Sao Tome & Principe
Discover one of Africa’s best hidden secrets, the Island of Sao Tomé. Once a slave trading hub and cocoa plantation haven until 1975 when the Portuguese left the island. Today this small Atlantic archipelago is step by step abandoning its historical isolation with the arrival of small numbers of visitors. This tour allows the traveler to discover the island’s different ecosystems and the people that live from the land and the sea.
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SMALL GROUP
MINIMUM 6 – MAXIMUM 10 TRAVELLERS
DAY 1 (SAO TOME)
On arrival in Sao Tome you will be transferred to Residencial Avenida where you can drop your luggage before being taken to Pension Casa Turistica for dinner ( on your own account). You can then have a nightcap in Pico Mocambo an old stunning Portguese colonial house. Return to the Guesthouse for overnight.
DAY 2 (SAO TOME – LAGO AMELIA – SAO TOME)
After breakfast a drive of about 1h30 takes you out of Sao Tome town to the center of the island and Bom Sucesso where there is a little botanical garden. You will then trek for 4 hrs in total to Amelia Lake. After this continue by road to San Nicolau Falls and to the Roça – a colonial farmhouse – Saudades Almeda Negreiro where you will have a nice local lunch overlooking the forest.
Continue to Roça Monte Café and (if open) visit the coffee museum. From there you drive to the picturesque town of Trinidad before going back to Sao Tome. Time to freshen up before going out for dinner in Parque Popular and a drink in popular Pico Mocambo (on own account).
DAY 3 (SAO TOME – SAO JOAO DOS ANGOLARES)
In the morning visit the old Sao Sebastiao fortress and museum. The a drive of 1h30 takes you to the eastern coast of Sao Tome. Visit the Roça Hospital Agua Eize, Boca Inferno and have a little walk in the fisherman’s village of Ribera Alfonse. Arrive to the Roça Sao Joao and have a special local meal. Some free time to enjoy this amazing 19th Century Roça.
Around 4 pm take a walk around the Roça’s old plantations and the beach of Angolares. You will meet the local fishing community in the village of Angolares. Return to Roça Sao Joao for dinner (on own account).
DAY 4 (SAO JOAO DOS ANGOLARES)
Spend the morning trekking in the forested mountains in the area to see the local flora and fauna (mainly insects and birds). Return to the Roça late morning. The rest of the day is free to relax, walk and swim from the black sand beaches of Angolares.
DAY 5 (SAO JOAO – PORTO ALEGRE – PRAIA INHAME)
A morning drive of 1 hour to the extreme south of the island and the fishing town of Porto Alegre. Take a walk around the town and continue to Praia (beach) Inhame where you check into Praia Inhame Lodge. Enjoy walking along the coast on this beautiful beach surrounded by rainforest (must wear water shoes). After lunch time to relax before departing at 4:30 pm on foot for a 45 min. walk to Praia Piscina and Praia Jade to learn about a local sea turtle project. Enjoy dinner in the local restaurant of Salutar and hope to see the turtles laying eggs. Return to your Lodge for overnight.
DAY 6 (PRAIA INHAME – ROLAS ISLAND – PRAIA INHAME)
After breakfast take a short boat trip to Rolas Island. Walk to a little mountain where you cross the Equator line, then continue on to a fishing village for a traditional lunch. Time to enjoy the beach before returning to your Lodge.
DAY 7 (PRAIA INHAME – WEST COAST OF SAO TOME)
In the morning depart by boat from Praia Inhame to the western coast of Sao Tome island (approximately a 4 hour trip depending on weather conditions). Enjoy the amazing coastal scenery. Arrive at Mucumbli Ecolodge for a three night stay. The rest of the day is at leisure with an optional walking excursion to Neves to watch the fishing activities on the beach.
DAY 8 (WEST COAST OF SAO TOME)
Today enjoy a full day trekking, taking a with picnic lunch, as you walk through the primary forest of Obo National Park, one of West Africa’s most untouched ecosystems. You will see endemic plants and birds, a waterfall and some old colonial Roças.
DAY 9 (WEST COAST OF SAO TOME)
Start the day by visiting a project of responsible tourism related to the cocoa farming communities. The excursion starts in Ponta Figo, and continues along the old Roça Ponta Figo, cocoa plantations, and the cocoa driers of Generosa. There is an amazing view over Neves from Monte Careca. Finally you will visit CECAB (cacao) cooperative. The afternoon is at leisure, maybe take s walk down to the beach.
DAY 10 (WEST COAST – NORTH COAST – SAO TOME)
An hours drive in the morning takes you to the northern coast of the island. Take a short walk around Blue Lake, then continue to Morro Peixe beach – a good place to spot seabirds – and swim from this nice beach surrounded by grassy vegetation, very different to other local ecosystems. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach. Continue via the town of Guadalupe before arriving in Sao Tome.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS TO Sao Tome & Principe
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