Equatorial Guinea has been a well-kept secret for decades, keeping its natural wonders to itself. Now the country is embracing tourism and offering up its tantalizing natural gems.
By Pamela Grant
Until recently, Equatorial Guinea was not likely to appear on the list of places to visit simply because the country did not promote itself as a destination.
For decades, the small country on the west coast of Africa, the continent’s only Spanish-speaking country, has stayed to itself as it struggled to establish and maintain a reliable government. It consists of Rio Muni; the mainland territory with the active port city of Bata; and five nearby islands, one of which is Bioko where the capital Malabo is located.
Despite a thriving oil industry, the country has a high rate of poverty, prompting the government to look at its natural wonders as a source of inspiration for world travelers and employment for its people. The country’s isolated beaches, rare wildlife and historical buildings that reflect a colonial history are now open to tourists, and for ecotravelers it is a chance to enjoy the sites without the frantic rush of tourists so many locations now experience.
Old and New
Equatorial Guinea has been busy getting ready for an active tourism industry. There is an enormously improved road infrastructure, a rich biodiversity, a lush rain forest, comfortable accommodations, and beaches people only dream about enjoying. It is a bit of African paradise that has been hidden from the world through a long period of dictatorship, but times change and so has what is now the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
In fact, you might be quite surprised to learn the country is already getting a reputation for offering luxury accommodations. Hotels like the Sofitel Malabo Sipopo Le Golf is a luxury five-star hotel with an 18-hole golf course, tropical landscaping, a private white sand beach, swimming pool, and all the other amenities you would expect to find in such a hotel in Paris or London.
If you are an ecotourist who wants to mix luxury and nature, then the Grand Hotel Djibloho is the ideal choice. It is set in the heart of the Equatorial Forest and close to the Mbini River. Usually, it is not luxury ecotravelers seek. It is the beauty of lush tropical rainforests, long hiking paths, a variety of wildlife and adventure.
Millions have been to Paris or Rome, but how many have been to Malabo or Bata? Malabo is the island capital city that blends old and new, giving each visitor something that evokes delight. The Catedral de Santa Isabel, with its twin spires reaching to the sky, is one reminder of the country’s Spanish colonial days. Malabo is also home to the Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, also an excellent example of Spanish colonial architecture.
That is the “old.” In the harbor is the “new” in the form of oil platforms and coastal oil refiners that are supplying the country with much needed financial resources.
Mingle and Explore
Bata is the mainland port city, and it too has its own grand church – the Catedral de Bata. In Bata, you can mingle with the locals and plenty of expatriates who work for the oil industry. The international flavor is found in the population and in the variety of restaurants serving Spanish, European, and Chinese food, once again reflecting the country’s history.
Tourism dollars are important to the country which has a large divide between those benefitting from oil-related revenues and others living in poverty. Visit the Plaza del Reloj and the Gran Mercado Central, and then walk to the old port via Boulevard Juan Pablo II. The port was the first British naval station of Port Clarence and was leased from Spain. However, please note that taking photos of government buildings is not allowed, and local residents do not like their picture taken.
After a visit to the cities, the wilderness calls. Any ecotraveler to Equatorial Guinea will spend time in Monte Alen National Park. It is called a true gem that is small but brimming with wildlife. There are over 3,800 gorillas and 1,600 chimpanzees, along with dozens of reptile species, thousands of birds, elephants and crocodiles. The Hotel Monte Alen offers a comfortable home base for visiting the rainforest on a guided tour. You get the satisfaction of knowing your fee is critical to helping locals pull themselves out of poverty.
Beaches are one of the top attractions because of their sheer beauty.
The Biokno Island beach of Arena Blanca is white sand. During the dry season you will become a butterfly watcher as they gather in the tens of thousands.
In Ureca, you can visit the beaches during the dry season and witness turtles laying their eggs on shore. The turtles are protected by local villagers, but visitors are welcomed to watch.
From Ureca, you can hike into the jungle to visit the Rio Eola waterfalls where natural pools invite swimming. A more challenging experience is hiking or mountain climbing on the volcanic Pico Malabo.
There are plenty of opportunities for guided safari expeditions, or you can rent a bicycle and explore the city or surrounding countryside at your own pace.
Better Hurry!
An unforgettable ecotraveler experience is an expedition with the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. The expeditions go to the Gran Caldera de Luba area on Bioko Island. At this remote location and during different times of the year, you can witness nesting sea turtles, spot primates, and simply enjoy one of earth’s last unspoiled areas. It is getting more difficult by the day to find these kind of places that are so pure and give visitors a glimpse of the world the way it was eons ago.
You can also visit the town of Moca in the Moca Valley in the southern highlands and meet the indigenous people of Bioko Island.
Top off the end of a perfect “green” day with local cuisine, like roast duck or smoked beef with black pepper. Savor the experience of being in one of Africa’s least explored areas.
Equatorial Guinea is a one-of-a-kind experience, but you need to hurry. The world is bound to discover this gem very soon.