Sao Tome and Principe is an island nation obscurely situated in the Atlantic Ocean, off Africa's east coast, separated from the continent by the Gulf of Guinea.
The two little islands are beautiful, secluded travel destinations—and to the delight of seclusion seekers, they're frequented less now than in their sugar-production days.
Travelers seeking a unique tropical destination will enjoy a trip to Sao Tome and Principe, with snorkeling and diving in unharmed waters, the nation's friendly residents, secluded beaches great for camping, and unspoiled rain forests. Visitors can also see some lovely yet deteriorating old plantation houses.
Travel infrastructure is in the works for Sao Tome and Principe, with international hotel chains eyeing the islands for development—which will no doubt hamper the serenity of this vacation spot.
Traveling to Sao Tome and Principe requires patience. Travelers will have to endure a few air hops and should not be in too great a hurry. And upon arrival, visitors still should not rush—it's better to relax and go along with the slow pace.
Sao Tome and Principe is located on the Equator (approximately 200 mi/320 km west of the African continent) and consists of a number of islands. It is characterized by volcanic mountains, waterfalls and tropical rain forests.
The Portuguese arrived in Sao Tome and Principe in 1471 and found the islands sparsely inhabited and well suited for the cultivation of sugar. Slaves were brought over from mainland Africa to provide the labor, and the islands also served as penal colonies (prisoners and exiles were sent there from Portugal). Eventually, the islands turned into an offshore center for the slave trade from Africa to the New World. During the first century of colonization, many Portuguese plantation owners fled because of slave revolts and pirate attacks. Succeeding years saw ever more repressive measures until 1875, when slavery was abolished. After that, coffee and cocoa became the economic mainstays.
Portuguese dominance was never really challenged until the 1950s, and even then, the local move to autonomy took a while. Sao Tome and Principe, along with Portugal's other African colonies, gained its independence in 1975. At that time, most of the Portuguese officials and business owners abandoned the country, and the islands made a political shift toward communism. Hundreds of Cuban and Angolan soldiers and laborers were brought in to keep the infrastructure running. In the mid 1980s, Manual Pinto da Costa began the country's swing back to democracy, which culminated in 1991 with Sao Tome's first open elections. Despite brief military coups in 1995 and 2003, the country has since remained stable.
Cocoa, coconuts, coffee and palm oil dominate business activity today. The government, however, has begun to encourage crop diversification and the promotion of tourism on a limited, high-end basis.
Deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, lush tropical scenery, monkeys, beaches, mountains, bird watching and good food are among the foremost attractions of Sao Tome and Principe.
The country will appeal to travelers who are in the general area and want to spend some time on these beautiful, nontouristy islands. Don't go expecting a wide variety of nightlife and shopping.
This tiny country is home to more than a hundred different species of birds, more than a quarter of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Sao Tome is considered one of the safest capital cities in Africa.
Cocoa and coffee exports make up 70% of the national economy.
Sao Tome and Principe is the second-smallest country in Africa after the Seychelles.
Deep-sea fishing is a must for big-game anglers. The eastern Atlantic offers blue and black marlin, yellow-fin tuna, sailfish and giant barracuda.
The southwestern side of each island is the greenest, receiving nearly five times more rain than on the other side of the mountains.
Most of the lush tropical vegetation is found above an altitude of 3,950 ft/1,200 m. Below that, most land is used for farming and any wild vegetation that grows is referred to as capoeira.
