The island has beautiful beaches, crystal clear water, and a massive jungle – but travellers still refuse to visit it
When it comes to island hopping in Africa, visitors are spoilt for choice over the most popular destinations to head to.
Some of the most popular travel destinations include Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Zanzibar, with each island boasting gloriously warm weather, golden sand beaches, and beautifully blue sea lagoons. However, there’s one island, that’s located on Africa’s west coast, that tends to be ignored by travellers.
São Tomé and Príncipe is an African island nation that’s made up of two small islands that are situated very close to the equator. The two islands are part of a volcano chain that features some truly incredible rock and coral formations, unlike anything else in the world.
Despite its incredibly biodiverse jungle, huge natural parks, and glorious beaches, São Tomé and Príncipe struggles to attract visitors. On average, only 15,000 people visit the islands each year, making this island nation one of the least visited places across the globe.
Back in 2017, a tour operator spoke to the Telegraph and revealed: “It’s not forgotten. It’s never been discovered.” What makes São Tomé and Príncipe an even greater travel destination is the fact that it’s one of Africa’s most peaceful and democratic nations.
According to São Tomé tour guide, Luis Miguel, who spoke to CNN in 2020, the island is like ‘heaven on Earth’. While Lonely Planet has dubbed the destinations ‘as idyllic as the Seychelles’.
The island’s jungle areas have been listed as a UNESCO biosphere, due to their unusual collection of fruits and rather unique range of wildlife. Because of how remote the islands are, the beaches, including the Lagoa Azul lagoon on São Tomé, and the landscapes, including Ôbo Natural Park, are extremely peaceful and almost totally undisturbed.
Regardless of the fact that few tourists opt to visit these unique islands, there are plenty of activities for travellers on offer. These include hiking, diving, snorkelling, trekking, and visiting the iconic Pico Cao Grande – the volcanic rock that is 1,213 feet tall.
