São Tomé
Hiking Trip
São Tomé &
Ilhéu das Rolas
08.02 – 20.02.25
Hiking trip with special experiences: Supervised group hiking trip with a local on-site guide.
Who is this trip suitable for: experienced, sure-footed hikers with a spirit of adventure!
Information at a Glance
São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation near the equator, is part of a volcanic chain with remarkable rock and coral formations, rainforests and beaches. On the largest island, São Tomé, lies the Lagoa Azul or Blue Lagoon. The Ôbo Natural Park, a biodiverse jungle reserve, covers a large part of São Tomé and is known for Pico Cão Grande, a skyscraper-like volcanic rock.
Adventure Trip
The 13-day trip to São Tomé with my 7-member adventure travel group was simply unique. “A guade Zeit mit supa Leid” in short, but what we all experienced would probably go beyond the scope of the blog.
Yes, these were my explorers, with an Umbrella Tree leaf
From left to right: Our guide Agostinho Fernandes, Evelyne, Andy & Veronika, Karin, Anneliese & Clemens and Isolde
A Small Excerpt of the Travel Highlights
It started in Vienna, from where we flew to Lisbon. The next day we continued via Accra (Ghana) for a stopover, where guests got off, others got on and the plane was refueled. An hour later we were back in the air to our final destination São Tomé.
Once there, we were picked up by a small bus and went directly to the first lodge called Mucumbli Eco-Lodge which is run by the Italian Titziano. (highly recommended – thank you to Titziano for the very nice welcome)
From there, the first hike started the next day. We were led by a licensed guide from São Tomé named Agostinho Fernandes and our driver Ito Barros, who brought us safely over hill and dale (in the truest sense of the word). The road conditions were one of the great adventures on the tropical island.
Right here in advance a heartfelt thank you to super nature and hiking guide Agostinho Fernandes and driver Ito Barros. You were GREAT!
Then we drove on to the first cocoa plantation, through unique nature, high humidity and grandiose views of the sea and jungle forests.
Hidden Waterfalls
For 6 days we were able to explore the north side of the island of São Tomé. From cocoa and coffee plantations to hidden waterfalls to water-filled tunnels that we waded through with flashlight (thanks Andy for your ultra-bright professional light) and water shoes.
A highlight of these water-filled tunnels/levadas were the bats living there, which we were able to admire live. Also the Angolar waterfall reached there at the end is worth a sin. We didn’t miss the opportunity to dive in and enjoy the wonderfully refreshing water. What an adventure ….
Bats & Fruit Bats
Another tour highlight was the Santa Fé waterfall (Cascata fundo do morcego) where the way there turned out to be a true jungle expedition. Thank God our guide always had his machete with him to be able to cut the path free in some places.
From here it was only possible to continue swimming – in the cave we were greeted by bats and the larger fruit bats!!
Arriving at the bottom, the entrance to a waterfall awaited us, but now it was only possible to continue swimming to get to the inside of the cave. No sooner said than done, I took the lead, a huge cave opened up inside and we could observe bats, but also the larger fruit bats. Unforgettable moments …
From here it was only possible to continue swimming – in the cave we were greeted by bats and the larger fruit bats!!
Santa Catarina
Another day we drove along the west coast south to Santa Catarina. Santa Catarina was named after a small river that flows near the village. However, the road ends there after the village in a southerly direction. The bridge was washed away years ago and never rebuilt by the state.
On the village street there are free-roaming pigs, goats and chickens. You see people of all ages. The place is located directly on the sea, so the inhabitants eat a lot of fresh fish. However, it should be said that Santa Catarina is one of the poorest villages on the island. People live in adverse conditions in barracks and enjoy virtually no medical care. That is the downside and must also be mentioned.
The South of the Island
After these eventful days, we made our way to the south. The south of the island goes hand in hand with a 4-hour drive. Numerous stops with wonderful views awaited us.
A highlight was without a doubt the stop at the top chef João Carlos Silva who 20 years ago opened a restaurant on the island off the West African coast. The Portuguese TV chef is particularly picky when it comes to ingredients. And we got to taste, smell and feel this. A culinary experience of a very special kind. We were all very enthusiastic about such great palate pleasure!
Pico Cão Grande
The Pico Cão Grande (Portuguese for “peak/summit of the Great Dog“) is a landscape-defining needle-shaped volcanic–plug in São Tomé and Príncipe, in the Caué district of São Tomé in the Parque Natural Obô de São Tomé.
Its summit is 663 m high and it rises about 370 m from the surrounding terrain. The plug was formed by hardening magma in the vent of an active volcano.
The next highlight was not long in coming. Yes and then it appeared, probably the most famous preserved volcanic rock of the island …
After this highlight we went to our accommodation Hotel Praia Inhame in the south of the island. Here’s what awaited us:
✓ a dream beach that belongs to the bungalow complex. Depending on the season, turtles come to the beach to lay their eggs. We were very lucky to be present at two releases of the little baby turtles. 🙂
✓ Tropical water temperatures felt like lying in a warm bathtub made our hearts beat faster. Trees and palms that grow from the beach into the sea, as kitschy as it could be. Lambada Feeling and Rum Coconut…with powdered sugar beaches.
✓ A very good meal and, as could not be otherwise, there was always a freshly squeezed juice from fruits on site for breakfast. In the evening there was often fresh fish and once a buffet to choose from.
The day after arrival, the optional excursion took us by boat through a mangrove forest. Fascinating stilt–roots with crabs and mudskippers on it and an interesting bird world made us melt away. It was an exciting and informative tour…
Ilhéu Das Rolas
The last included excursion and also the conclusion of our trip led us to the small neighboring island Ilhéu das Rolas. It is not only a geographical highlight, but also a cultural and natural paradise.
This small island can only be reached by boat from São Tomé and offers a variety of activities for adventurers and those seeking relaxation. From crossing the equator to hikes through dense forests – Ilhéu das Rolas has something to offer for everyone.
We were able to see the beauty of the island for ourselves and enjoyed a wonderful hike across the island with many views of the breathtaking coastline. With a refreshing swim in the sea and a late lunch we could end the last day really nicely before taking the boat back.
Conclusion
All in all, a unique journey, which, however, requires a spirit of discovery from the travelers. High humidity, insects and acclimatization challenged us especially in the first days. Also a little stomach upset kept us all on our toes for a few days.
Nevertheless, it is not an everyday destination with many aha moments and new discoveries. In any case, we were all thrilled and I personally can warmly recommend the trip for adventurous guests.
A Heartfelt Obrigada to My 7 Fantastic Travel Participants!
Your Travel Support & World Explorer Monika
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