Itinerary Highlights

  • Head out for some spectacular rainforest hiking and birding in Obô Natural Park
  • Relax on remote beaches including Praia Jale and Praia Inhame in South São Tomé
  • Enjoy a wonderful beach experience and snorkelling time in beautiful Príncipe
  • Book for between late-December and late-March to go turtle and whale watching

What's Included

  • Flights
  • Accommodation Throughout
  • Travel Guide
  • Transfers
11 nights from £4,455 per person

Shelley Phillips

Travel Specialist

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

If you're a traveller with a thirst for new and remote off-the-beaten-track destinations, this delightful 11-night São Tomé & Príncipe break is designed with you in mind.

Start with four nights on São Tomé Island at the relaxed Omali Lodge, your comfortable base for exploring the larger of the two islands. Our selected range of excursions give you an excellent opportunity to explore a stunning rainforest trail and take in some memorable birding; enjoy a culinary experience and visit the quiet, remote beaches on the wilder southern coast.

Then flit off to Príncipe Island. This delightful destination treats you to a break at the stylish and atmospheric Roça Belo Monte, which has access to five photogenic beaches – notably the glorious Praia Banana.

Enjoy warm hospitality, good food and – apart from relaxing and taking in the ambience – you might wish to try some of the many activities possible here (including scuba diving, turtle watching in season and hiking).

As with all of our São Tomé & Príncipe trips, this itinerary is a sample which can be tailored to suit your individual interests and requirements.

Please note, this is an example tour. To create your own tailor-made itinerary, speak with our Travel Specialists by calling us today.

Itinerary

Take your early morning flight with TAP* from London Heathrow (or selected other UK airports) to São Tomé via Lisbon.

On arrival in São Tomé, you'll be welcomed and transferred to Omali Lodge for a four-night stay in a Premier Double Room, with breakfast included.

*Many TAP flights stop for an hour at Accra Airport. But if you prefer to overnight in Lisbon on the way (or, to spend a few nights there), let us know so we can assist with your arrangements.

Be collected by your guide and driver. From the Pousada de Boa Vista, take in panoramic views (weather permitting) of the city of São Tomé before continuing to the picturesque Cascata de São Nicolau (Saint Nicholas) waterfall.

Part of the journey to this waterfall will be on foot through the secondary rainforest. At the waterfall, enjoy a refreshment stop for Santomean coffee and a local dessert.

You then descend to the high-altitude coffee plantation of Monte Café, formerly the largest and most prosperous of the island's coffee plantations. Here, excellent quality coffee was produced for export. You'll be able to learn about the treatment process of the coffee in both the traditional and modern methods.

Staying at   Omali Lodge

Enjoy an excellent introduction to the Obô Chiflera. Transfer in your private four-wheel-drive vehicle up to Bom Sucesso. After a cup of coffee and a stop at the botanical garden of ECOFAC, you begin the walk through the zone of Esperança.

After walking through some cultivated plots, you arrive at the entrance of Obô Natural Park, where the primary forest begins. Explore the trail with your guide, who can help you discover some of the island's rare endemic birds.

Endemic birds we encountered during our March 2023 visit include São Tomé green and island bronze-naped pigeons, São Tomé oriole, São Tomé paradise flycatcher, black-capped speirops and São Tomé weaver.

After a lovely picnic, descend to Bom Sucesso, from which you drive to Casa Almada Negreiros (a delightful restaurant run by two Santomean brothers). Enjoy stunning views from the deck over the forested gorge and a great meal before heading back to Omali Lodge.

Staying at   Omali Lodge

In the morning, set off in your private four-wheel-drive on the two-hour journey to remote south São Tomé.

Along the way, stop for a relaxing Mangrove boat trip. There'll also be some sightseeing, including the chance to take the obligatory photos of Pico Cão Grande, and then proceed to the lovely Praia Inhame beach. Here, you can learn about turtle conservation efforts, see the hatchery, have a relaxed seafood lunch and enjoy a swim.

In the afternoon, return to Omali Lodge.

Staying at   Omali Lodge

After an early start and breakfast, transfer to São Tomé Airport for the 30-minute flight to Príncipe.

On arrival at Príncipe Airport, you'll be welcomed and transferred to Roça Belo Monte, where you stay for five nights in a Plantation Room, with breakfast and dinner included.

This elegant property is much enjoyed by our clients. Rooms are comfortable and the main house, with its swimming pool and gorgeous views, is conducive to relaxation.

The hotel has access to seven beaches, which are down a twisty track, but a nice little walk nonetheless.

Spend another day enjoying beautiful Príncipe with Roça Belo Monte as your comfortable base.

If you're here from late December through to late March, you'll be able to do as we did in 2023 and see (and assist) hatchling marine turtles make it to the ocean! Speak to reception to arrange one of these unforgettable experiences at nearby Praia Grande.

Staying at   Roça Belo Monte

Enjoy two more days in remote Príncipe, with its quiet beaches and laid-back ambience. Why not go hiking, visit Santo Antonio, or (in season) enquire about turtle and whale watching? Additionally, you could seek some of the endemic birds or just kick back and enjoy the lovely beaches, such as Praia Banana.

Roca Belo Monte's involvement in the conservation of Príncipe's natural heritage is worth elaborating on here: as part of Africa’s Eden (a sustainable tourism organisation operating under the concept of ‘Tourism Pays for Conservation'), the hotel allows travellers the opportunity to experience nature in rarely explored destinations and revenues generated through tourism are then invested in conservation projects. Africa’s Eden works in a local context to achieve sustainable protection of unique nature, facilitates employment and education opportunities.

Staying at   Roça Belo Monte

Wake up this morning for your final day in Príncipe.

This afternoon, you'll be transferred back to Príncipe Airport to check in for the 30-minute afternoon flight back to São Tomé. Here, you're met on arrival and taken to Omali Lodge to stay overnight in a Premier Double Room, with breakfast.

Staying at   Omali Lodge

This morning, your private guide and driver will collect you from Omali reception. Set off on your guided city highlights tour of São Tomé, with lunch at a carefully chosen restaurant.

In the late afternoon or evening, depending on the time of your TAP flight back to Lisbon, you'll be transferred back to Xavier Nuno Airport to check in for your flights home via Lisbon after a wonderful break.

Shelley Phillips

Travel Specialist

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Pricing Information & Dates

11 nights from £4,455 per person

Shelley Phillips

Travel Specialist

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Price Includes

  • Return International Flights as per the itinerary
  • All airport taxes and security charges
  • Accommodation and meals as specified
  • Transfers as specified
  • Activities and excursions as specified
  • All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
Return international TAP flights from London Heathrow or other selected UK airports to São Tomé via Lisbon. Return inter-island domestic flights. Air taxes. All transfers and transportation. Accommodation with meals as indicated. All privately guided excursions as per the itinerary, with lunches and entrance fees.

Price Excludes

  • Travel Insurance
  • Any meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional excursions
Meals not included. Drinks, tips, travel insurance, laundry. Activities in Príncipe are not included in Roça Belo Monte's rates: the hotel prefers for guests to arrange these while on-site, due to weather conditions.

Pricing Notes

This sample itinerary can be adapted to suit special interests and requirements. So, if - for instance - you'd like to add a night or more onto your stay in Príncipe, simply let us know. Also, if you'd like to stay for a night or more in Lisbon en route to the islands, we'll be pleased to assist you.

Why Choose Us?

Passionate travel experts

  • We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
  • Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
  • We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences

Personal & tailor-made

  • You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
  • We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
  • Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love

Responsible by nature

  • We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
  • For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
  • We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
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