Equatorial Guinea

Lying on the western shores of Central Africa, Equatorial Guinea is made up of a small continental part, sandwiched between Cameroon and Gabon, and numerous islands, including Bioko, where the capital Malabo is located, and Annobon, off-centre to the south of Sao Tome and Principe.

The only country on the continent where Spanish is the official language, Equatorial Guinea is one of the world’s least visited destinations, but rightly so, as it is characterised by an incredible variety of landscapes and nature.

The dense forest of Mount Alen National Park is home to elephants, gorillas, buffalo and leopards, as well as the lesser-known Calabar ursino maki, the curious potto, the needle-toothed galagon and the collared cercocebo. In the mangrove area of the Rio Muni estuary, manatees and huge goliath frogs can be spotted, while on the beaches of Rio Campo and Ureca, in Bioko, four species of turtle come to lay their eggs. Also, around the island of Annobon, during the summer season it is extremely easy to spot humpback whales frolicking in these pristine waters and dolphins frolicking happily near the coast.

The islands are as idyllic as you would expect from stretches of wild beaches, some white sand fringed with palm trees and others with black volcanic sand. The paradisiacal Arena Blanca in Bioko and Corisco, but also Playa de Amor in Annobon, are certainly among the most unspoilt and isolated.

There are many nature trails, from treks to Pico Basilé and the Luba crater in Bioko, to the volcanic slopes of Annobon, to Lake Mazafim, or to the intricate forest of Mount Alen, where guides hack their way through the dense vegetation with machetes.

Equatorial Guinea is a well-kept naturalistic mystery, and should be visited now!