Journey to the Equator in Sao Tome and Principe

I checked before booking that it would be okay on an old knee injury (ACL & meniscus repair 5 years ago) and was assured it was easy. Unfortunately, the meniscus was torn again, and I’m waiting for a surgical review.

Despite its current rating, don’t book thinking this is a walk in the park. It’s extremely hot and humid, there’s scrambling as well as walking and it can be muddy, steep, slippery and precarious with sheer drop offs. There were lots of falls by many in the group. It’s harder when it rains, to the point a couple of people didn’t do any more walks after it did and stuck to the beach.

Expect creepy crawlies, snakes, power and water cuts (especially on Principe) and to be hot and sweaty most of the time.

Having said that, the islands are lovely. Sipson was great and did his best to accommodate everyone’s needs, the people are super friendly, the views stunning and the beaches divine. The itinerary is packed but you can opt out of what you want to.

Gave a 4 as there were a couple of organisational issues with rooms and things closed when we turned up, and sometimes it was hard to get information with just one guide and a large group. Other than that, it was an enjoyable trip and a real adventure.

Tips: not many places take credit cards, and then only Visa, so take enough cash.

Sealable plastic bags are useful when it rains.

Needs mozzie spray in the day for the rainforest.

Glasses are impossible in the rain, heat and humidity - you just steam up. Wear contacts on the walks if you have that option.

You need ear plugs when staying in town, it gets noisy at night.

We often didn’t eat until 3pm so take snacks.

Swim at your own risk.

Don’t forget malaria tablets and vaccinations.

Any knee issues, you may want to give this one a miss.

I’m amazed that a place like this can still exist, on such an overpopulated and experience hungry planet. I had imagined that emerging onto a pristine empty beach with golden sand and turquoise sea after a short hike through virgin jungle would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, this happened on most days, and sometimes several times a day. At lunch stops, the local guides would climb a tree and get everyone a fresh coconut. We saw baby turtles dashing to the surf, endemic kingfishers in the mangroves and sunbirds in the forest.

The decaying colonial heritage, being reclaimed in equal measure by the local people and the jungle itself, is fascinating to experience. Sao Tomeans are incredibly friendly and we always felt welcome, un-hassled and safe. The small children just want to hold your hand as you explore. There is real poverty here, but hopefully an increase in sustainable tourism can address this without detracting from the unique character and charm of the islands.

Roads outside the main towns are atrocious, but the spectacular viewpoints and waterfall bathing pools that they make accessible mean all the bumps and judders are worthwhile. The varied accommodation was generally good and had beach access, jungle views, swimming pools, air conditioning and comfy beds (but just not all at once).

You will get soaking wet, you will get very muddy, you may (like us) get briefly lost in the jungle; you won’t care. Take good boots, lots of bug spray and a reasonable level of physical fitness.

Sipson was an excellent tour leader, but he also said that we were the nicest group he'd hosted so far, so we'll call that evens.

A most highly recommended adventure.

A very special adventure! You get to experience a range of what the islands have to offer through various accommodations - beaches, rainforest, eco-lodge, city/town. At the end, I felt I'd really explored both islands quite thoroughly, in a way I never could have done on my own.

I really felt that human development had hardly made a mark on the immense natural environment across both islands, and particularly in Principe. Some of the views are truly stunning, especially of the various bays and beaches across both islands. I loved the laid-back vibe everywhere, and always felt very safe and welcome.

The dynamic in our group of 10 was ideal and our guide, Sipson, added to it too. He was great - always positive, fun and always seeming relaxed. I always had the confidence he had everything under control. He was flexible with adapting plans and welcomed feedback.

My highlights were:

-The whole time in Principe, and particularly the beach hopping. It felt like such a relaxed place, with fewer people and even more untouched nature and wildlife to explore, and beaches that felt somehow even more beautiful than those on Sao Tome. -The lunch at Casa Museu Almada Negreiros, partly because of the food and the cosy layout and partly because the rainforest views were incredible. It was raining very heavily while we were there and it felt very cosy and special. -Hiking Pico de Sao Tome - the Lagoa Amelia was an unusual natural phenomenon to experience and I found it very peaceful and special to hike (for part of it) close to the local guide we had for that hike. I also enjoyed hiking Pico Papagaio as I found the scrambling fun and challenging in a good way.

The accommodation everywhere was clean but mostly not luxurious, though there some stand-out places. Make sure you bring earplugs, as there is almost always a lot of background noise. Do generally expect one or two things not to work here and there, the odd power cut (more frequent in Principe), and for there not to be 24 hours of electricity in Principe. I was able to fully charge my phone and get wifi at every accommodation each day/night. You can get your laundry done at the guesthouse in Principe for a small fee. We all loved the accommodation for the final night, and the Inhame beach eco-lodge on nights 2 and 3. The accommodation for nights 4 and 5 has a lovely garden and rainforest views.

The activity level was ideal for me, as a fit and active person. We all agreed though that the activity level should be moved to moderate. There is a lot of hiking throughout and it's certainly challenging, with intense humidity, scrambling at times, and plenty of elevation and inclines.

The food was great. I really enjoyed all the perfectly cooked fish, crispy plantain, chilli sauce, tropical fruit... etc and I always had enough to eat even with the relatively high activity level and being someone who needs to eat a lot generally. The lunch at Casa Museu Almada Negreiros especially, and also at the restaurant we went to for lunch on day 10, was delicious and felt like a special treat. However, many of us felt that on a few of the days in Principe, the sandwich and fruit for lunch was not enough to fill us up. Also, there was no alternative to the sandwich for the celiac person in our group. I believe that the plan is rectify both of these things going forwards.

If you have appropriate expectations and this trip appeals to you, I'm sure you'll have an amazing experience like all of us did!

A stunning country to visit, it sometimes feels like you have the whole island to yourself. A great tour with plenty of hikes and beaches led by a great chap, in our case, Sipson who was great company throughout and kept everything running smoothly. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy visiting Africa.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in what has been referred to as one of the least visited countries on earth. However, the baffling lack of tourists only made for a more enriching experience where the slow pace of life must be embraced to find solitude on idyllic sandy beaches and whilst hiking in tropical rainforests. Our tour leader, Sipson, was first class and demonstrated both passion and energy to ensure everyone had a positive experience despite one or two minor hiccups. His patience is to be commended given some of the challenges that were presented to him and always endeavoured to find a solution. The food and accommodation often exceeded my expectations especially lunch at Casa Museu Almada Negreiros, but it should be noted that infrastructure is somewhat basic in São Tomé and Príncipe i.e., you may not have 24 hours of electricity on Príncipe Island, the roads are bumpy and some of the paths are tricky to navigate especially when wet. It's not an easy trip but if you like a bit of adventure and come with an open mind - you'll love it!

I thoroughly enjoyed my mini adventure to two of the Islands that make up Sao Tome & Principe.  Getting off the beaten track to a slower pace of life.  Sipson the Tour Leader, was fantastic, passionate, energetic and very patient with the group of 13. He quickly pivoted to come up with suggestions to try and ensure all had a great experience in his home country.  The treks were of an easyish grade, but you do require reasonable fitness, good balance and be prepared for changing conditions, from beach walks to steep inclines through uneven forest. High humidity mixed with tropical downpours.  Some fabulous lunch stops, be they a cooked picnic on the beach, or terraced restaurant over looking the forest. Some meals with locally sourced food presented in fantastic creative ways, with great flavour. Predominant food is fish. Limited food choice if you do not eat fish and meat. There are options but limit expectations. Mixed accommodation, from waking up listening to the sounds of the forest or the waves of the ocean to city center basic. Be prepared for night time electrical outage in Principe. Just go on and Book it.

Don’t book thinking this is easy. It’s extremely hot and humid, there’s scrambling as well as walking and it can be muddy, steep, slippery and precarious with sheer drop offs. I struggled with an old knee injury. It’s harder when it rains, to the point a couple of people didn’t do any more walks after it did and stuck to the beach.

Expect creepy crawlies, snakes, power and water cuts (especially on Principe) and to be hot and sweaty most of the time.

Having said that, the islands are lovely. Sipson was great and did his best to accommodate everyone’s needs, the people are super friendly, the views stunning and the beaches divine. The itinerary is packed but you can opt out of what you want to.

Gave a 4 as there were a couple of organisational issues with rooms and things closed when we turned up, and sometimes it was hard to get information with just one guide and a large group. Other than that, it was an enjoyable trip and a real adventure.

Tips: not many places take credit cards, and then only Visa, so take enough cash.

Sealable plastic bags are useful when it rains.

Needs mozzie spray in the day for the rainforest.

Often didn’t eat until 3pm so take snacks.

Swim at your own risk.

Don’t forget malaria tablets and vaccinations.

Beautiful beaches and enchanting rainforests are just a couple of highlights of this trip. Include genuine, friendly people, good food, chocolate and local beer, and we are almost there. Sipson was a perfect guide who went above and beyond to make everyone happy. I wound personally like some longer hikes (overnight if possible ;) in the forest for it to be top marks. But all in all a truly enjoyable winter escape with a happy group of people.

Beautiful place, our guide Sipson was wonderful and very accommodating with all the group, for example making other plans for people having a day off hiking. Some beautiful accommodations and great food Activity rating definitely needs to be increased - many hikes are long and steep, all on rough terrain in intense heat and humidity