these fascinating tours, with shots of caffeine and delectable chocolate.

The islands were uninhabited until Portuguese explorers discovered them in the 15th century and established them as a colonial outpost. Today, São Tomé and Príncipe is distinctively West African, but with an intensely strong Portuguese influence that you’ll feel in everything from the music, culture and customs.

São Tomé and Príncipe is incredibly safe, its people are super-friendly and inviting, it’s an eco-friendly paradise with breathtaking, otherworldly scenery at every turn, and it hasn’t yet succumbed to the pitfalls of overtourism. These tiny, far-flung islands in this unspoiled area of Africa won’t remain hidden for long, so go as soon as you can.

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“It feels like God visits everywhere else but lives in Africa.”

– Will Smith

São Tomé and Príncipe at a glance

São Tomé & Príncipe is a tiny country made up of two main islands and eight smaller islets, six of which are uninhabited. They cover an area of around 1,000 square kilometres, making this one of the smallest countries in the world. The islands lie in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator. Situated west of Gabon and south of Nigeria on Africa’s mainland; their other closest neighbours are Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.

São Tomé island is home to the country’s capital, São Tomé city. The island of Príncipe lies about 145 kilometres northeast of São Tomé, and is about nine times smaller. Of the total population of just over 200,000 people, only around 7,000 live on Príncipe. Travelling between the two islands requires a short flight on a small plane, or a 6-8 hour boat ride. The official language of the islands is Portuguese, while the other main language is Forro, a Portuguese-based creole language.

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