Where On Earth Is Sao Tome And Principe?

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Where On Earth Is Sao Tome And Principe?

Where the heck is it?

Sao Tome and Principe are two small islands located off the West Coast of Africa.

About the islands

Lush and tropical, Sao Tome and Principe sits in the Atlantic atop what was once and active ridge of volcanoes. This isolation means there are none of Africa's more famous attractions here. No Lions or Elephants here. The attractions are more the relaxed pace of life, great beaches, friendly locals and an almost a complete lack of tourism.

Sao Tome and Principe were a Portuguese discovery and that is still the language of choice here. English is not widely spoken so learning a bit of Portuguese (or Spanish) is a must to make the most of any time spent here.

The twin island nation gained its independence in 1975 and held its first democratic elections in 1991. The country remains stable, but its residents amongst the world's poorest. This may change thanks to a recent discovery of oil reserves just off the coast, but nobody there seems to be holding their breath.

Unlike many African countries the risk of violent crime here is low. The main threat is airborne: all precautions need to be taken against Malaria when visiting the islands.

There are not ATMS on the islands. You will have to bring USD or Euros to exchange into the local currency (the Dobra).

Why Visit These Remote Islands?

Currently there are only 20 or so tourists a week on the islands. If you really want to get off the beaten track this is the place. The beaches are worth seeing, the people generally friendly (you will need some Portuguese to get the most out of the trip) there's great diving and the rumor of some decent surf at the right time of year.

Getting To Sao Tome And Principe

Flying direct from Lisbon, Portugal with TAP air is the easiest way to visit the islands. Return fares from Lisbon to Sao Tome are currently around 1200 Euro including tax on TAP's website. You can also fly from Liberville, Gabon.

Most people, including travel agents, will not have heard of Sao Tome and Principe. This just might be the best reason to head to this forgotten part of the world.

About the Author

For more great travel tips and advice for the intrepid Aussie traveller check out our site aussietraveladvice.com. There's great information on travel health, destination tips, travel stories and a useful travel links page.