São Tomé and Príncipe, a picturesque archipelago 140 miles off the African coast, is known for its pristine white sand beaches, diverse wildlife, and luxurious resorts. Despite its natural beauty and allure, the destination attracts only a handful of tourists annually.
According to mirror.co.uk, This two-island African nation is home to stunning beaches, breathtaking mountain hikes, and delectable chocolate – and could be an alternative to the popular Seychelles beaches for adventurous tourists. Despite its attractions, only 15,000 tourists make their way to these volcanic islands annually, and the country is considered one of the least known parts of the world.
Lonely Planet has praised the idyllic beaches of the second-smallest African country, saying they are “as idyllic as the Seychelles”. The country is also renowned for being a safe destination for visitors, with its safety risk equivalent to visiting France.
Known as one of Africa’s most stable and democratic nations, São Tomé and Príncipe remained uninhabited and undiscovered until Portuguese explorers arrived in 1470. Portuguese remains the national language to this day – and the legacy of Portuguese rule is evident in the predominantly Catholic population and a culture that blends European and African elements.
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Tourists keen to explore can book a stay at one of the several large resorts recently built on the island beaches. Floating in the Gulf of Guinea, the island of Príncipe, which has a population of just 7,000 people, is emerging as a destination for eco-tourists.
Labelled as the “Galapagos of Africa”, visitors are drawn to the untouched jungles that cover 90 per cent of the island, which is also a Unesco biosphere. The islands are a treasure trove of bizarre fruits and unique wildlife that continue to mystify experts.
While visiting the country, you can also explore the paradisiac islet of Rolas Island, where you’ll have a chance to stand on the equator – with one foot in the northern and the other in the southern hemisphere. The islet is located a six-degrees longitude of the Prime Meridian line, making it the nearest landmass to the coordinates 00N 00E – meaning you’re almost standing in the centre of the Earth.
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And if this wasn’t enough, you might even be lucky to spot humpback whales circling the island between July and October. Rolas Island is also known for its jungle trails, dreamy white beaches and a friendly local village with just over 100 residents.
Visitors to Príncipe can bask on sun-drenched beaches, trek through the jungle, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, try their hand at fishing, or indulge in birdwatching. São Tomé, the more inhabited sibling, was once the cocoa capital of the world.
Cocoa’s legacy lives on, with tourists able to sample exquisite chocolate at Claudio Corallo’s plantation, renowned as one of the globe’s finest chocolatiers. Joao Carlos Silva, a local chef in Sao Tome, shared with Lonely Planet that “happiness is our richest income” on the island.
He emphasised the significance of cuisine, noting that the national dish, calulu, is a six-hour culinary labour of love featuring dried smoked fish in a breadfruit, palm oil, mosquito herb, and okra soup is central to the islanders’ way of life. For those in the UK itching for an adventure, São Tomé awaits just a flight away via Lisbon, courtesy of TAP Air Portugal.
